Cathedral Safeguarding Officer

Job Overview

The Cathedral Safeguarding Officer is the designated safeguarding professional for Lincoln Cathedral, responsible for ensuring that safeguarding is embedded across all aspects of Cathedral life.

The postholder will ensure compliance with Church of England safeguarding policy, diocesan frameworks and relevant statutory legislation, while promoting a culture of care, accountability and continuous improvement.

The role involves providing expert safeguarding advice, managing safeguarding concerns and casework, supporting safer recruitment processes, and ensuring that clergy, staff and volunteers understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

Working in partnership with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and statutory agencies, the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer will support the Dean and Chapter in fulfilling their safeguarding responsibilities, while exercising independent professional judgement in relation to safeguarding matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote a culture in which safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility.
• Manage safeguarding concerns, allegations and casework.
• Support safer recruitment processes, including DBS requirements and safeguarding risk assessments.
• Develop and review safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Support safeguarding training and awareness across the Cathedral community.
• Maintain accurate, secure and confidential safeguarding records using the MyConcern system.
• Liaise with statutory agencies, including local authorities and police, where required.
• Prepare safeguarding reports for governance bodies including Chapter and SLT.

Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Significant experience of safeguarding casework involving children and/or vulnerable adults.
• Strong working knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice.
• Experience of risk assessment and safeguarding risk management.
• Experience of working with or alongside statutory agencies.
• Strong interpersonal, organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and complex situations with professionalism, discretion and resilience.

Working Pattern and Benefits

• Permanent part-time role.
• 21 hours per week across a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Primarily site based at Lincoln Cathedral.
• Up to 1 day per fortnight home working may be negotiated.
• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays (pro rata).
• Church Workers Pension Scheme.

Safeguarding and Recruitment Information

Lincoln Cathedral is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This role is subject to enhanced safeguarding requirements, including an Enhanced DBS check with barred list check.

Please complete the Cathedral Application Form. CVs will not be accepted as a substitute for the application form.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 5pm.