Safeguarding Lead

Maximus; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Maximus in the UK seeks a CALM Safeguarding & Therapeutic Lead home-based within the UK. You will oversee safeguarding compliance, staff wellbeing and incident response.

The role covers mental health crisis safeguarding, training delivery, and reporting, with 37.5 hours across 5 days in a 7-day rota, including weekends. You will liaise with external agencies, support staff, and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Therapeutic qualification in counselling, psychology or related field and registered bodies.
• Evidence of safeguarding knowledge and Level 3 safeguarding experience.
• Significant safeguarding experience in mental health, preferably helpline.
• Experience coaching and developing staff, and delivering support sessions.
• Ability to produce detailed reports with statistical analysis.
• Experience using data to influence change and decision making.
• Willingness to work weekends/evenings and flexible hours.
• Strong remote relationship building with stakeholders and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Provide support, advice and debrief to staff on safeguarding and emotional wellbeing.
• Support safeguarding matters, update policies and ensure implementation.
• Act as main contact for safeguarding issues, liaising with external agencies.
• Identify trends and risks with mitigation strategies for line managers.
• Develop and deliver safeguarding training for staff.
• Manage vicarious trauma and employee wellbeing.
• Monitor safeguarding practices and produce regular reports for management.
• Collaborate with QA and training to identify improvements.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Emotional resilience

Confidentiality

Time management

Autonomy

Teamwork

Stakeholder management

Stress management

Monitoring & reporting

Education

Therapeutic qualification (counselling/psychology) (BACP/UKCP/BABCP/BPS)

Safeguarding knowledge (Level 3)

Job description

Maximus is a global organisation that specialises in providing health and employment services to millions of people every year. Here in the UK we employ around 5,000 people across the country to deliver services that have a profound impact on people’s lives. From assessments and health services to employability programmes and specialist support, we do work that matters with people who care.

As a CALM Safeguarding & Therapeutic Lead you will ensure that the helpline operates in compliance with safeguarding legislation and best practices. You will ensure the emotional wellbeing for helpline staff and managers.

This role will ensure safeguarding practice is robust, consistent, and effectively implemented to protect individuals in mental health crisis. You will also be responsible for implementing staff emotional wellbeing strategies to ensure the workforce remain resilient.

Shifts will be worked on a rota basis as outlined below and may be subject to change. This is a home-based role open to applicants located within the UK. The position is 37.5 hours per week, worked across 5 rotational days out of 7, including some weekend shifts.

Shift Pattern

More about what you will do

• Provide support, advice and debrief to staff on safeguarding and emotional wellbeing, promoting a culture of vigilance and responsibility
• Support on all safeguarding matters, ensuring the helpline's policies and procedures are up-to-date and effectively implemented
• Act as the main point of contact for safeguarding issues, liaising with external agencies, including emergency services
• Identifying trends and risks including mitigation strategies and liaising with line managers
• Develop and deliver safeguarding training for staff and ensuring they are equipped to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns
• Have experience in managing vicarious trauma and the impact on employees
• Monitor safeguarding practices and produce regular reports for management and customers. Supporting with client presentations and updates (QBR’s /EOY’s)
• Work alongside Quality Assurance and training team to identify challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

• Therapeutic qualification (counselling, psychotherapist, psychologist) (BACP, UKCP, BABCP, BPS)
• Evidence of knowledge in safeguarding (e.g. Level 3 Safeguarding)
• Significant experience in a safeguarding role within mental health, preferably within a helpline or similar setting
• Experience of coaching and developing staff
• Experience of delivering session support and managing safeguarding concerns
• Experience of and ability to produce detailed reports including statistical analysis
• Experience using data to influence and drive change
• Willingness to work flexibly at short notice including weekends and evenings
• Ability to build strong relationships whilst working remotely, with strong stakeholder relationships
• Understand and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Sound decision making with an ability to work pro-actively across the service
• Strong multi-tasker, time manager and planner who can work well autonomously and as part of a team
• Proven experience in delivering support services to vulnerable people/helpline work
• Ability to empathise with people at all levels
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• An ability to empathise with people at all levels
• Emotional resilience
• Strong attention to detail.

EEO Statement

• MAXIMUS is committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the recruitment process. We know that feeling included has a dramatic impact on personal wellbeing and are working to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment due to any personal characteristic. Advertisements for posts will include sufficiently clear and accurate information to enable potential applicants to assess their own suitability for the post.
• We are a Disability Confident Leader, thanks to our commitment to the recruitment, retention and career development of people with disabilities and long-term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme includes a guaranteed interview for any applicant with a disability who meets the minimum requirements for a job. When you complete your job application you will find a question asking you if you would like to apply under the Disability Confident Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you feel that you have a disability and apply under this scheme, providing that you meet the essential criteria for the job, you will then be invited for interview. Your Guaranteed Interview application will only be shared with the hiring manager and the local resourcing team.
• Where reasonable, MAXIMUS will review and consider adjustments for those applicants who express a requirement for them during the recruitment process.