Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser and Cathedral Safeguarding Officer

Introduction

The Diocese of Chichester are seeking to employ an Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser and Cathedral Safeguarding Officer. This is a dual-role post with time divided between the Chichester DBF and Chichester Cathedral with the postholder being a member of the established Diocesan Safeguarding Team for both roles.  

The successful applicant will work with colleagues in the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (DST) to manage safeguarding casework and promote best safeguarding practice across the Diocese of Chichester, ensuring that all safeguarding casework is managed according to the Church of England’s Safeguarding Code of Practice, alongside the Sussex Child Protection and Safeguarding Adults Procedures and statutory guidance such as ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.

As the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer you will work with the Dean and Chapter of Chichester Cathedral, along with staff, volunteers, congregation members and others to ensure that all participants in Cathedral life are able to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities, and that the safeguarding culture is appropriately nurtured and resourced in line with the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Standards.

The post role is offered on an 18-month fixed term basis with 23.5 hours worked for Chichester DBF in the west of the Diocese and 14 hours per week for Chichester Cathedral – with an expectation that these hours will be conducted from Chichester Cathedral offices.

The principal duties include: 

>Providing support and advice to colleagues in the Diocese, Cathedral and parishes to help them understand their safeguarding duties regarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.

>Managing safeguarding cases in line with the Church of England Code of Practice.

>Working closely with statutory agencies such as the Police, Children and Adult Service and Probation services.

>Overseeing day-to-day safeguarding administration and safeguarding training at Chichester Cathedral.

Our ideal candidate will: 

>Have significant experience of safeguarding casework with a statutory safeguarding agency, with substantial practice skills in the areas of safeguarding and protecting children and/or vulnerable adults.

>Have the ability to translate this knowledge from the statutory to the non-statutory field, assisting volunteers with little or no safeguarding background to understand the issues and be confident in their practice.

>Show evidence of the ability to apply good safeguarding practise in a way that delivers positive outcomes for children and vulnerable adults.

>Be sympathetic towards the mission of the Church, although do not themselves need to have a faith.

For full details of the job please see the job description and person specification.   

What we offer:  

>A salary of £39,887 per annum for 37.5 hours per week.
>Flexi-time and the opportunity to apply to use the DBF’s remote working policy to work from home for part of the week.     
>28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays and two privilege days per year.
>Membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with a 15.1% employer contribution and an employee contribution between 0-6%.   
>Free parking, and the ride to work scheme and development opportunities.     

As an employer, and as a Church House team, our mutual values at work are to be Respectful, Professional, Flexible and Supportive.

Chichester DBF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All post holders are expected to share this commitment and to comply with the relevant safeguarding policy. Our full safeguarding policy can be found here       

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and completion of the Church of England Confidential Declaration Form.  

To understand how the information you supply in your Confidential Declaration Form is used and your rights with respect to that data please read our privacy notice. 

The post will involve travelling around the west of the Diocese, some occasional evening work and work at weekends.  

For an information conversation about the role please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, Colin Perkins (colin.perkins@chichester.anglican.org).  

Please apply via Pathways by midnight on 26th May 2025.    

Interviews will be held at offices at Chichester Cathedral on 6th June 2025.        

For more information about the Safeguarding Team at the Diocese of Chichester please visit https://safeguarding.chichester.anglican.org/