Summary
We are seeking a Governance Support officer
The Church of England is continually striving to improve its safeguarding practices. The 2020 report by IICSA on the Church highlighted failures in respect of child sexual abuse and, more broadly, the challenges facing the Church to get safeguarding right.
The Church's aspiration is that safeguarding is not experienced and approached as a matter of administrative compliance. Rather, it should be what the Church is - something that flows from its core beliefs and values, part of its DNA.
The Church has made important and positive strides over recent years. There is, however, still much to be done to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, and to promote their well-being. The Church is a complex collection of different bodies. Most of the safeguarding work is carried out locally within the 42 dioceses and cathedrals in England. This work is supported centrally by a National Safeguarding Team (NST).
The role exists to support the National Safeguarding Panel (NSP) in carrying out its scrutiny and consultation responsibilities. You will oversee the panel's operational activities and ensure the effective coordination of meetings, consultation sessions, and engagement events. From coordinating diaries and tracking recommendations to organising consultations and analysing data trends, your work will be integral to the NSP's success. You will collaborate closely with the NSP Chair, Associate, and the wider Business Support Team. This is a unique opportunity to help shape national safeguarding efforts and contribute to meaningful change.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate and support NSP meetings and events, including agenda-setting, minutes, and follow-up actions.
- Manage financial processes (e.g., invoices, honoraria), budget administration, and supplier setup.
- Develop and maintain systems for data, decision-tracking, and confidentiality
- Communicate with internal and external stakeholders through newsletters, SharePoint, and inbox management.
- Support recruitment, induction, and governance arrangements including working groups.
- Ensure consistency and alignment across safeguarding teams and National Church Institutions.
Key role requirements
- This is a part-time role and you will be required to work 14 hours per week.
- A basic DBS check will be required as part of our pre-employment checks.
- This is a hybrid role with the expectation to work from the office location 1-3 days per week.
We are looking for someone with:
- Proven ability to handle sensitive communications with tact and professionalism.
- Excellent digital literacy, confident across Microsoft 365 and a variety of web-based tools such as web-based applications (such as Asana, Zoom, SmartSurvey) and ability to learn new software quickly.
- Able to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of stakeholders, including those who are survivors of abuse.
- Highly competent minute/note taker.
- Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- High attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a collaborative approach
- Empathy for the mission of the Church and a personal commitment to safeguarding.
- Experience in triaging and responding to communications of a sensitive nature.
- Strong administrative and organisational experience, ideally within a national team.
- A salary of £16,228.80 (FTE £40,572) per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.
- 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
- We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario and if this fits within the department's needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
- We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
- Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK's leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
- Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
- Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
- Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.
- Strive for Excellence
- Show Compassion
- Respect others
- Collaborate
- Act with Integrity
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
Thank you!
Do you want to make a difference to the lives of students and equip them to put their faith into action?
SCM is looking for a recent graduate to spend a year working with us to help us to continue to build on the work of our successful Faith in Action project.
Run in partnership with Project Bonhoeffer, a small charitable trust, the project began in 2012 with a vision that Christian students in Britain would have a greater awareness and understanding of Bonhoeffer’s radical approach to faith and discipleship, and its implications for Christian living in the modern world.
The project has helped to run over a dozen campaigns from Food Poverty to Peace, and had an immeasurable impact on thousands of students through blogs, resources, and relationships. All of this is bringing to light many ‘Bonhoeffers’ of today negotiating the implications on Christian living in the world.
In 2021 we developed the Faith in Action project as a graduate scheme by employing two graduates to work on the project; one to lead on theology bringing a depth of learning and theological refection, and the other to be a campaigns lead, taking us always back out into the world to make a difference.
The project has been very successful, and now we are looking to grow it for further. We are looking for a passionate graduate to join the project for the 2025-26 academic year.
In this role, you will be a theologian to make other theologians, and will provide the framework for students to be able to reflect theologically on their life and modern Christian Living. You will be responsible for growing the breadth of SCM’s Faith in Action resources, and discovering new ways of connecting with the current membership via the trends of social media or engaging in face-to-face reflections. An activist to make other activists, you will coordinate social action for SCM, engaging the membership in social justice projects that maximise our impact in society and the world.
You will work to build relationships between SCM communities and members to equip students with the skills they need to become faith-filled agents of social and political change and lead them in theological reflection to discern their involvement in local and national campaigns. You will also work to develop relationships with other Christian social justice and campaigning organisations to create opportunities for students to put their faith into action. In all of this, you will be supported by our small but perfectly-formed team, who will share your values and fully understand your aims in this project.
The role will require some travel within Britain, as well as semi-regular visits to the office in Birmingham, which may also include an overnight stay. All reasonable expenses for travel and accommodation will be reimbursed. Some evening and weekend work may be required for which time off in lieu will be given.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and LGBTQ+ individuals who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. Due to the nature of this role and the responsibilities of the successful post-holder, a genuine occupational requirement to be a committed Christian is in place for this role in accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010.
Please use the forms provided; CVs will not be accepted. Applications should be submitted electronically in Word format by email to the address provided in the application pack.
Student Christian Movement is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1125640, and in Scotland number SC048506
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.