Safeguarding and Specialist Casework Lead (Maternity Cover)

Role Description: Safeguarding and Specialist Casework Lead (Maternity Cover)

Type: 12-month fixed-term contract (maternity cover).

We anticipate that there may be opportunities for permanent employment within the Safeguarding Team beyond this contract, subject to funding and staffing requirements. Any future role would have a separately agreed remit.

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Reporting line: Chief Operating and Impact Officer, with handover support from the Head of Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls

Location: Remote, UK-Based.

The Cyber Helpline

The Cyber Helpline is a movement by the information security community to step in and fill the gap in support for victims and survivors of cybercrime, digital fraud and online harm. It is a UK-based charity that provides free, expert help to victims and survivors by helping them understand, contain, recover and learn from experiencing a malicious online issue. We have directly helped over 70,000 individuals and families in the UK and the USA.

On top of the opportunity to do some good with your skills, The Cyber Helpline will offer you the opportunity for training, skills development, and career development opportunities. This is an opportunity to apply your safeguarding and victim support experience to the challenges of cybercrime and online harm. You will work alongside colleagues with specialist cyber expertise, with access to training and professional development.

Role Summary

The Safeguarding and Specialist Casework Lead will lead The Cyber Helpline’s day-to-day safeguarding response and provide specialist support to service users experiencing heightened risk or vulnerability.

Working within the Safeguarding Response Team, the postholder will respond to safeguarding alerts, advise staff and volunteers, and coordinate appropriate support and referrals. They will also manage a caseload, including children and young people aged 13–17 and adults with additional support needs, providing trauma-informed, person-centred support alongside the Helpline’s cyber expertise.

The postholder will contribute to safeguarding training, reporting and improvements to practice, helping colleagues recognise and respond confidently and appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

During maternity cover, the role will report to the Chief Operating and Impact Officer, who will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and retain strategic safeguarding oversight. The postholder will lead operational delivery with delegated authority and senior support.

Key Responsibilities

Operational safeguarding

Lead the day-to-day response to internal safeguarding alerts, acting as the first point of contact during agreed working hours for colleagues seeking support, assessing risk, prioritising concerns and coordinating timely action.

Make and record proportionate safeguarding decisions within delegated authority, seeking support from the Designated Safeguarding Lead where needed.

Provide practical advice to staff and volunteers on vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, professional boundaries and appropriate next steps.

Maintain regular contact with Team Leads and the Case Support Team to identify concerns and support safe case management.

Determine whether cases require specialist support through the Escalations queue or can remain with their existing caseholder with additional guidance.

Make or coordinate referrals to statutory and specialist services, working collaboratively with external professionals.

Support effective multi-agency responses for service users with complex or overlapping needs.

Maintain oversight of open safeguarding concerns, referrals and outstanding actions.

Recognise and elevate significant, complex or unresolved concerns without delaying urgent protective action.

Maintain accurate, timely and secure records, respecting confidentiality, consent and information-sharing requirements.

Receive, respond to and expedite safeguarding concerns involving staff or volunteers, supporting the response within delegated authority.

Identify and report recurring risks, emerging themes, gaps in practice and barriers to effective support.

Provide timely information to support decisions about serious incident notifications and other external reporting through agreed organisational procedures.

Specialist casework

Manage a caseload of high-risk and vulnerable service users within the Escalations queue, including young people aged 13–17 and those with additional support needs.

Provide trauma-informed, person-centred support, adapting approaches to individual needs and circumstances.

Identify and respond to changes in risk, vulnerability or support needs in line with agreed escalation pathways.

Work collaboratively with service users to identify appropriate next steps across cyber, safety and wider support needs.

Identify when specialist or statutory intervention is required and support service users to access appropriate services.

Support safe case transfers and closure.

Maintain clear, accurate and timely case records, including risks, actions, referrals and safeguarding decisions.

Service Development and Learning

Participate in relevant case discussions, safeguarding reviews and reflective practice.

Prepare safeguarding reports and briefings for senior leadership and trustees as required, protecting confidentiality and sharing only necessary information.

Identify learning and areas for practice development through frontline casework, safeguarding reviews and feedback from colleagues.

Provide practical feedback to improve the Escalations and safeguarding response process.

Support the development and delivery of safeguarding induction, refresher training and targeted learning where needs are identified.

Contribute to reviews of safeguarding procedures, casework guidance and resources, drawing on learning from complex cases.

Support wider training and awareness activity relating to vulnerable service users, safeguarding and technology-facilitated harm where appropriate.

Requirements

Candidates must be a resident in the UK with the right to work in the UK.

Appointment is subject to appropriate safeguarding checks, including a DBS check at the level applicable to the role. Any information disclosed will be assessed fairly and confidentially, taking account of its relevance to the role and applicable legal requirements. A criminal record will not automatically prevent appointment.

Person Specification

We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds. We value practical experience and a commitment to supporting people affected by cybercrime and online harm. You do not need to have held a particular job title or followed a specific qualification route.

You do not need to meet every desirable criterion. The successful candidate will receive an initial handover, regular supervision and access to colleagues with specialist cyber expertise. We will identify learning needs together and support further training appropriate to the role.

Relevant experience supporting people experiencing heightened risk, vulnerability or complex needs through casework, safeguarding or a related support role.

Experience assessing and responding to safeguarding concerns, making reasoned decisions within your responsibilities and recognising when to seek advice or elevate.

A working understanding of safeguarding children and adults at risk, including consent, confidentiality, information sharing and referral routes.

Experience working with other professionals or services to coordinate support or make appropriate referrals.

A compassionate, non-judgemental approach, with the ability to adapt communication to people’s needs and circumstances.

Ability to provide clear, practical advice to colleagues while maintaining professional boundaries.

Ability to prioritise according to risk and urgency, maintain accurate records and follow through on agreed actions.

Confidence using digital tools and handling sensitive information securely.

Awareness of how online interactions can be used to exploit, control or harm people, alongside a strong interest in developing your understanding of cybercrime and its impact on victims. Specialist technical expertise is not required.

Commitment to accessible, inclusive support and to developing your practice through training, supervision and feedback.

Experience supporting children and young people.

Knowledge of domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual violence or technology-facilitated abuse.

Experience providing support remotely, including considering safe ways to contact service users.

Experience advising or supporting staff and volunteers with safeguarding concerns.

Experience contributing to training, practical guidance, safeguarding reviews or service improvements.

Experience working within a charity, helpline or volunteer-led service.

Relevant safeguarding training or a qualification in a related field. Equivalent practical experience is equally valued.

Working arrangements

This is a remote, UK-based role. The postholder will need a private working environment suitable for confidential conversations and a reliable internet connection. The Cyber Helpline operates a bring-your-own-device policy; any device used for work must meet the organisation’s security requirements.

Working hours and availability will be agreed to provide consistent safeguarding support to colleagues alongside dedicated time for specialist casework. Arrangements for safeguarding cover outside these hours and during absences will be clearly established.

The postholder will receive an initial handover from the Head of Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, with ongoing line management and senior support from the Chief Operating and Impact Officer during maternity cover.

What we offer

Enhanced annual leave - generous leave package with an extra day off to celebrate your birthday.

Pension scheme - 4% employer contribution to your workplace pension scheme

Employee discounts - thousands of discounts on travel, shopping, wellbeing, entertainment and more.

Remote working cost budget - an annual allowance to cover eligible remote working costs

Flexible, remote-first working - we are a remote-first organisation, you’ll have the freedom to work from home (or away - subject to approval), supported by a flexible working culture.

Cybersecurity at home - we offer free cybersecurity tools to protect your personal devices.

Professional development - access to ad-hoc training based on your role and professional growth interests

Enhanced leave - including sick pay, paternity/maternity, compassionate and bereavement leave. We operate with flexibility during periods of illness, family need or unexpected events.

Cybersecurity community - Join a supportive network of over 150 cybersecurity professionals in the UK and USA.

Time off for learning - request time off to pursue training or development opportunities

Equal opportunities

The Cyber Helpline is committed to equal opportunities and to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and assess candidates fairly against the skills, experience and requirements of the role.

We recognise the value of different perspectives. Applicants are not expected to disclose personal experiences as part of your application.

We are committed to an accessible recruitment process. If you need adjustments at any stage, please contact us so we can discuss how best to support you.

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