Job title: Safeguarding Officer
Grade: E
Salary: £31,634 per annum (rising by annual increments to £33,945). More information on salaries and progression can be found on our pay and policies page.
Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week
Location: The service encourages flexible working and believes that work is what you do not where you do it. The role will be based at Dorchester Support Offices with the flexibility to work from home / DWFRS Stations / Support Offices and we would welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what type of flexible working arrangement will work best for you.
There will be a requirement to attend your base location approximately 2 days a month for key activities and meetings.
Appointment Type: Permanent
Contact: For a chat about this post, please contact Jo McGowan, Safeguarding Manager on 07990950391 or Jo.Mcgowan@dwfire.org.uk
Closing and Interview date: The closing date for applications is Sunday, 14 January 2024 (midnight). It is intended that interviews will take place on Wednesday, 24 January 2024. Should you be shortlisted for interview, further details regarding the interview format / location will be provided before the interview date.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, an organisation that is passionate about changing and saving lives. Our corporate staff are absolutely vital in helping to make our communities safer and healthier. Without them, we couldn’t do it.
As well as being one of the largest combined Fire and Rescue Services in the country we are also one of the top performing. In February 2022, inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) looked closely at our Service and graded us as ‘Good’, ‘Outstanding’, and ‘Good’ across the three inspection pillars of Effectiveness, Efficiency and People.
We offer a wide range of employee benefits and strive to ensure that staff feel valued and rewarded. For example, we offer a flexi time scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, a generous annual leave allowance, a variety of family friendly schemes and health & well-being services.
As a Safeguarding Officer in our Prevention department you will:
- Provide detailed guidance and advice on all aspects of safeguarding across the Service.
- Support with the end to end case management of referrals, progressing to relevant agencies/internal departments as appropriate within strict timelines, ensuring effective and accurate case notes.
- Interact and liaise with a number of statutory and non statutory external organisations whilst dealing with safeguarding cases and making safeguarding referrals.
- Ensure compliance, develop and embed Safeguarding in the Service in line with policy, guidance and best practice.
- Lead on campaigns across the Service to reinforce safeguarding responsibilities.
What makes you our ideal Safeguarding Officer?
- Have 4 GCSE passes – Grade A* – C/9-4, including English and Mathematics/equivalent Level 2 qualification/or higher-level relevant qualification.
- Hold up to Level 3 Qualification or have demonstrable experience with a safeguarding working environment.
- Have a knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding procedures and reporting systems.
- Have experience of meeting best practice guidelines and employment legislation requirements, minimising organisational risk.
For full details of the role and requirements please have a look at the job description and person specification.
Other Information:
- You must have a full current driving licence. Use of your own vehicle will be required, however a Service vehicle may be available.
- The role has an occasional travel requirement.
- There is a rigorous selection process and the identity of the successful candidate will be checked thoroughly, including an Enhanced DBS check for this role. You will be required to register with the DBS Update Service and maintain this registration annually.
- Any offer of employment will be subject to full pre-employment checks which include identity checks, right to work in the UK, medical and receipt of satisfactory reference
Additional Information – Raising Tax Awareness and Pension Considerations
- Annual Allowance – Please note that it is your personal responsibility to check whether by applying/accepting this position it would result in any Annual Allowance implications. A breach in the Annual Allowance threshold could result in a Tax charge. Further information on Annual Allowance can be obtained from our Pensions team.
- Lifetime Allowance – Please note that it is your personal responsibility to check whether by applying/accepting this position it would result in any Lifetime Allowance implications. A breach in the Lifetime Allowance threshold will result in a Tax charge. Further information on Lifetime Allowance can be obtained from our Pensions team.
- Temporary Promotions/Positions – Wholetime and On-call staff: Please note that any period of ‘temporary’, whether that is by way of promotion or allowances associated with a temporary position, will not be pensionable.
To find out more and apply:
You should ensure you include satisfactory evidence in your application to support all of the areas stated as being measured at the Application Stage on the Person Specification. This will ensure you have the best opportunity of progressing to the next stage of the selection process.
We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. All applications will be treated on merit and staff involved in recruitment and selection processes undertake unconscious bias training.
We are committed to the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee an interview to applicants with a disclosed disability if they meet the minimum criteria for the post to which they are applying. Please tell us in confidence if this applies to you, or if there are any reasonable adjustments that would help you apply for this post.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
If you hold international qualifications, you will be required to provide official evidence that shows how these compare to UK Qualifications. We will accept a Statement of Comparability from a UK organisation called ENIC which can be obtained via their website. Please note that UK ENIC charge for this service, so if you request a Statement of Compatibility, you will be required to pay for it as we are unable to reimburse you.
For further guidance on how to complete your application, please refer to the Job Application Guidance Notes. If you are experiencing difficulties completing your application or have a need to complete your application in an alternative format due to a disability, please contact HR Resourcing on 01722 691444 within plenty of time of the closing date of the position you are applying for.
Values & Behaviours Framework
Our recruitment, assessment and progression processes are based on our Code of Ethics that has been developed specifically for Fire and Rescue Services. When recruiting, we identify the most important behaviours for the role and these are used as part of the short-listing and selection process.
For more information: Safeguarding Jobs – 2024 | Indeed.com
