Diocesan Safeguarding Caseworker

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Diocese of Birmingham's Safeguarding Team as a Diocesan Safeguarding Caseworker. The role is central to ensuring that children, young people, and adults at risk are safeguarded through the effective management of safeguarding concerns, the provision of trauma-informed support, and collaborative working with clergy, parishes, statutory agencies, and partner organisations. Working within the Church of England's safeguarding policies and national standards, you will contribute to creating a culture where safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of ministry, ensuring concerns are managed with professionalism, compassion, and accountability.

• Triageandassessconcerns,escalatingwhenrequired
• Plan work effectively to ensure concerns are dealt with promptly and appropriately
• Supportvictimsandsurvivorswithsensitivity,dignity,andcare
• Workcloselywiththe diocesan safeguarding teamtoensurerobust,defensible decision-makingand handling of concerns
• Contributetothesafemanagementofindividualswhomayposearisktoothers

This role is varied, meaningful, and ideal for a safeguarding professional who thrives in a complex context.

Safeguarding Casework

• Triageandassesssafeguardingenquiries, concernsandreferrals,escalatingwhenrequired
• Workwithinthe National Safeguarding Standards Framework and  the Managing
  
  Allegations Code of Practice
• Supportclergyandparishsafeguardingofficersthroughsafeguardingenquiriesand investigations
• Maintain high-quality,legallyrobustrecordsinlinewith
  
  Churchof England guidance
• Complete Risk Assessmentsofindividuals  about whom there are safeguarding concerns
• At the Diocesan Safeguarding Officers request, undertaking risk assessments or safety plans for individuals where there are, or have been concerns about their behaviour towards children or adults at risk, where they have convictions for offences against children or adults at risk or where they have a blemished DBS disclosure.

Partnership Working

• LiaiseandcollaboratewithstatutoryagenciesintheUK
• Information share in accordance with CofE policy
• Engagement with national and regional network of diocesan safeguarding officers and relevant local ecumenical or multi-faith forums as well as (when work allows) building relationships with statutory agencies including safeguarding boards, social services, LADO and police.

Policy,Practice& Assurance

• Supporttheimplementationof
  
  CofE policy (guidance, codes of practice and frameworks)

Other

• Takedirectionsfromthe Diocesan Safeguarding Officers as required
• Activelyparticipateinteamduties aspartofthewider safeguardinganddiocesanteams,and contribute to wider safeguarding initiatives
• The ability to travel independently across the breadth of the diocese, on occasion to locations without public transport links
• Supporting training activity on occasion at the direction of the DSO when required

About You

Youareaconfident,reflective,experiencedsafeguardingpractitioner whomanagescomplexand sensitive situations with professionalism and care.

Essential Experience and knowledge

• Experiencemanagingcomplexsafeguardingconcerns involving the statutory response to the protection of children/adults
• Experienceworkingwithrelevantstatutoryagencies(i.e.children’sservices,adultsocialcare, police)
• Experiencecontributingto statutoryriskassessmentsandsafetyplanning
• Aproventrackrecordofworkingwith Integrity,discretion,andrespectforconfidentiality
• Experiencedinsaferrecruitment,risk management,orsafeguardingagreements
• Excellentjudgementandabilitytomakedefensible,proportionate decisions
• Abilitytoremaincalmandempatheticinchallengingsituations
• Strongorganisationalskillswiththeabilitytomanagemultiplepiecesofwork
• Team-orientedwiththeabilitytoworkindependently
• Reflective,self-aware,andcommittedtoongoingdevelopment
• Abilityandwillingnesstotravel across the length and breadth of the Diocese.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification or qualified by experienceinsafeguarding,from asocial care,education,health,orrelatedfield
• Minimum5yearsof safeguarding practice
• Enhanced DBS (or equivalent) & right to work in the UK
• Experiencesafeguardingwithinafaith-basedorvoluntarysetting
• Know…