Youth Worker

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Job Title: Designated Safeguarding Officer

Reporting To: Safeguarding Manager

Contract: Remote

Hours: Full time

Salary: £45,000

Benefits:

• Enhanced policies including 25 days annual leave per year, plus public holidays;
• Vitality health insurance;
• Company electronic devices;
• Competitive pension;
• Remote and flexible working;
• Excellent opportunities for training and career progression.

About Mental Health Innovations (MHI)

MHI is an ambitious charity, driven to provide the public with access to much needed digital support services. The organisation's purpose, to transform lives by improving access to digital resources, is built on a strong belief that technology can help improve mental health outcomes in the UK. 

Founded in November 2017 following the success of The Royal Foundation’s ‘Heads Together’ campaign, it launched its first product, Shout, in 2019. Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text message service for anybody to text when they may be struggling with anxiety, loneliness or depression through to self harm or suicidal thoughts.

Job Summary

To take the lead in ensuring that appropriate arrangements for keeping children, young people and adults at risk of harm safe are actioned at MHI as part of a Designated Safeguarding team covering the Shout platform 24/7. The role is responsible for promoting the safety and welfare of children and young people on our platform, being a consistent and reliable presence on the Shout platform, and advising Shout Supervisors on safeguarding actions and practise while raising and recording safeguarding issues as they arise. 

Key Responsibilities

• To act as an MHI Designated Safeguarding Officer.
• Contribute to developing and reviewing MHI’s safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.
• Alongside the DSO, contribute to ensuring that everyone working or volunteering with or for children and young people at MHI, including the board of trustees, understands the safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures and knows what to do if they have concerns about a child’s welfare
• Take a lead role in implementing MHI’s safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures: ensuring all safeguarding and child protection issues concerning children and young people who take part in MHI’s activities are responded to appropriately
• Take the lead on responding to information that may constitute a child protection concern, including a concern that an adult involved with MHI may present a risk to children or young people. This includes:
  • assessing and clarifying the information
  • calling in and recording all safeguarding issues as they arise.
  • supporting and responding to staff who raise internal concerns as well as supporting those who make external safeguarding referrals to police or Adult / Children's Services
  • making referrals to statutory organisations as appropriate
  • consulting with and informing the relevant members of the organisation’s management

• following the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures
• Immediately referring cases to the Safeguarding Panel where there is a radicalisation concern

• Liaise with, pass on information to and receive information from statutory child protection agencies such as:
  • the local authority child protection services
  • the police
  • this includes making formal referrals to agencies when necessary.
• Record and retain child protection records according to legal requirements and the organisation’s safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures.
• Work closely with the management committee/board of trustees and Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure they are kept up to date with safeguarding issues and are fully informed of any concerns about organisational safeguarding and child protection practice.
• Contribute to regular reports to MHI’s board of trustees on issues relating to safeguarding and child protection, to ensure that child protection is seen as an ongoing priority issue and that safeguarding and child protection requirements are being followed at all levels of the organisation.
• Be familiar with and work within inter-agency child protection procedures developed by child protection agencies working in partnership with MHI.
• Be familiar with issues relating to child protection and abuse, and keep up to date with new developments in this area.
• Attend regular training in issues relevant to child protection and share knowledge from that training with everyone who works or volunteers with or for children and young people at MHI.
• Attend team meetings, supervision sessions and management meetings as arranged.
• Hold safeguarding workshops and drop-in consultations for the ongoing training and support of MHI clinical and volunteer support staff.  
• Work flexibly as may be required and carry out any other reasonable duties.
• Child protection leads must have received relevant safeguarding and child protection training that MHI require and that is specific to their role. This training should be refreshed regularly and they should keep up to date with any changes in safeguarding and child protection legislation and guidance.

This job description is not exhaustive; it outlines the key tasks and responsibilities of the post. These key tasks and responsibilities are subject to change as needed by the charity. You will be expected in undertaking the above role to comply with any policies and procedures that MHI may issue.

We will be interviewing on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of applicants.