Please note: The salary advertised is the full-time equivalent (FTE) and will be pro-rated based on contracted hours (21 hours per week).
Job title Safeguarding Lead
Hours of Work Part Time – 21 hours per week (3 days per week)
Working Days Monday to Sunday (rota basis across two post-holders)
Employer Listening Ear, abbreviated as LE below
Base Hybrid working - A mixture of LE premises, community locations and homeworking as required according to LE’s business needs.
Accountable to Clinical Director
Summary
We have a unique opportunity for an individual with an approachable attitude and a commitment to promoting a positive working environment while supporting all LE staff in matters of risk, safeguarding and child protection.
The Safeguarding Lead will be responsible for ensuring appropriate cover across our service operating hours and coordinating an effective Safeguarding Rota within the team. LE operating hours are:
Monday 08:00-17:00
Tuesday 08:00-20:00
Wednesday 08:00-20:00
Thursday 08:00-20:00
Friday 08:00-17:00
Saturday 09:00-17:00 (Once per month, other weeks require one-hour cover)
Sunday one hour cover (to be agreed)
The Safeguarding Lead will bring their own extensive knowledge and experience to this role in order to offer the highest level of support for LE staff and all of our client groups (including children, young people and adults). There would be a requirement to take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the Organisation, and to take part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings.
They will advise, train and support all members of staff on risk, incident, safeguarding and child protection matters, and liaise with relevant third party agencies such as the local authority and police.
This role will be delivered on a job-share basis. The Safeguarding Lead post will be split between two part-time employees. Together, the two post-holders will provide full rota coverage across six days per week (Monday to Saturday), with Sunday one-hour cover shared on a rota basis. All duties and responsibilities remain unchanged.
The role is subject to receiving satisfactory references and a probationary period.
Key Working Relationships
· SMT (Senior Management Team)
· LESCPT (Listening Ear Safeguarding and Child Protection Team)
· LE’s front-line staff
Job Purpose
· To act as a source of support, advice and expertise in managing safeguarding and clinical issues for LE staff.
· To be fully-equipped to independently manage clinical risk safely and in-line with all LE policies and procedures, in consultation with the member of staff raising a safeguarding concern.
· To co-ordinate the safe check-in and check-out of all clinical staff scheduled to work during the shift.
· Oversee the management of any risk/safeguarding concerns ensuring that relevant paperwork is completed and signed off within adequate timeframes.
· Support and advise staff in order to help them feel confident in dealing with risk, safeguarding and child protection matters.
· Support staff during the referral, triage and assessment process
· Liaise with the SMT and the local authority designated officer(s) (LADO) for child protection concerns in cases which concern a staff member
· Act as a point of contact and liaise with relevant 3rd party agencies/professionals on matters of risk, safeguarding and child protection
· Report cases to the police where a crime may have been committed
· Communicate relevant safeguarding issues to the SMT
· Work with the SMT to ensure that LE’s safeguarding and child protection policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly
· Understand the importance of information sharing, both internally and with safeguarding partners, other agencies and organisations ensuring the accurate records are shared confidentially
· Keep detailed, accurate, secure written records of concerns and onward referrals, promoting a culture of ‘no wrong door’ to ensure clients receive the appropriate support to meet their needs
· Attend and contribute to relevant internal and external meetings as required
· Refresh own knowledge and skills at regular intervals (annually as a minimum) and to remain up to date with any statutory legislation updates relevant to the role
· To promote Listening Ear’s vision, values and ethos whilst contributing to the shaping of its positive culture
· To use Lamplight and other IT systems e.g. Word, Excel and Outlook as required.
· To support the SMT with any duties as required
· To participate fully in any meetings and carry out actions as agreed.
· To act as a LE ambassador at all times
· To accurately complete all records, in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations
· To work in line with LE policies and procedures at all times
· To actively support the Clinical Director on specific projects as required and undertake any other duties that may be required which are proportionate with the role
· To devise and develop LE Safeguarding Training offer
· Delivery of both mandatory and non-mandatory training to all staff and trustees, ensuring they have the expertise to safely fulfil the requirements of their role
· To support SMT in the completion of reports for Commissioners in relation to risk, safeguarding and child protection
Quality Assurance
· To complete all records accurately in accordance with the DPA/ GDPR
· To follow all LE’s policies and procedures accurately
· To ensure LE complies with all health and safety requirements in accordance with relevant legislation and all policies and procedures
· To take personal responsibility for the Health & Safety of staff and clients
· To maximise the use of IT systems including LE’s internal digital case management system
· To provide written reports and information as requested.
· To communicate clearly and appropriately with internal colleagues, including volunteers and to actively promote a positive team environment.
· Act as LE ambassador at all times and raise any concerns regarding LE directly with LE managers during working hours
· Ensure good liaison exists between self, relevant external agencies and clients.
· To adhere to BACP Ethical Framework
· To work with a wide range of people and presenting issues
· To work within professional guidelines
· To follow LE’s robust systems, policies and procedures at all times which provide safe and effective client care and that minimise risk
· To engage with the organisational system for reporting and learning from critical incidents
· To actively participate in regular clinical and line management supervision
· Provide evidence of current working knowledge of Safeguarding/ Child Protection and Risk Procedures
· Attend mandatory annual Safeguarding/ Child Protection training to update this knowledge
Service Development
· To keep up-to-date with changes in practice and undertake training/ education identified in supervision and/or professional and personal development plan.
- To work with colleagues to develop services in partnership with relevant agencies.
General
The post-holder will be expected to undertake duties relating to the work of LE as appropriate to the grade of this post or as delegated. The job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to adjustments in relation to the needs of a developing service and the skills and experiences of the post holder.
Person Specification: Safeguarding Lead
Essential
- Expert knowledge of legislation and guidance on safeguarding and working with vulnerable adults, children & young people, including knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies
- Significant experience of managing risk and the policies, procedures and process maps for escalating risk as appropriate through relevant third-party agencies
- Qualification and/or a minimum of three years’ experience in managing safeguarding in an education, community, health / social care setting
- Three years post-qualification experience working in a helping profession
- Ability to work with conflict and emotionally distressing content
- Good knowledge and understanding of Trauma Informed Care and Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Experience of managing risk around single and complex trauma
- An understanding of mental health services in the voluntary sector
Desirable
- Experienced in safeguarding and have been a lead in education, early years or youth provision
- Experience of delivering training
- Experience of report writing
Person Specification: General Criteria for all LE Staff
- Experience of working on own initiative in a supportive environment
- Excellent administrative skills, with the ability to prioritise work and to manage a number of cases and priorities
- Flexible working across a range of duties and across our range of opening hours including evenings and weekends
- Excellent team working and communication skills both verbally and in writing
- A positive contributor to achieving team goals
- Able to demonstrate excellent knowledge of safeguarding and child protection practices and also ability to provide support to staff and volunteers
- A calm approach to problem solving and to working in a busy team environment
- A willingness to undertake training as required
- Strong ethical values, personal integrity and the ability to work within the principles of confidentiality
- An understanding and commitment to a client focused approach
- An awareness and understanding of Equality & Diversity and work in a non-judgmental way with people from all backgrounds
- Evidence of resilience and experience of working on own initiative with minimum of supervision, with the ability to remain professional under pressure
- Excellent IT skills with the ability to effectively complete impact monitoring systems and to create professional reports for external agencies
- Full, clean driving licence and access to a car or the willingness to travel across LE geographical footprint using public transport
- The above list is not exhaustive and there is a requirement to undertake any additional duties either relevant or proportionate to the role
Why Listening Ear?
- Face-to-face training, induction and warm welcome provided at our headquarters in the North West to meet colleagues and welcome you to Listening Ear
- Values-driven Organisation supporting vulnerable people across England
- Work within a BACP-Accredited Organisation that delivers support recognised by the Support After Suicide Partnership and Public Health England as best practice
- We support flexible home working practices and you will be supplied with a mobile phone and laptop, plus a DSE Assessment during induction to support safe and comfortable home working
- Access to free and confidential counselling provided through LE’s Insurance Provider, to support staff welfare
- Pension contribution at 3%
- Daily informal communications with colleagues via remote platforms
Who are we looking for?
You could already be working as part of a safeguarding team and looking for the next step in your career. You might also have years of experience working in other sectors, and are now looking for a change within a rapidly growing charity.
Pay: £32,115.00-£33,143.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you have expert knowledge of safeguarding legislation and guidance relating to children, young people, and vulnerable adults?
- Do you have at least 3 years’ experience working in safeguarding within an education, community, health, or social care setting?
- Do you have experience managing risk and escalating safeguarding concerns through formal procedures and third-party agencies?
- Do you have working knowledge and understanding of Trauma-Informed Care and Adverse Childhood Experiences?
- Do you have experience working with emotionally distressing safeguarding situations or conflict situations in a professional setting?
- Do you have an understanding of mental health services within the voluntary sector?
Work Location: In person
