Safeguarding Officer

MSSC; London Borough of Lambeth; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Volunteering Leave

Life assurance

Private medical insurance

Generous pension

Cycle to work scheme

Access to Digital Library

Wellbeing portal and EAP

Employee development

Job summary

Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC) is seeking a Safeguarding Officer to join our busy safeguarding team. The role focuses on safeguarding children and young people, ensuring compliance with statutory duties and policy, and supporting volunteers and staff across the UK.

This is a full-time fixed-term contract until end September 2027, requiring experience in the voluntary youth sector, knowledge of Early Help, and the ability to respond in challenging circumstances, including evenings and

Qualifications

• Experience in the voluntary youth or community sector with direct safeguarding work with children and young people.
• Knowledge of statutory safeguarding requirements and best practice guidance.
• Good understanding and experience of Early Help.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding casework in line with MSSC policy and statutory duties.
• Provide advice and guidance to volunteers and employees across the UK.
• Respond effectively in challenging circumstances and at times evenings/weekends.
• Support continuous improvements in safeguarding and welfare for all members.

Skills

Safeguarding

Child protection

Policy knowledge

Early Help

Job description

Location: MSSC NSC, 200b Lambeth Road, London, SE1 7JY

Contract: Full time, Fixed Term contract until end of September 2027

Salary: £40,300 gross, per annum

Closing Date: 10 November 2026

Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC) is a leading maritime charity in lifelong learning and personal development and is the governing charity of the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), a civilian voluntary youth organisation engaging some 15,000 young people and over 400 Sea Cadet Units, throughout the UK. The SCC offers a wide range of youth opportunities with the same enduring objective – to give young people the best possible head start in life through nautical adventure and fun.

Due to some exciting, internal team developments, we have an opportunity for a Safeguarding Officer to join our busy team. Seeking to aim high and strive for excellence in our practices to safeguard children and young people, as well as promoting the overall safety, safeguarding and welfare of all of our members. We are an ambitious team where we strive for continuous improvements.

We are seeking individuals who have experience of the voluntary youth or community sector and have direct practice experience of working with children & young people in a safeguarding context. You will have experience and knowledge of statutory requirements and best practice guidance, relating to the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. You will also have a very good understanding and experience of Early Help.

Our safeguarding team operates centrally in London where we are responsible for providing support, advice and guidance to our volunteers and employees relating on all safeguarding matters across the UK. Our safeguarding Officers act as our lead professionals in managing safeguarding casework in line with our policy, procedures and statutory duty.

Whilst this is a Monday- Friday full time position, a planned but flexible approach to work and working patterns is a must. We require you to work effectively and respond appropriately in challenging circumstances and meet the needs of our beneficiaries when they participate in our youth activities – evenings and weekends.

We are a national charity helping to develop lifelong learning skills for young people today. With strong links to the maritime sector and Royal Navy. The charity uses the impact of being on the water to change young people’s lives.

• 25 days annual leave per annum, pro rata for part time employees, increasing with length of service


• Hybrid working for many roles


• Volunteering Leave


• Life assurance (4x salary)


• Private medical insurance


• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)


• Cycle to work scheme


• Access to the Marine Society Digital Library


• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling


• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

Safer Recruitment - We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire.

Safer Recruitment: All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.