Head of Safeguarding (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for an experienced safeguarding leader to join us on a maternity cover basis at a defining moment for our organisation. As we review and strengthen our safeguarding culture, you will shape how safeguarding is understood, led and practised across all our services. This is a rare opportunity to influence strategy, challenge and inspire colleagues at every level, and leave a lasting impact on the people we support and the organisation.

About St Giles Trust 

St Giles is an award-winning social justice charity using expertise and real-life past experiences to empower adults and young people who are not getting the help they need. People held back by poverty, exploited, abused, dealing with addiction or mental health problems, caught up in crime or a combination of these issues and others. We show people there is a way to build a better future for themselves and those they care about and help them create this through support, advice, and training.

You will report to the Chief Operating Officer and sit on our Leadership Team.

About you

• Proven experience in a strategic or leadership role with responsibility for safeguarding policy and/or practice.
• Demonstrable experience safeguarding both children and young people and adults over 18.
• Experience of managing serious incidents, including investigations, reporting and prevention.
• Experience of responding to incidents involving people with multiple and complex needs.
• Experience of leading large-scale strategic reviews and seeing improvements through.
• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation in England and Wales, and of safer recruitment and the DBS.
• The ability to stay calm in a crisis, build trust across a multi-site organisation, and lead with strong ethical judgement.

As an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will require a Basic DBS Check.

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

Location: London office. Please note that daily commuting costs to the London office are not reimbursed; however, all business travel across the UK is reimbursed in line with our expenses policy.

PERSON SPECIFICATION: In your application form, please provide a written statement (maximum 1,000 words) showing how you meet the requirements of the role by addressing each of three-person specification areas: 1) Experience, Knowledge & Qualifications 2) Skills 3) Personal Qualities.

This is a fixed term role until 03.03.2028.