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
PLEASE NOTE THIS ROLE IS BASED IN OUR OFFICES IN BLANTYRE. We have roles available in our Bradford and Blantyre offices - please state your preference when applying. The assessment day dates for both locations are listed below.
We review applications on an ongoing basis until the closing date so please do apply as soon as is convenient.
Bradford Assessment Day 1: 30th July
Bradford Assessment Day 2: 3rd September
Glasgow Assessment Day 1: 29th July
Glasgow Assessment Day 2: 2nd September
Whether you have worked in debt advice before or are looking for a new opportunity we can help you develop your skills and knowledge to join our debt help team. If you are confident with numbers, can deliver excellent customer service and are compassionate, but emotionally resilient then this is the perfect role for you.
CAP celebrates the value of diversity and our aim is for our workforce to be as inclusive as possible as well as representing the communities we serve. With this in mind, we welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. We are committed to continue building an environment that embraces diversity and includes all.
Salary and Progression
Trainee Debt Advisor starting salary of £24,477.20 with the opportunity to progress to a Debt Advisor role with a salary of £26,664.75 usually within 12 months. Further progression is available to a Senior Debt Advisor with a salary of £28,957.27, usually after 2 years (based on meeting necessary performance and development criteria).
After this there are manager and specialist roles that may become available to apply to for further career progression.
Location
Bradford or Blantyre office based initially during training, with a hybrid working split between home and the office after completion of initial training. There is also the option to work entirely from the office if preferred. Initial training will include one week in our Bradford Head Office.
As a Trainee Debt Advisor you will complete a comprehensive programme of classroom training, online training, exams and on the job sign off to equip you to be able to bring expert advice and support our clients in their journey to becoming debt free.
Once you step into one team, you will be working in a fast paced, but rewarding environment. As a debt advisor you will be creating bespoke advice, crafted to help each client gain greater control over their finances. Whether it is negotiating with creditors, or reassuring a distressed caller, as a debt advisor you’ll be demonstrating the highest standard of service, demonstrating both expertise in knowledge but also genuine care for those we are working with.
What a debt advisor does:
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Build budgets to support clients in managing their finances
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Create tailored advice plans to give suitable options to become debt free
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Negotiate with creditors to create a sustainable payment plan and stop further debt collection
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Resolve client queries over phone, email and SMS
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Working with partner churches in running their local debt centres
Accountabilities:
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Complete the Debt Advisor classroom and online training course
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Create a client budget from information gathered by CAP centre staff, reviewing documentation, identifying further queries and applying guidance to expenditure
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To advise clients on their best options to deal with their financial difficulties. This includes formulating a strategy to become debt free, as well as broader advice relevant to their financial situation
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Identify potential enforcement action against clients, negotiating with creditors to establish sustainable plans for repaying debts (or holding further enforcement action)
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Complete Phone training and achieve sign off for call handling
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To deal with client and creditor queries as they arise through the various communication methods available; including phones, post, emails and SMSs
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Amend and update client budgets with changes to their circumstances and identify when a change of circumstance impacts a clients route option
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Pass sign off for advice creation
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To demonstrate patience and resilience whilst helping clients with multiple complex needs, ensuring that CAP continues to deliver the very best for the very least
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To proactively manage clients’ cases toward a debt free conclusion, completing workflow tasks as required and complying with CAP’s Debt Help Policy and Procedures at all times
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To liaise with and work alongside other Debt Operations departments
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To communicate with the CAP debt coaches regarding the status of their client’s cases
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Measurable Outputs:
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Achieve a Pass in the required exams to complete the Debt Advisor training course
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Achieve sign off within 12 months of starting the role
Other responsibilities include:
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Being willing to pray with staff and fully engaged with our Christ-centered culture.
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Encouraging friends, family and other contacts to support the charity through the Life Changer programme and other fundraising initiatives.
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Attending annual CAP staff conferences.
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Completing all compulsory CAP training within given timescales.
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This role falls within the scope of the FCA’s conduct rules, and you will be provided with training as to how these apply to the role. It is your responsibility to ensure that you follow these conduct rules.
The above job profile is a guide to the work you may be required to undertake but does not form part of your contract of employment. It may change from time to time to reflect changing circumstances.
Christian Commitment:
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The candidate must be able to give both verbal assent to and practical demonstration of Christians Against Poverty’s Statement of Faith and Core Values
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Must be able to actively participate in prayer and worship, whether individual, small group or corporately, as an expression of their own personal faith and in line with CAP’s Statement of Faith.
All adults working in or on behalf of CAP have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults. This includes:
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A responsibility to ensure a safe environment in which CAP services can be delivered.
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Identifying children and adults where there may be safeguarding concerns.
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What skills you need:
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Excellent communication, both verbal and written
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Able to quickly analyse complex situations to find the best solution
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Confident computer user, able to quickly gather and accurately record information
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A confident, quick learner with a capacity for large workloads
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High emotional resilience. Able maintain wellbeing whilst dealing with sensitive and highly emotive client circumstances
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Strong numerical skills
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Confident working autonomously and within a team
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Measurable Outputs:
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Achieve a Pass in the required exams to complete the Debt Advisor training course
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Achieve sign off within 12 months of starting the role
Culture
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Clearly live out and embrace the cultural values of CAP.
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Clearly demonstrate a heart and passion for the charity.
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Sincere acceptance, understanding and practice of the Christian ethos and purpose of the charity.
Other responsibilities include:
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Being willing to pray with staff and fully engaged with our Christ-centered culture.
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Encouraging friends, family and other contacts to support the charity through the Life Changer programme and other fundraising initiatives.
-
Attending annual CAP staff conferences.
-
Completing all compulsory CAP training within given timescales.
-
This role falls within the scope of the FCA’s conduct rules, and you will be provided with training as to how these apply to the role. It is your responsibility to ensure that you follow these conduct rules.
The above job profile is a guide to the work you may be required to undertake but does not form part of your contract of employment. It may change from time to time to reflect changing circumstances.
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The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.