Designated Safeguarding Lead Officer

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will take responsibility for the safeguarding and welfare of children and adults in their designated locality and will work collaboratively with the DSL responsible for a second locality to ensure that at all times Safer Places has a DSL on duty and that there is consistent delivery across the organisation and that our policies procedures and training reflect best practice. The DSL will work closely with the Assistant Director of Operations for the designated locality to ensure the service is meeting its legal and statutory requirements (including training requirements).

Key Responsibilities

Corporate

1. To maintain and demonstrate a commitment to the Organisation’s vision and values and strategic aims and objectives.

2. To maintain high standards of professionalism and keep abreast of current legislation, standards, best practice and maintain a focus of continuous improvement.

3. To maintain knowledge of the Organisation’s operating environment.

Main Responsibilities:

Policy and practice

1. Working collaboratively with the DSL for the second designated locality take responsibility for developing and reviewing policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people and adults with care and support needs

2. Within your designated locality take a lead role in implementing all safeguarding policies and procedures within our Hertfordshire services ensuring that all safeguarding and child protection concerns are responded to appropriately

3. Work collaboratively with the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the second designated locality planning leave and other absence and covering each other’s responsibilities so that at all times there is a safeguarding lead officer available to both designated areas.

4. Keep up to date with changes in policy and best practice in safeguarding through membership of professional groups and networks such as CASPAR and the SAFE network and ensure that all relevant information is disseminated to the board, SMT and others and working collaboratively with your DSL colleague provide regular updates and briefings to staff

Staff and volunteers

1. Provide support, advice and guidance to staff on an on-going basis and on any specified safeguarding issue as required.

2. Take the lead in ensuring that appropriate arrangements for keeping children and young people and adults who have care and safe are in place and that these are implemented effectively.

3. Ensure that the Safe Recruitment Policy and Procedure are followed and that all pre-employment checks and risk assessments are conducted appropriately and are documented

4. Ensure that all staff and volunteers have an up-to-date DBS status at all times

5. Participate in recruitment for staff and volunteers.

6. Take the lead on responding to information that may constitute a child protection or adult safeguarding concern, including a concern that any person involved with the organisation or not may present a risk to children or young people or adults with care and support needs. This includes:

• assessing and clarifying information
• making referrals to statutory organisations as appropriate
• consulting with and informing the relevant members of the organisation’s management

• following the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures

7. Where issues arise involving a member of staff either on or off duty ensure that our policies and procedures are implemented and liaise with the LADO (Local Authority Disclosure Officer) as appropriate including informing the LADO if a member of staff should be dismissed or leave the organisation following a safeguarding incident

8. Ensure that all staff complete the standard suite of safeguarding training in line with our policy (currently every 2 years)

9. Liaise with the Assistant Director of Operations to identify additional training needs for the staff team or individuals and liaise with the training department regarding the provision of additional specialist training and provide coaching as required for individuals to strengthen their performance in this area

Working with partners to safeguard children, young people, adults with care and support needs

1. To liaise with local statutory children’s and adult service agencies and with the Local Safeguarding Children’s and Adults Board and where needed challenge decisions accordingly.

2. Liaise with, pass on information to and receive information from statutory child protection and adult safeguarding agencies such as:

• The local authority child protection services
• The police.
• Those charged with conducting official enquiries including Domestic Homicide Reviews and Section 17 enquiries and ensure that these agencies receive a swift and accurate response

3. Participate in multiagency safeguarding meetings held at county or district level as Safer Places representative

4. Work closely and collaboratively with multiagency partners around safeguarding so as to fully understand their duties and responsibilities, the options they have available to them and thresholds in respect of eligibility

Sustaining and delivering improvement in Safeguarding practice

1. Set up and manage clear, accurate and secure record keeping systems and to scrutinise the quality of referrals and concerns raised internally.

1. Ensure that all records are stored and retained according to legal requirements and the organisation’s safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.

2. Work closely with the Assistant Director of Operations and the Senior Management Team and board of trustees to ensure they are kept up to date with safeguarding issues and are fully informed of any concerns about organisational safeguarding and child protection practice.

3. Manage the quality assurance processes associated with Safer Places Safeguarding policy and practices including the production of quarterly monitoring reports, routine dip sampling and regular audits reporting on a quarterly basis direct to the Director of Operations

4. Provide a quarterly report to the Director of Operations regarding barriers to safeguarding evidencing issues where external agencies, internal issues and other factors have compromised the safeguarding response,

General

1. The role holder will be expected to perform any other duties that may reasonably be asked of them.

2. To work with the Assistant Director of Operations in designated area to inform and analyse statistical information and to gather the voice of the victim to inform practice preparing reports as requested to SMT.

3. To participate fully in “on call” duties as required in the delivery of contingency plans outside of the normal shift pattern

4. To ensure that services within the area operate in accordance with Safer Places policies and procedures.

5. Comply with data protection legislation, confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to your work.

6. Remain up-to-date and compliant with all organisational procedures policies and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice.

7. Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the service works in, providing a service that recognises the diverse needs of victims.

Experience

1. Extensive Safeguarding Experience – Essential

2. Experience of working with frontline high risk domestic abuse clients or other vulnerable people – Essential

3. Experience of working effectively within a multi-agency environment – Essential

4. Experience of providing management – Desirable

Knowledge

1.Understanding of effective case management – Desirable

2. Strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations Essential

3. Be an excellent networker both internally and externally to achieve collaboration -Essential

4. Demonstrate strength in advocating for clients and inspiring and motivating colleagues and local partner agencies to develop effective responses to those subject to safeguarding concerns – Essential

Skills

1. Excellent report writing and communication, skills both written and verbal -Essential

2. Able to manage change and growth within the organisation -Essential

3. Excellent organisational skills – Essential

4. Excellent advocacy skills – Essential

Qualification

Safeguarding qualifications at Level 3 or above or prepared to train once in post with the support of Safer Places – Essential

IDVA ISVA or ISAS qualified or similar practitioner qualification relevant to another sector delivering frontline support to vulnerable people – Desirable

Personal Characteristics

1. Commitment to the Organisation’s aims and objectives – Essential

2. Able to motivate others and provide leadership within the service particularly in crisis situations – Essential

3. Act with integrity and respect when interacting with clients, employee’s agencies and individuals- Essential

4. Able to perform under pressure -Essential

5. Open to new ideas and change

6. Strong negotiator and influencer

Subject to Standard DBS Check

Car driver with access to a vehicle

Upon receiving an offer:

• All staff must complete a DBS disclosure due to the nature of our services. You will also be required to bring proof of ID.
• We are legally bound to check the eligibility of all candidates to work in the U.K. We therefore must have proof of your NI number (either the NI card or a recent wage slip).
• As you will be driving in the course of your duties we are also bound by law to make sure your vehicle is safe and road worthy. We must see your driving licence, Insurance and MOT before you start work. Also needs to be insured for Business use.
• We will require two satisfactory references, one of which should be from your most recent/current employer. Please let us know if we can request the references in advance

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Visit https://www.saferplaces.co.uk/jobs for more information

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £27,444.38 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Application deadline: 21/09/2022
Reference ID: DSL 100722 E

Source:Designated Safeguarding Lead Officer – Essex – Indeed.com