Parliamentary Safeguarding Lead

UK Parliament

Working at the UK Parliament offers a unique and rewarding career at the heart of the UK's democratic system.

With a wide range of roles available, our impartial colleagues enable the day to day running of the House of Commons, House of Lords and Joint Departments. Together, we make Parliament happen.

Staff Benefits

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including:

• 30 days' annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year).
• Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• Access to training and development.
• Flexible working.
• Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan.

Introduction

The People & Culture team (PACT) is responsible for corporate people strategy and planning. The team develops HR policies and standards and provides efficient, accurate and customer-focused support to internal customers across the Administration and Joint Departments

The Role

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work across both Houses of Parliament to ensure that our updated Safeguarding policy is effectively implemented and embedded across our varied teams.

The Parliamentary Estate is a mixed-use site, with many different activities involving a wide range of individuals: from members and staff of both Houses, to visitors on democratic access tours and attending proceedings, school children on educational tours, VIP visitors and parliamentary delegations, and tourists from all over the world.

You will need to work with teams across Parliament to understand these different activities, assess the risks of harm to children and adults at risk, the likelihood of those risks materialising, and how Parliament can effectively mitigate them. You will lead in the roll out of our updated Safeguarding policy alongside the development of a network of trained safeguarding coordinators, developing a community of interest to share best practice and guidance.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• To be the lead source of advice and guidance on safeguarding policy and practice within Parliament.
• Support the work of the Safeguarding board, providing expert briefing, analysis and recommendations as required by the board.
• To act as an additional Designated Safeguarding Officer, supporting the work of the existing Designated Safeguarding Leads as required.
• To lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the new safeguarding policy, using a risk-based approach to embedding it in parliamentary activities, structures and culture.
• To establish a network of local safeguarding co-ordinators across Parliamentary teams

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Experience of successfully implementing safeguarding policy and guidance in an environment which, like Parliament, is a mixed-use site, with a wide range of activities and stakeholders. Evidence of using a risk-based approach to deliver robust and proportionate training, procedures and guidance in support of meeting statutory obligations.
• Specialist knowledge of safeguarding relating to children and adults at risk, with a demonstrable understanding of current legislation, including core principles and current best practice, and the ability to apply this in a pragmatic way relevant to our organisational context.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to work across organisational boundaries and teams. Able to confidently engage with and influence people at all levels within the organisation, including senior leaders.
• Excellent planning and organisation skills with the ability to meet demand and deadlines whilst taking full responsibility for the quality of the work delivered both individually and through others.
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and explain ideas in a way that decision-makers understand and can act on.
• Ability to lead individuals and teams, building and maintaining strong collaborative partnerships to achieve organisational goals, whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Next Steps and Additional Information

CV & Supporting Statement - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter explaining how you would meet Criteria 1 - Experience and Criteria 2 - Functional Skills in no more than 500 words.

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.