Trustee – Safeguarding Lead - Dartington/Hybrid

Contract: Voluntary (reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed)

Commitment: Average 3-4 hours a month

Location: Dartington/Hybrid

Are you passionate about protecting vulnerable people? We are seeking a passionate and dedicated individual to join our Board of Trustees and share the responsibility of the Trustee Safeguarding Lead role. Since 1996, our charity has been dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities and safeguarding is at the heart of our work.

We operate in three areas:

• Lifeworks College: A welcoming and lively further education college for 16–25-year-olds with a learning disability.
• Lifeworks Day Services: A programme of activities for children and young people with learning disabilities giving them opportunities to meet friends, improve their health, try new activities and support them to achieve their best futures.
• Lifeworks Residential: A warm and welcoming home providing 24-hour residential care and support to adults with learning disabilities.

The Role

As a Trustee of the charity, you’ll play an important role in our success and oversee the effective and responsible management of a charity. This involves ensuring the charity operates in accordance with its charitable purpose and best interests of its beneficiaries, complies with relevant laws and regulations, and safeguards the charity’s assets. With a focus on safeguarding, you will work closely with the Charity Management Team, the Charity Designated Safeguarding Leads and the Board of Trustees to ensure our service users are safeguarded. This role will be shared with another Trustee, in order to maintain support levels to the Charity. You will provide strategic leadership, oversee the development and implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures, and work closely with the team to maintain a culture of safeguarding across the charity.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and implementation of robust safeguarding policies and procedures;
• Monitor and review safeguarding practices and procedures;
• Liaise with external agencies such as social services and the police;
• Provide advice and support to the Board on safeguarding matters.

Time Commitment

New trustees are required to have an induction session before their first board meeting. Trustees must attend all five board meetings held annually during standard business hours at Lifeworks, Lescaze, Shinners Bridge, Dartington. One full-day meeting is dedicated to strategic planning, while the other four meetings are approximately three and a half hours each. Meeting materials are distributed one week prior to each meeting. You may also be asked to join additional sub-committees.

What we’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone with experience of child and/or adult safeguarding, preferably in the education or adult care sector, and a good understanding of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures. You don’t need to have previous experience as a charity board trustee – we will give you the support that you need to learn about us and your role. We believe that having a diverse board of trustees is key to our success so we’re especially keen to receive applications from under-represented communities and people with lived experience of learning disabilities.

Building a diverse and safe team

At Lifeworks, we’re committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals with disabilities who meet the job criteria, and we guarantee qualified candidates with disabilities an interview. However, ensuring a safe environment for everyone we support is our top priority. Therefore, all trustees undergo pre-employment checks, reference checks, and an enhanced DBS check.

Travel expenses details: Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Does the job role include personal care? No