About us

We are an inclusive and values driven organisation made up of staff and volunteers all with a simple purpose, to save lives at sea. We do this without prejudice. We respect and value diversity and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service which we have been doing for nearly 200 years.

We’re looking for a Designated Safeguarding Lead to join our People Department.  The DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) who is part of the People Leadership Team supports the RNLI through creating a safe and inclusive RNLI where all our people and particularly young people and vulnerable adults are protected from harm, abuse and neglect. The RNLI works with vulnerable people daily, whether it’s on the beach, on a rescue, during an educational visit, a fundraising event, over the phone or online.

As strategic lead for safeguarding, you will ensure that we deliver best practice across all aspects of our work, and that everything we do is fully aligned with domestic and international regulatory frameworks, and sector-leading in ethos and approach.

About You

You’ll be an individual with a solid background in a Safeguarding Lead role with considerable experience of implementing safeguarding policies and procedures. You will be driven, with a natural competency to prioritise effectively in order to address the variety of demands this role brings. You’ll also influence at a senior level both internally and externally.  With a passion and an in-depth understanding of safeguarding you will be able to advise, train and support a diverse group of people and activities across our organisation. Establishing rapport and trust will be essential to be effective in this role as well as a high level of confidentiality.

This role can therefore be either home based or working from our Support Centre in Poole. You will also spend time working out in the business understanding our activities and supporting our teams.

Your Role

As the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the RNLI, you will lead and focus on the following areas:

• Developing and monitoring the Safeguarding Strategy across the RNLI jurisdictions we operate in as part of the wider People Strategy. This also includes our international projects
• Proactively delivering safeguarding advice and interventions to a breadth of stakeholders from Trustees and Executive Team level through to volunteers. You’ll take the lead in arranging, promoting and/or delivering initiatives across the institution
• Acting as the RNLI Safeguarding point of contact for external bodies such as the Charities Commission and vetting services – DBS, Disclosure Scotland, Garda Vetting and Access NI, attending meetings and updating on procedural changes and compliance audits as required
• Be the subject matter expert on Safeguarding. Using specialist knowledge to inform and advise the Trustees ET and others to understand, lead and deliver the Safeguarding strategy. Enable teams across the RNLI to work to safeguarding objectives in line with overarching strategic objectives

Some of the benefits

• Salary circa £50,000 (dependent on experience)
• Flexible working
• 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Outstanding pension scheme (contributions of up to 16% of basic salary)
• Life assurance
• Health and dental cashplan

Please apply via the button shown, we’d love to hear from you!

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; ensuring the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.  We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting).

This post requires a valid driving licence.