Model Job Description

Safeguarding Adviser

(Children and Adults)

A Model of Good Practice

Distribution

Diocesan Bishops for dissemination to their senior staff

cc Cathedral Deans for dissemination to their senior staff

Bishop’s senior safeguarding staff leads

Diocesan Secretaries / CX for dissemination to Human Resources Manager, Communications Officer, Diocesan Registrar, Independent Safeguarding Chair, Children / Youth Worker and Social Responsibility Officer.

Cathedral Chapter Clerks / CX for dissemination to their Human Resources Manager, Communications Officer and Safeguarding Adviser.

Bishop’s Chaplains

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers

Survivor Groups - Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS), the Lantern Project, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation,

Ecclesiastical Insurance Group

Safeguarding Lawyer, Church House, Westminster

National Going for Growth (Children and Youth) Adviser

National Safeguarding Team

Date of circulation:March 2014

Preface

March 2014

Dear Colleague,

This Model of Good Practice has been developed at the request of a number of Dioceses. It has been jointly worked on by the Joint Safeguarding Liaison group (Policy Sub Group) and a Diocesan Chief Executive, on behalf of the Diocesan Secretaries Liaison Group.

It may be helpful to be clear about the status of this document. The House of Bishops approve safeguarding policy statements, for example Protecting all God’s Children and Promoting a safe church. Policy statements are reviewed on a regular basis, usually every five years or so. Practice guidance, including joint practice guidance with the Methodist Church, is written by advisers to address immediate practice issues or issues that have been identified by Dioceses which need a quicker response. Policy statements and practice guidance are commended to you. Failure to adhere to them could invalidate your insurance cover. Models of good practice are templates which you may choose to use as they stand or to adapt to suit your purposes in your diocese. A cataloguing system, referenced by type and date, has been introduced for clarity of current advice.

This Model of Good Practice is a template which you may choose to use as it stands, or to adapt to suit your purposes in your diocese.

The Model of Good Practice provides a current view of the:-

  • Role of the Safeguarding Adviser
  • Time that is required to fulfil this role
  • Salary range (at 2014)
  • Person Specification

You are encouraged to refer to it if you are appointing a new Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, and when you review the Job Description of your current Safeguarding Adviser at annual appraisal.

If you have any questions about this Model of Good Practice contact:-

Simon Payne

Acting Head of Delivery

National Safeguarding Team

Central Secretariat

Church House

Great Smith Street

London SW1P 3AZ

I hope you will find this Model of Good Practice helpful in your Diocese.

Yours in Christ's fellowship,

+ Paul

Paul Butler

Bishop of Durham

Lead Bishop on Safeguarding

Name of Diocese

Safeguarding Adviser

(Children and Adults)

Model[1]Job Description

Context: In every diocese the Diocesan Bishop is ultimately accountable for Safeguarding. In order to discharge this responsibility it is essential that a Safeguarding Adviser is appointed to advise the Bishop, senior staff and those responsible for the care of children and vulnerable adults. The Safeguarding Adviser should support the diocese in the development of policy and good practice, training and ensuring that allegations of abuse and offenders returning to the community are appropriately supported and managed. This document should be used as a template of best practice for adoption by every diocese. In most cases the Safeguarding Adviser will be accountable to the Diocesan Secretary / Chief Executive or a member of their senior team. As the principal adviser to the Bishop and due to the nature of the work, specific direction may come directly from the diocesan bishop.Whilst dioceses will wish to add local arrangements into the job description it is anticipated that all the paragraphs below will be adopted.

The Safeguarding Adviser may be an employee of the Diocese, or may be commissioned as a consultant to advise the bishop and diocese of policy and practice. In both cases, the DSA is accountable to the Diocese and cannot be reviewed as ‘independent’ for the purposes of independent risk assessment.

Job Summary: To support the diocese in the development of local policy, good practice and training. To ensure that allegations of abuse are appropriately referred to the statutory authoritiesensuring the provision of appropriate advice and support to survivors and victims of abuse. To make sure that offenders returning to the community are appropriately supported and managed. Toadvise the diocese on all safeguarding matters ensuring that all advice is in line with the law, government guidance and national guidance from the House of Bishops and National Safeguarding Adviser.;

Key Relationships: In each diocese there will be different people responsible for the management and implementation of safeguarding. It is however, essential that the Safeguarding Adviser forms excellent working relationships with: the Bishop and senior staff, the independent chair of the Safeguarding Panel, the Dean and senior Cathedral staff, those in licenced and authorised ministry, deanery / parish safeguarding advisers, relevant officers in the various statutory authorities (as a minimum Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO),key local authority adult and children’s services officers and Probation Offender Managers. Contact with the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) officer and the police Public Protection Unit (PPU)will be vital.

Time and salary: The imperative for dioceses to engage appropriately in safeguarding requires an approach beyond the traditional ‘firefighting’. It is therefore anticipated that in most dioceses the post will need to be fulltime if the range of responsibilities are adequately covered. The post of Safeguarding Adviser should be regarded as a senior adviser post and is likely (depending on regional variances) to be in the region of £36 – 46k plus London weighting where appropriate (2014). Dioceses may need to add a local supplement where there are special circumstances which need to be taken into account to recruit the right candidate.

Professional Standing[2]: A significant amount of the Safeguarding Adviser’s time will be spent giving advice. It is essential therefore that this advice is provided by a person professionally qualified and experienced in the practice of safeguarding. The adviser must be able to demonstrate professional independence and willhave knowledge of the structures of the Church of England. The safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is a core part of the Church’s mission and the Safeguarding Adviser will be essential to promoting that mission. This post would be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)check.

Policy Framework: There are five safeguarding policies in the Church of England:-

  • Promoting a SafeChurch (safeguarding policy for adults) 2006,
  • Responding to Domestic Abuse (guidelines for those with pastoral responsibility, 2006,
  • Protecting All God's Children (safeguarding policy for children and young people, 4th edition,2010,
  • Responding Well to those who have been sexually abused 2011,
  • Safeguarding Guidelines relating to Safer Recruitment' (interim policy), 2013.

Main duties and responsibilities

1Development of policy, procedures and good practice guidelines

  • Monitor and remain up to date with the development of government policy, Church of England policy and good practice and maintaining continuing professional development and professional registration where appropriate.
  • Developing and regularly reviewing the diocesan safeguarding policy, ensuring that it is easily accessible and understandable.
  • Supporting the Archdeacons in ensuring each parish has adopted and implemented the diocesan policy and procedures.
  • Monitoring, checking and providing advice and guidance on parish policies;
  • Providing an annualreport for the Diocese (Bishop’s Council/Diocesan Synod) and statistical return to the national adviser;
  • Providing a brief to the national Safeguarding Adviser on all cases which go to court, tribunal or become public through the media.

2.In co-operation with the Diocesan Director of Training, provision of appropriate safeguarding training as recommended nationally for:

  • The bishop and senior staff
  • All those in licensed ministry
  • All volunteers working with children, young people or the vulnerable(including, organists, choir leaders, music group leaders and bell ringers (who teach or train children and young people).
  • Children and youth workers and those working with vulnerable adults
  • .Parish safeguarding co-ordinators
  • Any other person who has responsibility for policy and management of work with children, young people and vulnerable Adults (including churchwardens and PCC members).

Ensuring evaluation, review and monitoring of the training programmes.

3Casework. The diocesan safeguarding adviser should:

  • Provide guidance and direction where there are concerns about children and young people and adults who may be a risk;
  • Respond to requests for advice, information and guidance for individuals in the Church who are concerned about the welfare of vulnerable people (children, young people and adults).
  • Take the lead in responding to serious situations following Practice Guidance 2014 number 1, including:
  • Ensure there is support and advice for those who are victims or survivors of abuse
  • Ensure the provision of approved Authorised Listeners[3]
  • Support individuals when a referral to local authority children’s and adults social care or the police is necessary;
  • Attend strategy meetings and case conferences as requested by statutory agencies. At times this will include preparing parish personnel for such meetings and attending with them or on their behalf;
  • Support parishes during a child/adult protection or safeguarding enquiry and afterwards. This may include ensuring support is provided for others in the parish who may be affected by such an enquiry, for example volunteers or other leaders;
  • Work in partnership with the statutory agencies, any of whom may make the initial approach or seek information to which they are entitled;
  • Provide advice to the bishop or other employer on the possibility of employment or redeployment of those with convictions or continuing unresolved concerns regarding harm to a child or adult
  • Advise when an independent risk assessment should be sought;
  • Ensure at all times that appropriate records are maintained, suitable for admission in legal proceedings.
  • Draw up and regularly review agreements with those known to be a risk to children and / or vulnerable adults.
  • Provide advice to the diocesan DBS administrator and ensure the DBS process is fit for purpose
  • Provide a risk assessment[4] process for those where DBS checks are not clear;

The nature of this work will mean that at times telephone advice will suffice. At other times the role will require meetings with individuals, convening of a ‘core group’ in management of serious situations, the preparation of reports, or the setting up of support networks.

4Networking

  • The effectiveness of the diocesan safeguarding adviser is dependent

on building professional relationships with statutory agencies: the local safeguarding boards (children and adults), the local authority children’s and adults social care services, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) the local police: in particular, the child and adult abuse investigation unit, the public protection unit, multi-agency protection panels and the local probation service.

  • The diocesan safeguarding adviser should be part of the national and regional network of diocesan safeguarding children advisers, any relevant local ecumenical or multi-faith forum; the adviser should be resourced to attend the Annual Conference of Church of England Diocesan and Methodist District Advisers.
  • Within the diocese, the diocesan safeguarding adviser will be linked with significant diocesan personnel, for example, those responsible for children’s work, youth work, clergy and lay workers, Diocesan Directors of Communications, Training, Human Resources and social responsibility, Bishops’ Chaplains.

Name of Diocese

Safeguarding Adviser

(Children and Adults)

Model person specification

Attributes / Essential / Desirable
Education
Training
Skills / Relevant professional qualification or equivalent (for example; social work, health, teaching, law, police etc.) with current registration where applicable. / A qualification in Training
Level 3 training[5] in child or adult protection with ability to demonstrate transferrable knowledge across the client groups / Training in both child and adult protection
Training to Level 4
IT and good record keeping skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - written, oral and presentational
Knowledge
Experience
Ability / Senior practitioner/manager experience and knowledge of safeguarding working with children, young people or adults who are vulnerable and ability to demonstrate transferrable knowledge across the client groups / Senior practitioner/manager experience and knowledge of safeguarding working with children, young people and adults who are vulnerable.
Senior practitioner/manager experience of working with victims or survivors of abuse
Up to date knowledge of safeguarding guidance and the management of cases of concern. / Detailed knowledge of
national church safeguarding policies
Experience in developing and implementing safeguarding procedures and policies
Able to analyse complex situations and advise appropriately
Proven experience of arranging and leading training events
In sympathy with the aims of the Church of England / Knowledge of church
structures
A proven ability to develop and sustain relationships at all levels both inside and outside the church
Able to identify examples of poor practice and ensure that necessary change is implemented
Able to maintain the highest
standards of confidentiality and work sensitively with those affected by issues of safeguarding
Able to travel in the diocese.

MGP 2014.1 Church of England Safeguarding Model of Good Practice 2014 number 1

1

[1] Based on guidance contained in Protecting all God’s Children 4th Edition 2010 Appendix 4 and recommended by the National Safeguarding Adviser and Diocesan Secretaries Liaison Group.

[2]The Diocese should ensure that the Adviser has access to professional indemnity and public liability insurance

[3]Responding Well to those who have been sexually abused 2011

[4] “Consideration should be given to establishing a risk assessment panel for complex cases” Protecting all God’s Children 4th Edition 2010 Appendix 4

[5] Level 1: Non-professional staff working in children, young people / vulnerable adult settings

• Level 2: Minimum level required for professional staff who have some degree of contact with

children and young people or vulnerable adults and/or parents/carers

• Level 3: Professional staff working with children, young people or vulnerable adults and/or their parents/carers and

who could potentially contribute to assessing, planning, intervening and evaluating the needs

of a child or young person and parenting capacity where there are safeguarding/child protection

concerns11

• Level 4: Named professionals, with at least 3 years’ experience who can give advice to others

• Level 5: Designated professionals – takes a strategic and professional lead in an organisation

• Level 6: Experts (clinician with specialist skills and knowledge) and / or a court appointed expert