Lead Trustee for Safeguarding Role Description

Exciting time of growth as our small but ambitious charity continues to develop its service offer. We are seeking hands-on, enthusiastic women who are passionate about meeting the growing demand to support those affected by abuse and who have at least three years professional experience related to Safeguarding Adults and/or Children. No previous trustee experience required as the charity provides training and development, just a team player with relevant skills and a positive attitude who wants to make a difference.

Who are we?

We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation serving those in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes who have been affected by sexual assault and abuse recently or in the past. We aim to enable people affected by sexual assault to live fulfilling lives. Our services include: one to one counselling, psychoeducation, telephone support, peer support, group therapy and advocacy. We are members of Rape Crisis England and Wales, The Survivors Trust and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

What does a trustee do?

The role of the trustee is to be responsible for the governance and finances of the charity making sure that the charity’s resources are used effectively to achieve its aims. Trustees make sure that the charity works within the law, and functions as effectively as possible. They work directly with the CEO to decide on the organisation’s short and long-term strategy, and they are involved in important decisions such as the appointment of senior staff.

Trustees must make sure they have the information they need to lead the charity; this is usually provided by the CEO, for the trustee board meetings, which take place in the evening the third Wednesday of every other month; however, trustees are open to reviewing how and when the board meets if unsuitable for new trustees. The trustees participate in smaller action groups or committees in between the main trustee meetings to develop relevant themes when needed.

The current board is small and very hands-on, with a wide range of skills and experience relevant to fundraising, bid-writing, data analysis, counselling, business and commercial skills, volunteer management, and partnership development and collaboration. While safeguarding is the responsibility of all trustees, we are seeking a trustee who has skills, experience and confidence in the area of safeguarding to serve as a lead trustee for safeguarding.

Lead trustee for safeguarding responsibilities

The lead trustee for safeguarding will take on three main sets of duties related to safeguarding, in addition to their wider responsibilities as a trustee. These include:

Strategic

• Consider the organisation’s strategic plans and make sure they reflect safeguarding legislation, regulations specific to the charity’s activities, statutory guidance, and the safeguarding expectations of the Charities Commission.
• Work with the CEO and designated safeguarding lead regularly to review whether the things the organisation has put in place are creating a safer culture and keeping people safe.
• Check the organisation’s risk register reflects safeguarding risks properly and plans sensible measures to take
• Make sure there is space on the agenda for safeguarding reports at board meetings and help trustees understand and challenge those reports.

Effective policy and practice

• Make sure there is an annual review of safeguarding policies and procedures and that this is reported to trustees.
• Understand the monitoring your charity does to see whether policies and procedures are effective.
• Call for audits of qualitative and quantitative data (either internal or external) when they’re needed.
• Learn from case reviews locally and nationally, to improve SAASSBMK’s policies, procedures and practices.
• Oversee safeguarding allegations against staff or volunteers, together with CEO and designated safeguarding lead.
• Be a point of escalation for staff or volunteers if someone wishes to complain about a lack of action in relation to safeguarding concerns.

Creating the right culture

• Champion safeguarding throughout the organisation.
• 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 and designated safeguarding lead to manage all serious safeguarding cases.
• Support regular safeguarding updates for staff, volunteers and service users.
• Make sure you have ways of gathering the views of staff and volunteers in relation to safeguarding and sharing these with the board.

What are we looking for?

Do you have relevant skills and professional experience in Safeguarding Adults and/or Children? Are you driven, enthusiastic and determined to make a positive impact? Do you share the organisation’s belief in empowering those affected by sexual abuse to lead fulfilling lives? Are you willing to join a hands-on team who want to make a difference to those who have been affected by sexual assault and abuse? We want to meet you!

We do not require someone with previous experience as a charity trustee, we are happy to provide training, looking mostly for someone a willingness to learn, grow and work with the organisation.

What difference will you make?

By working with the current board to advise and oversee our strategic plan and relevant policies, the organisation can ensure its services are sustainable, and that the growing demand for support from those who have experienced sexual abuse is met safely. Police statistics are showing an increase of sexual offences recorded, and many survivors of abuse endure psychological trauma for years before seeking support. Each trustee plays a key role, working alongside the CEO, to ensure the organisation can continue to offer support to survivors, and can grow in a sustainable and safe way so no one is left without help.

What’s in it for you?

Joining our organisation at this time of growth in service delivery provides an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the way the charity is run, which will have a positive effect on those accessing support for the profound and often devastating negative impacts of sexual violence. If you want to be involved in change, growth, and improvement directly, this is a brilliant opportunity. We’re not looking for just another board member but another member of the team to join our mission to enable survivors to live fulfilling lives.

Think you might be a good fit? We’d love to meet you!