Survivor Participation Officer
Summary
This is a part time role for 3 days a week running on a 3 year fixed term contract until July 2028
In February 2025, the Church of England's legislative body, General Synod, voted on a motion brought by the Lead Bishop for Safeguarding on future structures for safeguarding in the Church of England.
This work was the culmination of a response by the Church of England to two reports published in 2024 about safeguarding structures and operations. The General Synod motion, as amended, sets the direction of travel for safeguarding structures and operations in the future.
The lead safeguarding bishop and her team are in the process of constituting a Programme Board, which will oversee two Project Boards delivering major workstreams:
- Scrutiny of Church Safeguarding
- Operational Delivery of Church Safeguarding
The day-to-day operation of delivering the work that General Synod has commissioned is the responsibility of the Safeguarding Structures Team. This team will deliver work to develop a scrutiny body which will scrutinise the Church of England's safeguarding activities, through the Project Board delivering Scrutiny of Church Safeguarding.
The Survivor Participation Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the work of the Safeguarding Structures Team, taking responsibility for enabling and supporting victims and survivors to participate in the work of the Safeguarding Structures programme.
The Safeguarding Structures programme includes:
- Setting up an external scrutiny body, which is likely to be on a statutory basis in order to give it "teeth" and so would require legislation
- Transfer of most functions currently delivered by the National Safeguarding Team (NST) - except policy development - to an external employer, eventually and after all development, consultation and legislative processes complete
- Further work to determine the legal and practical requirements necessary to implement model 4 which would involve the transfer of safeguarding teams in dioceses and cathedrals to the same external employer as the NST.
- A salary of £59,248 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