Job description
Safeguarding Trustee Job Description
Purpose of the Role
Though safeguarding is the responsibility of all trustees the Safeguarding Trustee will take the lead on safeguarding supporting the CEO and Chair of Trustees.
Job Specification
- Have overall responsibility for the safeguarding policies and procedures. Ensuring there is an annual review which is reported to the other trustees.
- Consider the charity’s strategic plans and ensure it reflects safeguarding legislation, regulations specific to the activities, statutory guidance, and the safeguarding expectations of the Charities Commission.
- Work with the CEO and designated safeguarding lead (DSL) regularly to review whether the things the charity has put in place are creating a safer culture and keeping people safe.
- Check the charities risk register reflects safeguarding risks properly and plans sensible measures to take, including relevant insurance for trustees liability.
- Make sure there is space on the agenda for safeguarding reports and help trustees understand and challenge those reports.
- Make sure there is an annual review of safeguarding policies and procedures and that this is reported to trustees.
- Understand the monitoring the charity does to see whether policies and procedures are effective.
- Call for audits of qualitative and quantitative data when they’re needed.
- Learn from case reviews locally and nationally, to improve your charities policies, procedures and practices.
- Oversee safeguarding allegations against staff or volunteers, together with CEO and designated safeguarding lead.
- Be a point of contact for staff or volunteers if someone wishes to complain about a lack of action in relation to safeguarding concerns.
- Champion safeguarding throughout the charity.
- Attend relevant safeguarding training events and conferences.
- Support the trustees in developing their individual and collective understanding of safeguarding.
- Attend meetings, activities, projects to engage with staff, volunteers and beneficiaries to understand safeguarding on the ground.
- Work with the chair, CEO, designated safeguarding lead and communications team in order to manage all serious safeguarding cases.
- Support regular safeguarding updates for staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.
- Make sure you have ways of gathering the views of staff and volunteers in relation to safeguarding and sharing these with the board.
Experience and Skills
- Current or recent experience working in safeguarding for young people.
- Knowledge of the Children Act 2004 and other relevant legislation and advice.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive and confidential information.
- Willingness to be supportive of the values (and ethics) of the charity.
- Understanding of the importance and purpose of meetings and commitment to preparing for them adequately and attending them regularly.
- Ability to analyse information and, when necessary, challenge constructively.
Pre-Employment Checks
All trustees may be required to undergo checks to confirm their suitability to work with young people. Take Our Hand reserves the right to withdraw any work if the checks are not deemed satisfactory.