Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser

Overview

Safeguarding is central to our mission and ministry.  We are seeking an experienced safeguarding practitioner/ manager to lead a well-respected team, and ensure that the diocese maintains the highest standards of protection for children and vulnerable adults.

Introduction

The DSA will offer leadership, support and advice to the diocese and Southwark Cathedral in the development of its safeguarding arrangements, good practice, policy and training, and ensure that the diocese continues to be at the forefront of good practice.  The DSA plays a full role as a member of the Senior Management Team. 

Main Responsibilities

• To offer leadership, support and advice to the diocese and Southwark Cathedral in the development of its safeguarding arrangements, good practice, policy and training.
• To ensure that allegations of abuse are appropriately referred to the statutory authorities ensuring the provision of appropriate advice and support to survivors and victims of abuse.
• To ensure that those who pose a risk are appropriately supported and managed.
• To advise the diocese on all safeguarding matters ensuring that all advice is in line with the law, government guidance and national policy and guidance from the House of Bishops.
• To work collaboratively with the National Safeguarding Team, other dioceses and key role holders within the diocese.

The Ideal Candidate

You should have a relevant professional qualification or equivalent (for example, social care or criminal justice), with current professional registration where applicable.

Experience of undertaking work at a strategic level of contributing to policy and practice development and implementation will be important, as will a detailed knowledge and experience of applying safeguarding legislation, guidance and practice. 

You should have experience of undertaking statutory case and management reviews, and in providing supervision to staff in managing and co-ordating safeguarding of children and adults.

Your experience of working with survivors of abuse will be important in ensuring that we provide appropriate support and advice.

Experience of communications and external stakeholder management on safeguarding issues with policy-makers, media and other external stakeholders at local and/or national level in a context of public scrutiny will also be essential.

About us

The Diocese of Southwark, founded in 1905, forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England and is part of the wider Church of England, in turn part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese covers primarily the area of Greater London which is South of the Thames, together with the Eastern part of the county of Surrey. It is one of the largest dioceses in terms of population and parishes as well as one of the most diverse.

As a Diocese, we celebrate churches, worshipping communities and fresh expressions of Church, across the full spectrum of traditions, that speak well of each other and support each other as together we seek to deliver a our key objectives.  This diversity and range of contexts within our Diocese means there needs to be more than one approach to missional growth – and this role will be a key feature of our journey towards delivering this growth.

In 2017, we launched the Southwark Vision - that we seek to be a Diocese:

• Walking with Jesus and getting to know Jesus better as we journey on
• Welcoming all, embracing our diversity and seeking new ways of being church
• Growing in numbers, generosity, faith and discipleship as we grow God's Kingdom

Our vision is founded on mutual commitment from all who make up the Diocesan family to walk together in the pilgrimage of faith, supporting, encouraging and resourcing each other in our common task.