Post Introduction

The National Safeguarding Team provides professional safeguarding advice to the Church of England on matters of national policy as part of its wider transformation plan, which includes the development and implementation of national policy, training, quality assurance and audit, and work with survivors. The National Safeguarding Team also leads complex casework and supports dioceses in their safeguarding of children and adults.

An investigation by the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse conducted in 2019 has highlighted some areas for improvement in the Church of England Safeguarding Structure and Practices. This investigation reviewed the extent to which the Church of England and the Church in Wales protected children from sexual abuse in the past. It also examined the effectiveness of current safeguarding arrangements. A public hearing on these specific areas was held in 2019. The report, published in 2020, also drew on the previous two case studies on the Anglican Church, which related to the Diocese of Chichester and Peter Ball. In addition to recommendations made in the case studies, IICSA made eight recommendations in this report, covering areas such as clergy discipline, information-sharing and support for victims and survivors. 

The Redress Scheme project is part of the Church of England’s Safeguarding Programme, which activates the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse’s Anglican report (IICSA), and aims to embed structure, quality assurance and continuous improvement in line with its Safeguarding principles. Following the Church of England’s recent approval of a comprehensive redress scheme for survivors of Church-related abuse, the project is now moving into the implementation phase, and we are looking for a new member of the team to help us prepare for the opening of the Scheme. 

To assist this project, there is a requirement for a Survivor Participation Officer to be performed by a specialist with relevant experience and expertise. The role will be primarily focused on supporting the victims and survivors participating in the various workstreams and activities of the Redress Scheme project.

The terms ‘survivor’ and ‘victim’ are labels and carry limitations. Neither word captures all personal experiences, and people have the right to describe their experiences in a way which is most comfortable and appropriate to them. We use these words to refer to individuals who have been subject to abuse (House of Bishops Glossary Reference Guide 2017:12) and the term ‘survivor participation’ to describe the activities and moments when victims and survivors are taking part and volunteering in safeguarding changes and developments.

The Survivor Participation Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the work of the Redress Scheme project within the National Safeguarding Team (NST), taking responsibility for enabling and supporting victims and survivors to participate in different workstreams and activities of the project. 

The Survivor Participation Officer will have key responsibility for acting as the Responsible Church Officer (RCO) for survivor participation within the Redress Scheme project in line with the National Survivor Participation Framework.

The postholder will serve as the main point of contact for victims and survivors who will be participating in the Redress Scheme project. They will also develop and manage safe, trauma-informed, and inclusive survivor participation activities and events and facilitate meetings and activities to gather insights and invite participation from a wide range of survivors. 

They will also work with other NCI departments involving, for example HR & Payroll, as well as Safeguarding Bishops and Safeguarding teams of the Church of England in support to the mission of the Church of England and this projects in particular.

The postholder must have exceptional empathy, compassion and understanding for the personal experience of victims and survivors who have experienced abuse, particularly (but not exclusively) within the context of faith settings, including the Church of England or other denominations or traditions. 

The postholder must have demonstrable experience of building relationships of trust and rapport with individuals who have lived experiences of abuse. They must be able to demonstrate that they have consistently used trauma-informed principles and ways of working in their work. They must be a strong team-player with the ability to work alongside colleagues in the Redress project team, National Safeguarding Team, and National Church Institutions (NCIs) to develop appropriate and trauma-informed means of participation and engagement.  

This is an intensive piece of work to deliver a project rigorously and at pace. The postholder will work closely with both the Redress Scheme project team and the Survivor Participation Team.   

• Fixed-term contract 
• Will require the competition of an Enhanced DBS for the successful candidate 
• Hybrid working arrangements available
• Primary location will be Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ
• Part-time days/hours are negotiable

• A salary of £59,248 Pro Rate  per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario and if this fits within the department’s needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK’s leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity