Job Purpose:
To be responsible for, lead and manage the members of the Safeguarding Service for all operational safeguarding matters within the Diocese, including Religious Orders/Congregations affiliated to the Diocese. To serve as an ambassador and represent best practice across the Diocese for safeguarding. This is a leadership role, promoting, implementing and managing all safeguarding policies and practices. The role is responsible for the leadership of the members of the Safeguarding Service, including, appraisal, supervision, continuing professional development and objective setting, performance and conduct. The role has a particular focus on accountability for safeguarding practices across the wider Diocese.
The primary functions of this role are to (i) lead, manage and coordinate the day‐to‐day operational arrangements for safeguarding practice across the Diocese and (ii) support, assist and advise the Archbishop, the Trust Board and the Trustee’s Safeguarding Committee.
Principle duties and responsibilities
The Head of Safeguarding fulfils his/her responsibilities for safeguarding by:
a) Developing safeguarding policy and procedure: leading on devising and implementing safeguarding policy and procedure for consideration by the Trustee’s Safeguarding Committee and approval by the Trust Board.
b) Providing professional advice to the Trustee’s Safeguarding Committee and the Trust Board on practice, legislation, procedural and strategic issues and leading on the implementation of strategy, policies and procedures.
c) Managing and supporting staff: managing the Diocesan Safeguarding Service staff, who operate in accordance with the statutory framework and the Catholic Church’s safeguarding policies and procedures, and ensuring that they receive appropriate support professional supervision, and direction;
d) Ensuring accountability: via the Trust Board and the Trustee’s Safeguarding Committee, being accountable to the Archbishop for leading and managing safeguarding practice in the Diocese. This includes keeping the Archbishop and the Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding up to date on safeguarding matters and cases on a regular basis, advising him on appropriate practice and making recommendations for managing safeguarding allegations, information and concerns;
e) Delivering compliance: supporting the Diocese in (i) meeting statutory requirements and relevant national Catholic safeguarding standards, (ii) implementing national and local policies and procedures and (iii) monitoring practice (including at parish level);
f) Reporting cases: making appropriate responses to safeguarding allegations, information and concerns and making referrals to statutory or professional agencies, in line with the Church’s policy of mandatory reporting of allegations to statutory authorities;
g) Managing cases: cooperating with and assisting the police, local authorities and other bodies in their investigations in cases in which it is suspected that a child or adult at risk has suffered abuse or is at risk of suffering abuse, making timely decisions on cases to ensure the safety and protection of children and adults at risk having sought advice from the Trustee’s Safeguarding Committee where necessary, making recommendations for the future conduct of cases through [1]canonical processes and facilitating such processes when directed by the Archbishop, enabling or conducting other investigations or risk assessments, ensuring effective record keeping in accordance with all legal and data protection provisions and national policy requirements, and scrutinising and reviewing cases to ensure that lessons are learned;
h) Managing support for victims and survivors: proactively managing the planning and provision of appropriate support for alleged victims and their families, and alleged perpetrators and their families, in conjunction with the appropriate Parish Priest;
i) Managing risk: developing (or commissioning) risk assessments and managing the production, monitoring, and review of safeguarding plans;
j) Liaising and partnering effectively: facilitating effective liaison and information sharing with internal departments, as well as with statutory authorities and other organisations, including the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA);
k) Advising on safeguarding matters: delivering professional safeguarding recommendations, advice and guidance;
l) Managing and promoting safe environments: managing and overseeing the work of the Diocesan Safeguarding Service staff responsible for safe recruitment of volunteers involved in working with children and/or adults at risk and promoting national guidance on creating a safe environment through best practice;
m) Managing training: managing and evaluating the delivery of safeguarding training for Diocesan Safeguarding Service staff, clerics, office holders and volunteers;
n) Making appointments: making appointments of appropriately qualified persons as Parish Safeguarding Representatives;
o) Managing parish‐based safeguarding: providing support and guidance to Parish Safeguarding Representatives to enable them to implement a robust safeguarding response to safeguarding allegations, information and concerns regarding young people and adults at risk and coordinating efforts to raise awareness of safeguarding within parish communities;
p) Reporting (data): preparing and utilising safeguarding data to meet reporting requirements and to drive continuous improvement;
q) Self‐development: participating in professional supervision, performance management and appraisal and engaging in training and continuous professional development.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London
