Safeguarding Assistant

Contract type - Permanent

Hours and working pattern - 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Occasional evening and weekend flexibility required.

About Us

The Archdiocese of Southwark is a diverse and vibrant diocese covering the London boroughs south of the Thames, the county of Kent and the Medway Unitary Authority. The Safeguarding Team exists to serve the parishes, parishioners, agencies, clergy, volunteers and staff of the Archdiocese. The team works closely with survivors and those who have been harmed by abuse, and it is essential that anyone joining understands the importance of a compassionate, collaborative and person-centred approach. The Archdiocese is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications reflecting the diverse community we serve.

About This Role

This is a development post. It is designed for someone who is at the beginning of a safeguarding career, or who is moving into safeguarding from a related field and who wants to learn the work properly alongside an experienced team. You are not expected to arrive knowing how to do this job. You are expected to arrive wanting to learn it, with the judgement to know what you do not yet know and the confidence to ask.

What this means in practice

You will work under the direction of a Safeguarding Manager, who will be your day-to-day supervisor. You will support casework and safeguarding plans. You will have regular, protected supervision and a structured programme of training and development. Your responsibilities will grow as your experience and confidence do, with the aim of graduating to a safeguarding officer.

Job Purpose

To support the Safeguarding Team in the delivery of safeguarding across the Archdiocese, working under supervision and developing the knowledge and skills to take on greater responsibility over time. The post holder will assist the team with:

• Receiving and recording safeguarding referrals and concerns, and passing them promptly to a Safeguarding Officer.
• Supporting the administration and monitoring of safeguarding plans, under the direction of the safeguarding manager.
• Providing support to the Safeguarding Office, including records, correspondence and meeting arrangements.
• Supporting Parish Safeguarding Representatives with routine queries, training arrangements and record keeping.
• Assisting with the preparation and delivery of safeguarding training.
• Supporting the safer recruitment and DBS process.
• Assisting with audits, returns and the annual report.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Discuss safeguarding concern to a Safeguarding Manager without delay. You will never be expected to decide alone whether something meets a threshold.
• Maintain accurate, timely and contemporaneous records on the case management system.
• Prepare papers, chronologies and summaries for meetings at the request of the safeguarding office.
• Track review dates and outstanding actions.
• Attend meetings alongside a Safeguarding Officer, to observe, learn and contribute.

Safeguarding plans

• Maintain the record of current safeguarding plans, including review dates and required contacts.
• Support the administration of quarterly reviews, arranging contact with individuals and parishes.
• Attend visits relating to plans, and as part of your development hold responsibility for a number of plans.
• Risk assessment and make decisions about the content of plans and record appropriately.

Parish Safeguarding Representatives

• Act as a point of contact for routine queries, escalating anything that is not routine.
• Maintain accurate records of representatives, their parishes, training and DBS status.
• Support the arrangement of induction, training events and the annual gathering.
• Help identify parishes without a representative, and support recruitment activity.

Training and safer recruitment

• Assist in preparing training materials, venues and attendance records.
• Support the delivery of training sessions, and take an active part in delivery as your confidence develops.
• Support the DBS process, including tracking applications and maintaining accurate records.
• Follow up outstanding checks and training, and report patterns to the team.

Office and general

• Provide general administrative support to the Safeguarding Office.
• Assist with audits, data returns and the annual safeguarding report.
• Operate in accordance with the national safeguarding policies and procedures of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times, with due regard to data protection, and encourage others to do the same.
• Travel to parishes and other locations as the role requires.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of the post.

The Limits of the Role

These are set out plainly so that the post holder is clear, and protected. They are not a reflection of ability, but of the experience and supervision this work requires. The Safeguarding Assistant will not:

• Hold or manage safeguarding cases independently without support or supervision.
• Complete risk assessments, or decide the content of safeguarding plans without supervision.
• Decide whether a concern meets a threshold, or whether a statutory referral is required without supervision.
• Represent the Archdiocese at MAPPA, strategy meetings or ASV meetings other than when accompanied and/or supported.

Learning and Development

The Archdiocese will support the post holder to develop the knowledge and skills required for this work. This includes:

• A structured induction, including national and diocesan safeguarding policy, the case management system and the role of statutory partners.
• Regular one-to-one supervision with the Safeguarding Manager and access to reflective supervision.
• A personal development plan, reviewed at least twice yearly, setting out the areas of practice you are working towards.
• Attendance at relevant external training, including safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and data protection.
• Opportunities to observe casework, meetings and training before taking an active part.

Safeguarding work can be demanding, and the Archdiocese takes seriously its duty of care to those who do it. Support is available to the post holder and asking for it is expected rather than exceptional.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who is committed to safeguarding, willing to learn and able to work to the shared values of the Catholic Church. You do not need previous safeguarding experience, though it is welcome.

Skills and attributes

• Ability to organise your own work and prioritise competing demands.
• Clear and accurate written and spoken communication.
• Ability to work in a strictly confidential environment and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• A calm, compassionate and courteous manner, including with people who are distressed or upset.
• Willingness to ask for help, to accept direction, and to know the limits of your own role.
• Personal integrity, and the ability to build positive working relationships at all levels.
• Accuracy and attention to detail in record keeping.
• Willingness to undertake training and to participate actively in supervision and appraisal.
• Hold a full driving licence and have access to a car (mileage is available).
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and confidence with databases and IT.
• Ability to work with colleagues in external agencies in a professional and cooperative way.

Knowledge

• An understanding of why safeguarding matters, and a commitment to it.
• Awareness of the issues affecting survivors and those who have been harmed by abuse.
• Working knowledge of legislation and guidance affecting safeguarding.
• Understanding of safeguarding within the Catholic Church.
• Understanding of the DBS regime and safer recruitment.
• Understanding of data protection as it applies to sensitive records.

Experience

• Experience of working in an office environment and as part of a team.
• Experience of handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Experience of dealing sensitively and professionally with members of the public.
• Experience in a safeguarding, social care, education, health, policing or similar setting.
• Experience of supporting or working alongside volunteers.
• Experience of maintaining records or a case management system.

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education, including English and Mathematics.
• A relevant qualification, or a qualification in a related subject area.
• Willingness to work towards a relevant safeguarding qualification.

Appointment

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, as it involves access to sensitive safeguarding information. The appointment is subject to satisfactory references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and completion of the Archdiocese's safer recruitment process. The post holder will be required to complete the Archdiocese's mandatory safeguarding training within their probationary period.

This job description sets out the main duties of the post at the date it was prepared. It will be reviewed with the post holder as the role develops.