Safeguarding & Compliance Lead Job Description

Transcription

1 Safeguarding & Compliance Lead Job Description Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer, Pro-Action Pro-Action Hertfordshire supports, represents and champions the many organisations and individuals across Hertfordshire who work with children and young people. Our Vision is for Every child and young person in Hertfordshire to access high quality opportunities and provision to enhance their growth and development. We do this by focusing on 3 key strands of work: Quality Safeguarding Wellbeing & Resilience Three ways we work are: Delivering a Training programme to those working with children & young people. Providing & encouraging opportunities for Children & Young People Engaging organisations & groups as members to provide support. Pro-Action is a small voluntary organisation with a wide reach. We work with volunteers and staff who deliver children and young people s provision across the county of Hertfordshire. We have a long-standing commitment to supporting projects across the county, by engaging them as members of Pro-Action and ensuring they offer a safe and quality service. The Pro-Action team though small, is very supportive and our emphasis on children and young people s (CYP) services keeps our work very fresh, innovative and focused on the positive outcomes for CYP. The team often work autonomously, but our shared focus on young people and improving quality and outcomes keeps us working cohesively. Pro-Action is a leading charity in supporting youthwork across the county, and your input will benefit hundreds of children and young people, accessing youth provision in Hertfordshire. We currently support over 150 organisations. This represents 30,000 young people and children, 3,500 volunteers and 1,000 full and part-time paid staff. Office Location: Sylvia Adams House, 24 The Common, Hatfield, Herts. AL10 0NB There is some flexibility but overall you would be expected to work out of the office at Hatfield. As a small team this is a vital element of working effectively together. It is anticipated that 50% of the working week will be at the office. Hours: 25 hours per week Salary: Pro-rata of 27,000-30,000 per annum (works out between 18,000-20,000 per annum) Holiday Entitlement: Pro-rata of 25 days per annum, plus public holidays (depending how they fall in relation to agreed work pattern).

2 The Developing Role of the Safeguarding & Compliance Lead: Safeguarding has always been a significant element of the Pro-Action s work, underpinning the support and training provided to organisations across the youth and children s sector in Hertfordshire. Following a strategic review, Safeguarding is now highlighted as a key area of our focus. Our aim is to become known as the go to place for safeguarding in the county for children & young people. We also have aims to increase member numbers and our financial sustainability through our focused and improved offer as well as the development of partnership programmes and projects to support young people. All these factors are and will continue to increase the pace of change that we are experiencing. We are a small team that works together to deliver our services, each person has their specific specialism/focus but being a team is an important part of how we work. Purpose of this role: The primary purposes of this post are to: Be Pro-Action s Safeguarding Lead, ensuring our compliance and being our Designated Officer. Engage with Herts Safeguarding Children Board (see note below) to ensure that Pro- Action is recognised as a key organisation supporting the voluntary sector. Ensure compliance in relation to safeguarding and good practice with all partner organisations involved in the delivery of projects and programmes as part of our funding and partnership strategy. Develop the Safeguarding focus of the Pro-Action as one of the three key strategic elements of our work. Support the increased focus on raising quality across the sector by developing a heightened role in ensuring compliance of member organisations with safeguarding and other legal requirements. Ensure that our procedures as a Registered Body for Disclosure & Barring Service meet requirements and to continue the move to members using an online service for DBS s. Being Pro-Action s Safeguarding Lead: Provide the team with the information and updates, ensuring understanding and a consistent voice by every team member. In this way ensuring compliance and delivery of safeguarding policy and procedures into the children & youth sector. Maintaining member policy templates & information ref safeguarding Advising and overseeing any events and activities to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. Be our Designated Officer in relation to child protection issues that arise. To ensure that you keep abreast with all changes to legislation so that Pro-Action can ensure the highest quality of information is available to our team and members. Engage with Herts Safeguarding Children Board: HSCB is currently the key organisation in Hertfordshire that we relate to regarding Safeguarding and Child Protection of young people. Following publication of Working Together for Children 2018 there are likely to be changes as the report proposes

3 changes to county structures around safeguarding, suggesting a more partnership approach. To play an active role as a key member of HSCB/its successor, emphasizing our role in supporting the voluntary and community sector. Ensure compliance in relation to safeguarding and good practice with all partner organisations involved in the delivery of projects and programmes as part of our funding strategy: Establishing a procedure for checking that all organisations that are part of any project meet our requirements for safeguarding and other linked policies. Ensure this process is operated smoothly and speedily to meet the timeline set by the project lead. (Most programmes, once agreed will often start very quickly). Obtaining from partner organisations relevant evidence of compliance e.g. a copy of safeguarding policies, details of safeguarding lead, etc. Discussion with partners to ensure they comply with county requirements & DBS checks in practice, not just word. Develop the Safeguarding focus of the organisation as one of the three key elements of our work, including: Developing a significant web presence relating to safeguarding of children & young people. This should link to major safeguarding websites/organisations as well as updates that highlight issues and responses to the ever-changing world of safeguarding. To work with the Quality Officer & Head of External Relations to ensure continuity between the promotion of quality and safeguarding. Through this focus for Pro-Action to be seen as the go to resource in terms of safeguarding and its importance in the wellbeing of children & young people. To write articles that give a grass root perspective on this area, developed from close links with our various member groups, highlighting the challenges and solutions for members and team. To investigate and respond to the apparent requirements of national sporting bodies and their relationship to Hertfordshire regulations for all groups working in the county to ensure we are providing up to date and accurate information always. To instigate any changes to legislation and procedures within the time frames set by that legislation, DBS etc. Increased focus on raising quality across the sector in Hertfordshire a heightened role in ensuring compliance of member organisations with safeguarding, including: To ensure compliance of basic requirements of membership and First steps, as well as around safeguarding. Acting to challenge and provide training for any organisations consistently not meeting requirements, or not maintaining policies. Ensure that our procedures as a Registered Body for Disclosure & Barring Service meet requirement and to continue the move to members using an online service for DBS s: To be go to person for DBS s within the organisation. To ensure that our procedures around DBS meet all requirements set by the DBS and that we gather and maintain evidence of compliance.

4 To lead on the move to members using online DBS process with a target that we cease to operate our current system by 31 st March To actively promote the DBS update service, giving greater mobility of workers across the sector. All verifiers fully understand and comply with processes as required by DBS and that they evidence this as required. General: Ensure that the best interests of young people are paramount in all planning of Pro-Action s activities. Ensure that Pro-Action s policies and procedures are followed. Use the database (CiviCRM) to ensure all contacts are logged as a central information point for the team and organisation. Participate in supervision and performance appraisal with your Line Manager and to undertake training as mutually agreed within this process. There will be some need to work evenings and occasional weekends as that is often the prime time to visit our affiliated members. Receive national, regional, county and local information and filter this to the membership as appropriate. Work together within the team to ensure the most effective use of the individual skills and expertise of the team to achieve the task. Contribute to the planning and delivery of the Service Level Agreement with YC Hertfordshire and any other contracts entered by Pro-Action. Nature of employment: This is a permanent appointment. However, all employment at Pro-Action is dependent on external funding, consequently this post will be directly affected if funding reduces or ceases. Review: This job description is intended to provide an indication of the main areas of responsibility and key tasks as the job is currently constituted. It will be reviewed in collaboration with the Chief Executive on a six-monthly basis as part of the appraisal process.

5 Person Specification Experience Skills and Abilities Of working within a children s and/or young people s organisation Of working with or within the voluntary & community sector Of delivering and host training sessions. Of managing in a Safeguarding role within an organisation Of the DBS process within an organisation. Of leading and motivating colleagues in your areas of expertise Of developing policies in relation to effective governance of voluntary groups Of working within appropriate child protection guidelines Of using a CRM Database to manage and record information Skilled communicator at all levels including confident presentation skills to young people, partners and member organisations Ability to train colleagues in safeguarding policy and procedures to ensure effective implementation of the organisations strategy. Ability to train others on DBS processes, including risk assessments and guidance to member organisations and their staff. Ability to build relationships at all levels Ability to work independently as a self-starter and as part of a team Ability to manage several tasks at a time & display excellent time management skills. Knowledge/Un derstanding Education/ Training Other Requirements Ability to analyse information and make decisions and/or recommendations Excellent IT-literacy ability, confident in Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Of policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding and their impact upon all aspects of our work, including appropriate use of internet and social media. Of operational youth work/ play work & provision, within the voluntary sector. Of equality, diversity and safeguarding issues with the commitment to promote and develop positive initiatives in all aspects of work. Of Quality Assurance processes Of the ethos of an organisation that works primarily with volunteers and being flexible to accommodate their availability. At least a Level 3 recognised qualification in a relevant field Appropriate training in aspects of safeguarding Evidence of CPD throughout working life in appropriate areas for this role. Can do attitude and proven success in delivery of services. Commitment to working outside of normal office hours at weekends and away from home Access to car with full driving license. Competencies The following competencies will be assessed at interview: Customer focus - Providing an excellent service to colleagues and young people inside and outside Pro-Action. Confidence and judgement - Making clear decisions and dealing positively with challenges.

6 Commitment and drive - Striving for excellence in everything you do. Communication and influence - Communicating clearly and persuasively with people inside and outside Pro-Action. Teamwork - Working collaboratively and supportively with all colleagues. Planning and organising - Defining priorities and managing time to deliver effectively. Strategic Able to deliver work on the ground that relates to the strategic aims of the organisation. Professional and ethical practice - Working to the highest professional and ethical standards to provide an excellent service. Pro-Action September 2018