Safeguarding officer - Permanent - Full Time

Make a real difference to people's lives - join Sense as our new Safeguarding Officer. At Sense, we're here to break down barriers so that people with complex disabilities can live life to the full. We're looking for a compassionate and confident Safeguarding Officer to join our team based in Birmingham. If you're passionate about protecting vulnerable people, driving best practice, and shaping a culture of safety and inclusion, this is the role for you.

About the role

You'll play a vital part in ensuring that everyone we support is safe from abuse and neglect. Working closely with colleagues across Sense, you'll provide expert safeguarding advice, guidance and oversight. You'll help ensure that all policies, systems and training reflect the very best practice and that Sense meets its statutory duties across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is a diverse and rewarding role where every day brings new challenges from auditing services and presenting data, to delivering training and supporting teams to embed high quality safeguarding practice.

Key responsibilities

• Provide advice and guidance to staff and volunteers on safeguarding matters, ensuring compliance with policy and regulation.
• Lead and support on safeguarding incidents, quality assurance, and service reviews.
• Analyse safeguarding data, prepare reports, and present findings to senior managers and governance groups.
• Work with the Learning and Development team to deliver engaging safeguarding training.
• Contribute to updating Sense's safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring they reflect current legislation and best practice.
• Promote learning and awareness through internal communications and colleague engagement.

About you

You'll be an experienced safeguarding professional who brings confidence, empathy and excellent communication skills to every interaction. You'll have the ability to understand complex situations, analyse information critically and make sound, evidence-based recommendations.

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven experience managing safeguarding cases within social care.
• Strong understanding of current Health and Social Care legislation for adults and children with complex disabilities.
• Skilled in analysing and reporting on organisational safeguarding performance.
• Confident user of Microsoft Office and safeguarding databases.
• Educated to degree level, or with equivalent professional experience / Level 5 qualification.
• Commitment to Sense's values, inclusion and equity.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of services for people with multisensory impairments.
• Evidence of continued professional development, ideally towards a recognised safeguarding qualification.

You'll also be prepared to travel occasionally and work flexibly to support our national safeguarding responsibilities.

About Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity, here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Together, we drive change, building a future where everyone has the power, choice and control to live the lives we choose.

We're proud to be a Disability confident leader and a charity where people can grow their skills and careers in a supportive, flexible environment.

Our values

• We're creating change
• We're always learning
• We're better together

To apply

Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview, in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly. We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying.

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time. No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.

If you require any further assistance, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0121 415 6735 or recruitment@sense.org.uk

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented Global Majority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.