Safeguarding – Research & Report Officer – Vulnerability Assessment Team (VAT)

Location: York - Council West Offices

Working pattern: Hybrid working is available. Home working and use of York or Northallerton offices is supported. As this is a York‑based post, future operational or organisational needs may require increased in office attendance.

Salary: £25,242 - £29,859 (NYP Scale 3-4)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time – Monday – Thursday 8am – 4pm and Friday 8am -3.30pm (37 hours/week)

Closing Date: 9am on Wednesday 22 April 2026

The Opportunity: We’re looking for a Research and Report Officer to join our Vulnerability Assessment Team (VAT) - a team that plays a crucial role in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across York and North Yorkshire. In this role, you’ll help ensure that people at risk receive the right protection at the right time. You’ll do this by gathering and assessing information from police systems, preparing clear reports for multi‑agency safeguarding meetings, and sharing information responsibly with partner agencies. This opportunity is ideal for someone who is organised, detail-focused, and motivated by work that has real social impact. You don’t need policing experience, but you do need to be comfortable working with highly sensitive information, including material relating to complex or distressing safeguarding situations, managing competing priorities, and communicating with a wide range of professionals. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds particularly where representation is currently low within our team. Lived experience, cultural awareness, and diverse perspectives strengthen our safeguarding decisions and help ensure our services reflect the communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research current and historical police databases and hard‑copy records to identify safeguarding information and assess risk.
• Decide what information can be legally and proportionately shared with partner agencies, following management of police information, Data Protection legislation and local Information Sharing Agreements.
• Produce accurate, well‑structured reports for multi‑agency safeguarding meetings.
• Manage external enquiries from partner agencies, liaising by phone and email.
• Handle highly confidential and sensitive information in line with legislation and organisational protocols.
• Input meetings and conferences into Outlook, ensuring all reports are prepared at least one week prior.
• Create and manage incidents and link nominals/addresses accurately on NICHE.
• Create and manage safeguarding flags following Child Protection Conferences.
• Scan and upload reports and external information to NICHE.
• Provide administrative and clerical support to the Vulnerability Assessment Team.

Essential Criteria:

• Strong research skills, including reviewing, collating, and sharing information from multiple sources.
• High accuracy and attention to detail, with the ability to meet deadlines while maintaining quality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to liaise and coordinate effectively with external agencies.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrable customer service experience.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office.

Desirable (not essential):

• Experience handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Understanding of the management of police information.

Why Join Us?

Working for the emergency services is both meaningful and impactful. At North Yorkshire Police, we’re committed to helping colleagues reach their full potential in a fair, inclusive, and supportive environment. We value diverse perspectives and actively promote staff wellbeing so everyone can thrive. Please visit our website to learn more about our organisation. We’re also proud to provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth:

• Local Government Pension Scheme – secure and competitive retirement planning
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme – access to affordable vehicle leasing options (NHS Fleet Solution)
• Generous Annual Leave– 24 days rising to 30 with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Blue Light Discount– enjoy savings at major retailers and services
• Health Cash Plan
• Access to Trade Union Membership – opportunity to join UNISON
• Inclusion & Diversity Networks– connect with colleagues and contribute to a culture of belonging
• Health & Wellbeing Services– access to resources that support your physical and mental health
• Cycle to Work Scheme – Save money on bikes and accessories
• Civil Service Sports Club (CSSC) Membership – Access to discounted sports & leisure activities.

To be considered for this role, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• You must have the right to work in the UK, with no restrictions on your employment
• Internal applicants must have successfully completed their probation period
• Meet residency requirements for vetting: MV Level Vetting – minimum 5 years UK residency

Your Application: North Yorkshire Police is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive working environment. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or within your role, please declare this within your online application. A member of our team will contact you prior to your interview to ensure appropriate support is in place. While AI can support you with structure, spelling and grammar, your application must still reflect your own genuine skills, experience and achievements, as our selection process checks for authenticity. It’s acceptable to use AI to help with clarity, research, interview preparation and structuring your real‑life examples, provided the information is accurate; however, it must not be used to exaggerate your abilities or generate false or AI‑written responses.

Safer Recruitment: North Yorkshire Police is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Safeguarding is a core part of our recruitment process, and we expect all applicants to share this commitment. All successful candidates will undergo a thorough recruitment process and must obtain satisfactory pre‑employment clearances before commencing employment, including satisfactory Vetting or DBS checks, references, and a medical assessment, including absence history. Adherence to our safeguarding policies and procedures is essential.

Questions About the Role? If you would like an informal conversation or have any questions about the role, please contact the hiring manager: Mark Stamper – Detective Inspector – Safeguarding Vulnerability Assessment Team 📧 Mark.Stamper@northyorkshire.police.uk

Ready to Apply? As part of our selection process, we’ll assess your skills and experience against the requirements of the role. We therefore encourage you to take your time to tailor your application, ensuring your responses align with the job advert and role profile. Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place: w/c 11 May 2026. We look forward to receiving your application!