Diocesan Safeguarding Caseworker

CofE Birmingham; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Church Workers Pension Scheme

5 weeks annual leave + holidays

Job summary

The Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance is recruiting a Diocesan Safeguarding Caseworker to join the Safeguarding Team.

You will triage and assess safeguarding concerns, support victims, and work with clergy, parishes and statutory agencies in a hybrid role across the diocese.

Fixed-term through June 2028 with 35 hours per week, a salary of £39,000 per annum and membership of the Church Workers Pension Scheme.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex safeguarding concerns involving statutory responses for children/adults.
• Experience working with statutory agencies (children’s services, adult social care, police).
• Experience contributing to statutory risk assessments and safety planning.
• Proven track record of integrity, discretion and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Triage and assess safeguarding inquiries, concerns and referrals, escalating when required.
• Work within the National Safeguarding Standards Framework and Managing Allegations Code of Practice.
• Support clergy and parish safeguarding officers through safeguarding inquiries and investigations.
• Maintain high‑quality, legally robust records in line with Church of England guidance.
• Complete risk assessments of individuals under safeguarding concerns.
• Undertake risk assessments or safety plans at the request of Diocesan Safeguarding Officers.

Skills

Safeguarding experience

Inter-agency collaboration

Risk assessment

Discretion & confidentiality

Safeguarding training

Education

Safeguarding qualification

Enhanced DBS clearance

Right to work in UK

Job description

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.

AsaDiocesanSafeguardingCaseworker,you will:

• Triageandassessconcerns,escalatingwhenrequired
• Planworkeffectivelytoensureconcernsaredealtwithpromptlyandappropriately
• Supportvictimsandsurvivorswithsensitivity,dignity,andcare
• Workcloselywiththe diocesan safeguarding teamtoensurerobust,defensibledecision-makingand handling of concerns
• Contributetothesafemanagementofindividualswhomayposearisktoothers

Thisroleisvaried,meaningful,andidealforasafeguardingprofessionalwhothrivesinacomplex context.

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding Casework

• Triageandassesssafeguardingenquiries, concernsandreferrals,escalatingwhenrequired
• Workwithin the National Safeguarding Standards Frameworkand theManagingAllegations Code of Practice
• Supportclergyandparishsafeguardingofficersthroughsafeguardingenquiriesand investigations
• 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

• LiaiseandcollaboratewithstatutoryagenciesintheUK
• 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

• SupporttheimplementationofCofE policy (guidance, codes of practice and frameworks)

Other

• TakedirectionsfromtheDiocesan Safeguarding Officers asrequired
• Activelyparticipateinteamduties 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

• Experiencemanagingcomplexsafeguardingconcerns involving the statutory response to the protection of children/adults
• Experienceworkingwithrelevantstatutoryagencies(i.e.children’sservices,adultsocialcare, police)
• Experiencecontributingto statutoryriskassessmentsandsafetyplanning
• AproventrackrecordofworkingwithIntegrity,discretion,andrespectforconfidentiality
• Experiencedinsaferrecruitment,riskmanagement,orsafeguardingagreements
• Excellentjudgementandabilitytomakedefensible,proportionatedecisions
• Abilitytoremaincalmandempatheticinchallengingsituations
• Strongorganisationalskillswiththeabilitytomanagemultiplepiecesofwork
• Team-orientedwiththeabilitytoworkindependently
• Reflective,self-aware,andcommittedtoongoingdevelopment
• Abilityandwillingnesstotravel across the length and breadth of the Diocese.

Qualifications

• Professionalqualification or qualified by experienceinsafeguarding,from asocialcare,education,health,orrelatedfield
• Minimum5yearsof safeguarding practice
• Enhanced DBS (or equivalent) & right to work in the UK
• Experiencesafeguardingwithinafaith-basedorvoluntarysetting
• KnowledgeofChurchofEnglandsafeguardingframeworks
• Experiencedeliveringsafeguardingtrainingorcontributingtoaudits
• Current knowledge of DBS processes and legislation

Terms & Conditions

Salary and Pension:

£39,000 per annum plus membership of the Church Workers Pension Scheme.

Contract:

Fixed-term up until June 2028

Hours:

Full-time, 35 hours per week over 5 days - Hybrid working is available where this aligns with the needs of the role. Following an initial settling-in period, employees may work on a hybrid basis, combining office and home working, with a minimum average of two days per week worked on-site.

Holidays:

Five weeks annual leave, plus Bank Holidays plus 3 Discretionary Diocesan days.

Employer:

The Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance

Closing Date: 3rd November 2026

Interviews to be In-person: 16th November 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.