Diocesan Safeguarding Caseworker

About the Role

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.

As a Diocesan Safeguarding Caseworker, you will:

• BeresponsibleformanagingsafeguardingconcernsandcasesacrosstheDiocese
• Triageandassessconcerns,escalatingwhenrequired
• Plan work effectively to ensure concerns are dealt with promptly and appropriately
• EnsureVictims/SurvivorsandRespondentsarelistenedtoandkeptappropriatelyinformed
• Support victimsandsurvivorswithsensitivity,dignity,andcare
• Provideconfident,trauma-informedadvicetoclergy,andparishsafeguardingofficers
• Workcloselywiththe diocesan safeguarding teamtoensurerobust,defensibledecision-makingand handling of concerns
• Contributetothesafemanagementofindividualswhomayposearisktoothers
• Ensuresafeguardingpracticeisconsistent,compliant,andreflectiveofnationalstandards
• Providesupport toembedsafeguardingasacorepartofeverydayministryacrossCofE Birmingham

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

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding Casework

• Managing,safeguardingconcernsandcasesacrosstheDiocese
• Triageandassesssafeguardingenquiries, concernsandreferrals,escalatingwhenrequired
• WorkwithintheNationalSafeguardingStandardsFrameworkand theManagingAllegations Code of Practice
• Support clergyandparishsafeguardingofficersthroughsafeguardingenquiriesand investigations
• Providetrauma-informedsupport,guidance,andsignpostingtovictimsandsurvivors
• Maintainhigh-quality,legallyrobustrecordsinlinewithChurchofEnglandguidance
• CompleteRiskAssessmentsofindividuals 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

• Liaiseandcollaborate withstatutoryagenciesintheUK
• 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

• Support theimplementationofCofE policy (guidance, codes of practice and frameworks)
• Promoteacultureofproactivesafeguarding,learning,andreflectivepractice

Other

• TakedirectionsfromtheDiocesan Safeguarding Officers asrequired
• Actively participateinteamduties 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

Person Specification

About You

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

EssentialExperienceand knowledge

• Significantexperienceinsafeguardingchildren,adults,andvulnerablegroups
• Experiencemanagingcomplexsafeguardingconcerns involving the statutory response to the protection of children/adults
• Strongknowledgeandunderstanding ofUKsafeguardinglegislationandstatutoryguidance
• Experienceworkingwithrelevantstatutoryagencies(i.e.children'sservices,adultsocialcare, police)
• Experienceinproducingaccurate,high-qualitysafeguardingrecords
• Understandingofsaferrecruitmentandsafeguardingcompliance
• Experience contributing to statutory risk assessments and safety planning
• AproventrackrecordofworkingwithIntegrity,discretion,andrespectforconfidentiality
• Abletomanagecompetingprioritiesinadynamicenvironment
• Experiencedinsaferrecruitment,riskmanagement,orsafeguardingagreements

EssentialSkills

• Excellentjudgementandabilitytomakedefensible,proportionatedecisions
• Clear,confident communicationskillsacrossdiverseaudiences
• Emotional resilienceandstrongprofessionalboundaries
• Abilitytoremaincalmandempatheticinchallengingsituations
• Strongorganisationalskillswiththeabilitytomanagemultiplepiecesofwork
• Confidenceinescalation,advocacy,andprofessionalchallenge
• Team-orientedwiththeabilitytoworkindependently
• Strongcommitment tosafeguardingasacoreorganisationalvalue
• Reflective,self-aware,andcommitted toongoingdevelopment
• Abilityandwillingnesstotravel across the length and breadth of the Diocese.

Qualifications

• Professionalqualification or qualified by experienceinsafeguarding,from asocialcare,education,health,orrelatedfield
• SafeguardingtrainingatLevel4+
• Minimum5yearsof safeguarding practice
• Enhanced DBS (or equivalent) & right to work in the UK

Desirable

• Experiencesafeguardingwithinafaith-basedorvoluntarysetting
• KnowledgeofChurchofEnglandsafeguardingframeworks
• Experiencedeliveringsafeguardingtrainingorcontributingtoaudits
• Current knowledge of DBS processes and legislation

Terms & Conditions

Salary and Pension: £31,200 per annum plus membership of the Church Workers Pension Scheme.

Contract:Fixed-term for 2 years

Hours:Part-time, 28 hours per week

Holidays: Five weeks annual leave, plus Bank Holidays pro-rata

Responsible to:Diocesan Safeguarding Officer

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Interviews to be In-person: 16th September 2026

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community: a place where all can be themselves and bring their unique identity to their ministry and/or work.

We welcome applications from any individuals who feel they meet the person specification for this post, particularly those who are currently under-represented within our staff teams, including people from Global Majority Heritage and UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those with visible or invisible disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQI+.

We offer a range of inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and wellbeing support for our staff teams.

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.All appointments to roles undertaking regulated activity are subject to pre-appointment checks, including references and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check complete with barred list.