Clinical Safeguarding & Ethics Advisor (Named)

Role Summary

NdCare and the Neuro Inclusion Project work with neurodivergent individuals who may be navigating vulnerability, distress, long waits, and fragmented systems. This creates a clear ethical responsibility to operate with robust safeguarding, reflective practice, and external oversight.

We are seeking a named Clinical Safeguarding & Ethics Advisor to provide independent ethical oversight, safeguarding escalation support, and credibility, particularly in clinical, digital, research, and public-sector contexts.

This is not a delivery role.
It is a protective and accountability role.

Purpose of the Role

The Safeguarding & Ethics Advisor exists to:

• Provide independent oversight of safeguarding and ethical practice
• Act as a named escalation point for complex or ambiguous situations
• Ensure NdCare’s work aligns with best ethical practice, not just legal minimums
• Strengthen trust with users, partners, and commissioners

If this role is done well, safety is embedded, not performative.

Key Responsibilities

1. Safeguarding Oversight & Escalation

• Advise on safeguarding frameworks and escalation pathways
• Act as (or support) a named safeguarding escalation contact
• Provide consultation on complex or high-risk situations
• Support learning and improvement following incidents or near-misses

2. Ethical Review & Reflection

Provide ethical oversight across:

• clinical services
• digital interventions
• research and evaluation

Support ethical decision-making where guidance is unclear or evolving

Challenge practices that risk harm, coercion, or mission drift

3. Policy & Framework Support

Review and advise on:

• safeguarding policies
• ethical frameworks
• consent and autonomy considerations

Ensure approaches remain ND-affirming and trauma-aware

4. External Credibility & Assurance

Act as a visible signal of NdCare’s commitment to safety and ethics

Support confidence-building with:

• NHS / ICB partners
• research collaborators
• funders and commissioners

Contribute to governance reporting where appropriate

5. Boundaries & Independence

• Maintain independence from day-to-day delivery
• Provide honest, sometimes uncomfortable feedback
• Escalate concerns appropriately, even when inconvenient

What This Role Is Not

• It is not a delivery or case-management role
• It is not responsible for day-to-day safeguarding administration
• It is not a rubber-stamp position
• It is not expected to absorb unmanaged organisational risk

This role exists to slow things down when safety requires it.

Equity / Fee Structure

Compensation options:

• Advisor equity: ~0.05–0.15%
• Deferred fees
• Hybrid arrangement (to be agreed)
• Term: Typically 12–24 months
• Time commitment: Very low-touch (e.g. quarterly review + ad-hoc escalation)
• Review point: Annual or following key milestones

All arrangements are documented clearly.

Who This Role Is For

This role may suit someone who:

• Is a senior clinician, safeguarding lead, or ethics advisor

Has experience with:

• safeguarding in health, social care, or research
• complex or vulnerable populations

Understands ND-affirming and trauma-aware practice

Is comfortable holding authority without operational control

Can provide calm, independent judgement

This role prioritises integrity over alignment.

What We Explicitly Welcome

• Clear boundaries and independence
• Ethical challenge, not passive agreement
• Plain-English explanations of risk and ethics
• A learning-oriented, non-punitive approach

We value advisors who protect people even when it’s uncomfortable.

Why This Role Matters

Safeguarding failures don’t come from bad intentions.
They come from ambiguity, pressure, and silence.

This role ensures NdCare:

• centres safety
• respects autonomy
• earns trust
• withstands scrutiny