Freelance Safegurding Consultant

BlogFind ChildcareBook a call« Back to all rolesFreelance Safegurding ConsultantLocation: Nationwide, with travelAbout tineytiney is England's largest Ofsted-regulated Childminder Agency (CMA). We recruit, train, register, and support home-based childminders, and take on ongoing regulatory responsibility for the quality and safeguarding of every childminding setting in our network.We currently work with over 1,100 tiney-registered childminders across England, supporting more than 10,000 families with high-quality, flexible childcare. As a CMA, tiney is responsible for conducting registration visits, Quality Assurance visits, compliance visits, and unannounced safeguarding visits to childminders' settings.tiney operates as a supportive regulator. We believe the best outcomes for children come when childminders feel genuinely supported by their agency - not just monitored by it. That means holding high standards while also offering real support, coaching, and professional development to help childminders meet them. This ethos runs through everything we do, including how we approach safeguarding visits, regulatory action, and the conversations that follow.In 2024, we were named one of the UK & Ireland’s 100 fastest-growing startups, and shortlisted for the Global EdTech Prize.At tiney, we’re building a better childcare system. We help passionate, talented people open their own childminding businesses from home — giving families more access to high-quality, affordable care.Central to tiney’s experience is our app, which childminders use to run their business — from education tools and payments to messaging and family communication.Founded in 2018 by a team from Teach First and graze.com, we’ve raised £20m from top European VCs, and are already one of the UK’s top 5 childcare providers by childcare places.The roleWe are building a pool of experienced freelance safeguarding consultants to support our safeguarding visit programme and panel work across England. This is a field-based, per-assignment role for highly experienced early years safeguarding practitioners who want flexible work that makes a genuine difference.Consultants work alongside tiney's employed safeguarding team in three ways:Supporting pre-registration and post-registration safeguarding panel decisions, contributing professional judgement to case reviews and suitability assessments.Conducting announced visits to childminders' settings — for example, monitoring compliance prior to lifting a suspension, or carrying out a 'check-in' visit following a period of regulatory action.Acting as the second practitioner on unannounced safeguarding visits alongside a tiney panel member, contributing observations and professional judgement in real time. Depending on your experience, you may lead or support on these visits.The lead or support designation on visits is determined by experience and case complexity.. More experienced consultants will be asked to lead; those newer to this type of regulatory work will initially attend in a support capacity while building familiarity with tiney's approach.In all cases, you will be fully briefed on the case before every visit. A named tiney panel contact is available by phone throughout any visit you conduct, and escalation is always encouraged when anything unexpected arises.Key responsibilitiesSafeguarding panel supportContribute to pre-registration and post-registration safeguarding panel decisions, reviewing cases and providing professional judgement on childminder suitability.Review case documentation and provide written or verbal recommendations to the panel as directed.Support the panel in developing and applying consistent, evidence-based decision-making.Announced regulatory visitsConduct announced visits to childminders' settings following a period of regulatory action, such as monitoring compliance prior to lift a suspension or follow-up 'check-in' visits.Lead or support on visits depending on experience and case complexity, as...