At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide strategic safeguarding oversight and ensure strong governance across all services.
- Company: Happy Days, a trauma-informed charity supporting vulnerable individuals.
- Benefits: Make a meaningful impact while working in a collaborative and values-led environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for personal growth and to contribute to community well-being.
- Why this job: Join us to champion safeguarding and improve outcomes for those in need.
- Qualifications: Experience in safeguarding, social justice, or related sectors is essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Calderdale
Reporting to: Chair of Trustees
Commitment: Approximately 6–10 hours per month including quarterly Board meetings and quarterly quality committee meetings and safeguarding oversight activity as and when needed.
About Happy Days
Happy Days is a trauma-informed charity supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, health exclusion, and crisis and is committed to safeguarding approaches that are trauma-informed, proportionate, and person-centred, balancing safety with dignity, inclusion, autonomy, and meaningful engagement. The organisation delivers a range of accommodation-based and community support services including supported accommodation, winter shelter provision, crisis drop-in services, health clinics, food provision, and wider community support programmes. We work alongside statutory partners, housing providers, NHS services, and community organisations to provide safe, person-centred, and outcomes-focused support for individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage.
Role Purpose
The Safeguarding Trustee provides strategic safeguarding oversight and assurance to the Board, supporting the organisation to maintain strong safeguarding governance, accountability, and culture across all services. The role acts as the Board’s safeguarding lead, offering scrutiny, challenge, and support to ensure safeguarding responsibilities are effectively embedded throughout the organisation. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Designated Safeguarding Leads, and wider Board, the Safeguarding Trustee promotes a strong safeguarding culture that protects adults at risk, children, staff, volunteers, and the wider community. This role is particularly important given the complexity of the organisation’s work with individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, trauma, mental ill-health, exploitation, domestic abuse, and multiple disadvantage.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Safeguarding Oversight
- Provide strategic safeguarding oversight and assurance at Board level
- Support the Board in fulfilling its safeguarding duties and responsibilities
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation
- Ensure safeguarding remains a standing priority within governance and strategic decision-making
- Provide appropriate challenge and scrutiny regarding safeguarding systems, risk, and practice
- Promote continuous safeguarding improvement, learning, and organisational accountability
- Governance & Strategic Safeguarding Responsibilities
- Champion safeguarding as a core governance priority across the organisation
- Support the Board in maintaining effective safeguarding oversight, assurance, and accountability
- Ensure safeguarding remains a standing agenda item within governance and strategic discussions
- Work collaboratively with the CEO, COO, and Designated Safeguarding Leads to maintain strategic oversight of safeguarding systems and organisational culture
- Support the Board to understand safeguarding risks, trends, learning, and organisational responsibilities
- Ensure safeguarding risks are appropriately reflected within the organisational risk register and governance reporting processes
- Support safeguarding audits, reviews, and organisational assurance activity where appropriate
- Support the organisation’s progression towards recognised safeguarding quality and excellence standards
- Governance, Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Review safeguarding reports, trends, incidents, and organisational learning
- Support the Board in monitoring safeguarding compliance and assurance frameworks
- Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated
- Monitor organisational compliance with safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice
- Support oversight of safer recruitment, DBS processes, and safeguarding training compliance
- Contribute to safeguarding audits, quality assurance activity, and improvement plans
- Support oversight of safeguarding-related risk within the organisational risk register
- Review safeguarding themes, emerging risks, and lessons learned processes where appropriate
- Partnership & External Relationships
- Promote effective safeguarding partnership working with:
- Local authorities
- NHS services
- Housing providers
- Safeguarding Adults Boards
- Voluntary and community organisations
- Support the organisation in maintaining a trauma-informed and multi-agency safeguarding approach
- Promote partnership learning and safeguarding best practice
- Board Engagement
- Attend and actively contribute to Board meetings and Quality Sub Committee
- Provide safeguarding advice and support to Trustees where appropriate
- Maintain oversight of safeguarding performance, assurance, and organisational culture
- Ensure Trustees maintain collective awareness and ownership of safeguarding responsibilities across the organisation
- Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately where necessary
- Participate in safeguarding training and ongoing development
Person Specification
- Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and social justice
- Knowledge of safeguarding adults and/or children legislation and frameworks
- Understanding of safeguarding principles and governance responsibilities
- Experience working within safeguarding, health, housing, social care, education, criminal justice, community services, or related sectors
- Ability to provide strategic oversight, challenge, and support
- Strong communication, analytical, and professional judgement skills
- Experience within homelessness, supported housing, substance use, mental health, domestic abuse, or trauma-informed services
- Understanding of Charity Commission safeguarding expectations and trustee governance responsibilities
- Experience of governance, quality assurance, or organisational risk management
- Experience working within the voluntary and community sector
- Understanding of health inequalities and multiple disadvantage
Key Attributes
- Recognises that effective safeguarding within homelessness and crisis services requires dynamic, proportionate, and trauma-informed decision-making rather than overly risk-averse approaches
- Values-driven and compassionate
- Independent thinker with good professional curiosity
- Calm, balanced, and able to manage sensitive information appropriately
- Able to provide constructive challenge and supportive oversight
- Passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable communities
What We Offer
- Opportunity to contribute to meaningful social impact within the local community
- Chance to support and strengthen safeguarding practice within a growing organisation
- Collaborative and values-led Board environment
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to:
- Undertake an enhanced DBS check
- Complete safeguarding training relevant to the role
- Adhere to the organisation’s safeguarding, confidentiality, and governance policies
- Act in accordance with Charity Commission Trustee responsibilities
Happy Days is committed to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experience.
Safeguarding Trustee employer: Happydaysuk
Happy Days is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the Calderdale community through its trauma-informed approach to safeguarding. With a collaborative and values-led Board environment, employees can expect to engage in continuous professional development while championing social justice and inclusion for vulnerable populations. The organisation prioritises a strong safeguarding culture, ensuring that all staff and volunteers are supported in their roles, fostering a workplace where compassion and accountability thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Safeguarding Trustee
✨Get Involved with Local Causes
Start connecting with local nonprofits or social impact projects in your area. Attend their events, offer to help out with community initiatives, or just drop by to chat about their mission. This way, you’ll not only learn about the work they do but also make meaningful connections that could lead to volunteer opportunities.
✨Leverage Social Media for Social Impact
Platforms like Twitter and Instagram are goldmines for discovering volunteer opportunities in the nonprofit sector. Follow organisations you’re passionate about, engage with their posts, and keep an eye out for their volunteer calls. It’s a great way to show your interest and dedication!
✨Utilise Volunteer Matching Platforms
Sites like VolunteerMatch or local community boards are perfect for finding short-term and long-term volunteer roles. These platforms can connect you with causes that align with your passions and skills, and often allow you to browse opportunities tailored to your interests.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
When you spot an organisation you like, don't hesitate to visit their website and check out their volunteer section. Many nonprofits have dedicated pages for volunteers where you can apply directly – and we’ve found that this route often leads to quicker responses and more personalised interactions!
We think you need these skills to ace Safeguarding Trustee
Some tips for your application 🫡
Share Your Passion for Social Impact:When you're applying for a volunteer role at a nonprofit like Happydaysuk, don’t just list your skills. Show us why you're passionate about social impact! Use your cover letter to tell a story about what drives you and how you've been involved in similar initiatives. Personal connections to the cause can really make your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to showcase any previous volunteer work or projects that demonstrate your commitment to social impact. Whether it’s fundraising, community outreach, or project management, detail your contributions and the results achieved. This kind of experience is invaluable in the nonprofit sector and can help us see your potential!
Get Creative with Your CV:In the world of nonprofits, a standard CV might not cut it. Consider using a more creative format that showcases your personality while maintaining professionalism. Use headings like 'Community Engagement' or 'Social Impact Projects' to highlight your experiences related to the role. Remember, we want to see what makes you unique!
Keep It Community-Focused:Make sure your application emphasises collaboration and community. Volunteer roles are about working well with others and contributing collectively towards a common goal. In your cover letter, mention any teamwork experiences or community projects you've been part of, and how you contributed to their success. This shows that you’re ready to jump into the collaborative spirit here at Happydaysuk.
How to prepare for a job interview at Happydaysuk
✨Know Your Passion
Dive deep into the mission of Happydaysuk and understand the issues they tackle. When they ask about your motivation to volunteer, share specific experiences that link your passion to their cause—whether it’s local community work or a broader social impact.
✨Bring Your Skills to the Table
Highlight any relevant skills that can aid in their projects, such as fundraising, project management, or community organising. Be prepared to share examples of how you’ve used these skills in past volunteer roles or relevant experiences.
✨Get Ready for Scenario Questions
In non-profit interviews, especially for volunteer roles, you might get scenario-based questions. Think about times when you've encountered challenges in team work or community engagement, and how you resolved them—this shows your problem-solving abilities.
✨Show Your Commitment
Since this is a volunteer role, they’ll likely want to see your commitment to the cause over an extended period. Be ready to discuss how much time you can dedicate, any special skills you can bring, and your eagerness to learn and grow with the organisation—this excites them to have you on board!
