Victim support jobs
Job Title: Safeguarding Officer
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
Professional Supervision: The Regional Safeguarding Lead
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £22,500 per annum (FTE £39,375)
Hours per week: 20 hours
Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (Pro Rota)
Role Description
The Safeguarding Officer will lead and oversee all aspects of safeguarding within St Edmundsbury Cathedral, ensuring that the Cathedral remains a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
You will be responsible for ensuring that the Cathedral meets all statutory safeguarding obligations and complies fully with the Church of England’s national safeguarding policies, diocesan frameworks, and relevant legislation. This includes proactively identifying potential risks, responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, and ensuring effective reporting and case management in partnership with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and statutory agencies.
Beyond compliance, this role is about embedding a culture of care, accountability, and transparency across the Cathedral community. You will support clergy, staff, and volunteers to understand their safeguarding responsibilities, ensure safer recruitment and training practices, and provide guidance and reassurance when safeguarding issues arise.
By acting as a source of expert advice, leadership, and advocacy, the Safeguarding Officer will help the Cathedral community uphold the highest standards of safety, dignity, and pastoral care, ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance, can participate fully and confidently in Cathedral life.
The Cathedral Safeguarding Officer has operational authority within the Cathedral (subject to agreement with the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer with respect to responding to concerns and allegations against Church officers) for the following responsibilities, arranged according to the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Standards.
These four National Safeguarding Standards provide the framework for effective safeguarding practice across all Church settings:
- Culture, Leadership, and Capacity – Promoting a culture where safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of Cathedral life, ensuring that leaders, clergy, staff, and volunteers model and champion best practice.
- Prevention – Implementing robust safer recruitment, induction, and training processes, and proactively identifying and mitigating potential safeguarding risks.
- Responding to Concerns – Ensuring that all concerns, disclosures, and allegations are taken seriously, responded to promptly, and managed in partnership with statutory agencies and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
- Learning, Supervision, and Quality Assurance – Fostering continual improvement through regular review, reflection, and evaluation of safeguarding practice, ensuring accountability and transparency at all levels.
Together, these standards guide the Cathedral’s commitment to providing a safe, nurturing, and trustworthy environment for all who engage with its worship, ministry, and community life.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic leadership
- Act as the Cathedral’s primary safeguarding lead, providing authoritative advice and operational oversight to the Chapter, leadership team, clergy, staff and volunteers.
- Ensure compliance with national Church of England safeguarding guidance, diocesan requirements and all relevant statutory legislation.
- Develop, maintain and drive a measurable safeguarding action plan and improvement programme, ensuring policies and practice are implemented consistently across Cathedral activities.
- Produce clear, timely safeguarding reports and briefings for Chapter and committees translating case and compliance information into strategic recommendations.
- Actively promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, supporting leaders to embed safeguarding into planning, events, recruitment and everyday practice.
- Engaging in professional supervision and quality assurance provided by the relevant Regional Safeguarding Lead, and in continual professional development, including ensuring that the requirements of the National Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework for Safeguarding Officers are met.
Safer recruitment
- Lead and oversee safer recruitment processes for all paid roles and volunteer positions, ensuring job descriptions, interviews and selection processes assess safeguarding suitability.
- Support managers to make informed recruitment decisions and ensure all new starters receive safeguarding induction and appropriate supervision.
Case management
- Receive, triage and respond to safeguarding concerns and disclosures quickly and sensitively, ensuring the safety and welfare of those involved.
- Undertake initial risk and needs assessments and make appropriate referrals to statutory agencies and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
- Support and co-ordinate multi-agency responses where required, and follow agreed safeguarding pathways.
- Provide pastoral support and signposting to victims/survivors while ensuring appropriate boundaries, confidentiality and access to specialist support services.
- Manage allegations involving staff or volunteers in line with diocesan procedures, ensuring safe working arrangements are put in place while enquiries proceed.
- Maintain accurate, secure and auditable case records, ensuring all documentation complies with data protection (GDPR) and Cathedral record-keeping protocols
Meetings & governance
- Attend safeguarding-related meetings, including the Safeguarding Committee, Guild Committee and Forum, providing briefings, presenting reports and highlighting risks and compliance matters.
- Prepare agendas, papers and minutes as required; maintain an action log and follow up to ensure agreed actions are completed.
- Escalate unresolved risks or urgent safeguarding matters to Chapter and senior leadership in a timely and constructive manner.
- Attend Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) Meetings.
Training & awareness
- Lead on Cathedral safeguarding training, coordinate and deliver induction and refresher training for staff, volunteers, and clergy.
- Maintain up-to-date records of safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers (showing completion and renewal dates).
- Create accessible safeguarding information and communications for the Cathedral community (e.g., weekly bulletin items, posters, webpages and event briefings) to raise awareness and reinforce good practice.
- Provide tailored briefings for high-risk roles and ongoing advice to managers and supervisors on safeguarding responsibilities.
- To evaluate training to ensure that learnings have been embedded.
Policy & risk management
- Review, update and implement the Cathedral’s safeguarding policies and procedures on a regular schedule (and sooner where guidance or case learning requires change).
- Lead safeguarding risk assessments for services, events, volunteer activities and external bookings; provide straightforward, action-focused mitigation plans for event organisers and hirers.
- Conduct audits and spot-checks to ensure practice aligns with policy and report findings with recommended improvements.
- Ensure contractors, partner organisations and hirers meet required safeguarding standards and that any safeguarding responsibilities are set out contractually where appropriate.
Additional duties and professional development
- Provide clear, timely advice within agreed working hours and support any out-of-hours arrangements for urgent safeguarding concerns as agreed with Chapter.
- Maintain your own professional development through training, supervision and membership of relevant safeguarding networks; ensure learning is shared across the Cathedral.
- Carry out any other reasonable duties that support the effective delivery of safeguarding across the Cathedral.
- Attend the East Anglia Regional Safeguarding Network meeting three times a year, with other DSOs and CSO in the region
Key Relationships
- In the Cathedral, the Dean provides leadership concerning safeguarding, supported by Chapter and senior leadership team requiring good working relationships with both clergy and lay colleagues.
- It is essential that the CSO forms excellent working relationships with key people in the Diocese, including: the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO), the safeguarding team and other relevant staff; the chair and membership of diocesan safeguarding governance structures e.g., the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) and relevant sub-groups; and the National Safeguarding Team.
- It is essential to have good connections with colleagues in relevant local third sector agencies, including those working in the fields of homelessness, poverty, domestic abuse, mental health, substance misuse, refugee support, language and learning support, etc. Adults and children who are using, have used or may use the services of the cathedral, particularly in relation to safeguarding.
Person Spesification
Essential Qualities
Qualifications
- Relevant safeguarding qualification/training, or willingness to undertake
Experience
- Substantial experience working with safeguarding in roles involving children and/or adults at risk.
- Handling safeguarding referrals, disclosures, and case management.
- Liaising with statutory services such as police, social care, and health agencies.
- Delivering safeguarding training or workshops to diverse audiences.
- Producing reports, maintaining accurate records, and managing confidential data.
Knowledge
- Excellent understanding of current safeguarding legislation, guidance, and best practice for children and adults.
- Knowledge of safer recruitment principles and DBS requirements.
- Understanding of GDPR and secure data management in relation to safeguarding.
- Awareness of the Church of England’s safeguarding frameworks and National Safeguarding Standards (or willingness to learn).
Skills and Abilities
- Strong ability to assess risk and make clear, evidence-based decisions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate sensitively and appropriately at all levels.
- Effective relationship-building skills, including working collaboratively with clergy, volunteers, statutory agencies, and community stakeholders.
- High levels of organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities calmly and effectively.
- Confident in designing and delivering safeguarding training and briefings.
Personal Qualities
- Integrity, resilience, and discretion when managing sensitive information.
- Empathy and pastoral sensitivity towards those impacted by abuse or allegations.
- A collaborative, approachable, and supportive leadership style.
- Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in challenging situations.
- Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Respect for the Cathedral’s Christian values and willingness to work within its ethos.
Desired Qualities
Qualifications
- Relevant professional qualification (e.g. social work, education, counselling, youth work, nursing, or safeguarding).
- Membership of a relevant safeguarding or professional network.
Experience
- Experience working in a Church of England context or other faith-based safeguarding setting.
- Experience of developing and implementing safeguarding policies and risk assessments.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of trauma-informed approaches when supporting victims/survivors.
- Familiarity with Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) roles and procedures.
Skills and Abilities
- Experience in facilitating safeguarding learning using innovative or digital approaches.
- Competence in using safeguarding case management systems or CRMs.
Other Requirements
- Willingness to undergo enhanced DBS checks, including barred lists.
- Flexibility to attend occasional evening or weekend meetings and events.
- Commitment to completing all mandatory safeguarding and leadership training as required by the Cathedral and Diocese.
Closing Date: Wednesday 12 November
Registered Charity
21 - 50
It is our aim to be a centre for learning, both for the Christian faith and beyond.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Asylum Aid is seeking a solicitor and IAAS-accredited senior caseworker to join its Public Law team, with experience in immigration legal aid, judicial review, and asylum and human rights law. The role involves managing a complex caseload of asylum, trafficking, human rights, and public law claims, providing high-quality legal advice and representation, and conducting judicial review challenges in the Administrative Court and Upper Tribunal. The successful candidate will work closely with the Public Law Supervisor and the Director of Legal Casework to ensure that individual cases are handled effectively while also identifying systemic issues suitable for strategic litigation to achieve broader impact.
In addition to casework, the postholder will contribute to the strategic development of Asylum Aid’s public law work by supervising junior staff, providing training on judicial review procedures, and collaborating with colleagues on internal strategy discussions. They will also engage with external stakeholders and other sector organisations to represent Asylum Aid, contribute to policy discussions, and develop initiatives aimed at increasing the effectiveness of public law challenges. The role requires experience of managing legal aid cases, using case management systems, and complying with regulatory requirements, including applying for and extending legal aid certificates and submitting claims for payment.
The position requires resilience, empathy, and strong organisational skills, as it involves working with vulnerable clients and exposure to distressing material. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of self-care principles and the ability to support colleagues in maintaining wellbeing in an intense working environment. Excellent communication skills, the ability to work autonomously, and a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion are essential. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to both individual client outcomes and wider systemic change, influencing the growth of the Public Law team and advancing Asylum Aid’s mission to protect and support refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking and human rights violations.
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Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis?
Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?
If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.
Domestic Abuse Caseworker
Reference number: 301
Responsible to: Team Leader
Working base: Watford Wellbeing Centre
Community Outreach in: Watford and Three Rivers
Working hours: Part-Time, 30 hours per week
Salary: £26,000 - £27,000 per annum, pro rata
About the Service
The aim of the Hertfordshire Mind Network Domestic Abuse Casework Service is to provide advice, information, and support to survivors of intimate partner or familial violence living in the community about the range, effectiveness, and suitability of options to improve their safety and that of their children. All advice will be based on a thorough understanding and assessment of risk and its management.
About the role
The purpose of the Hertfordshire Mind Network Community Outreach Worker role is to:
- Provide support and advocacy services to clients experiencing domestic abuse
- Ensure direct contact is made with the client within a specified time of an incident being reported to the police and to carry out a risk assessment.
- Ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the client is monitored and reviewed regularly.
- Maintain and enhance service delivery standards and effectiveness.
- Support the team with case management and volume of referrals to ensure a short waiting time and referrals are contacted promptly and assessed appropriately.
- Collate and obtain feedback regarding the effectiveness of the service.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the wellbeing of clients who are affected by domestic abuse.
- Contribute to a reduction in repeat victimisation
- Reduce the number of victims withdrawals of witness statements
- Be aware of the impact on children of domestic abuse and make referrals to appropriate agencies to support the children where necessary.
- Increase the reporting of children at risk of harm
- Increase successful court outcomes by proactively supporting clients and work with the witness services for cases going to court
- Work with the wider team within Hertfordshire Mind Network and support clients in accessing additional support e.g. counselling, peer support, employment support and self-development courses
- Work with other professionals e.g. police, health, social care, housing, and signpost and liaise with such agencies as necessary
- Work with and signpost to other third sector partner agencies as necessary
- Provide a first point of contact for professionals and clients and pass on necessary cases or referrals to the Domestic Abuse Caseworker.
- Refer to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) if required and local IDVA service.
Benefits
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays).
- Birthday leave day.
- Cash plan health cover (after 6 months employment).
- Eligibility for blue light card.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Ongoing training relevant to your role.
Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 28th November 2025 at 5pm.
Interviews will be held on a rolling basis.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
N.B. Please quote reference number 301 when completing your application for this role.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.
Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.
No agencies please.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!
We are looking for a Social Care IDVA
Salary: £28,000 - £32,000
Location: 4 days located across Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Social Care with 1 day per week remote working
Contract: Fixed term – March 2026 (with the view to extend)
Hours p/w: 35 hours per week
This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010. Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
About us
Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.
We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.
Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
About the role:
The Social Care IDVA will work within a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy, and support service to ensure the voice of survivors informs every stage of the process, specialising in working with women whose families are involved with Family Children Services and risk to children is a factor. You will work to make proactive contact and provide high quality advocacy and support based upon a client led needs and risk assessment to women, focusing on working with those aged 18 and over who access the domestic abuse service. This role is part advocacy, part training/education and project work to improve response to victim/survivors experiencing domestic abuse. You will be embedded in the local authority Family Children Services team, working with Social Care professionals to ensure they adopt a trauma informed approach, can recognise the dynamics of domestic abuse and are providing more holistic support. You will be the domestic abuse subject matter expert on site, upskilling fellow professionals and acting as a point of contact for any clients experiencing domestic abuse and support requirements from Family Children Services.
The borough has a focus on prioritising and developing good DA work in social care and this is an opportunity to be a major player in institutional change, ensuring that women accessing Family Children services for their children have an improved experience and that the local authorities are leading the way for all survivors engaging with their services.
Advance delivers nationally accredited, quality marked services in Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Brent, Ealing, and across parts of East London. We work within a coordinated partnership response to domestic violence to provide independent domestic violence advocacy and support for women, children and young people and women’s community services for women who are involved in the criminal justice system, in anti-social behaviour or are at risk of breaking the law.
About You:
You will have an excellent understanding of domestic violence and its effects on women and children and of best practice within the domestic abuse in various areas of need, with particular knowledge on children safeguarding/legislation. As an experienced domestic violence advocate who has worked with complex and multiple needs, the post holder will be skilled in risk management and safety planning, remaining calm in a crisis and in handling sensitive information on a daily basis. Experience of direct work with female survivors of domestic violence, of supporting women with child safeguarding, needs, and of working within safeguarding procedures is essential for this post, as is the need to adopt and promote a strong partnership approach to service provision.
To be successful as the Social Care IDVA you will need the below experience and skills:
You will establish positive, proactive, and innovative working relationships with housing services and partner agencies. Provide high-quality crisis intervention, information, advocacy, and proactive support to women referred to the service, in respect to risk management and safety planning, criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, welfare rights, and children’s legislation.
Your abilities extends to assessing the needs and risks of survivors, carry out short and longer-term risk management, safety planning and support and identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs. Advising women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies and proactively advocate to ensure barriers to accessing support and protection are reduced. You will work as an advocate and educator to raise awareness and upskill professionals within Children Social Care plus work with colleagues to successfully develop and deliver training.
How to apply:
Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.
Interviews are taking place on rolling basis
*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate
What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:
- A 35-hour working week
- An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
- Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
- Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
- Pension scheme
- Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee eye-care scheme
- Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
- Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
- Organisation wide away days
- Thorough induction and training
- Career development pathways
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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and we will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.
Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.
Safeguarding
Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.