Safeguarding Assistant to the Administrator

Application Pack

Safeguarding Assistant to the Prior Administrator

Downside Abbey is a Roman Catholic and is home to a community of Benedictine . It is the senior Benedictine monastery of the English Benedictine Congregation. Originally founded in , in 1606, the community of St Gregory the Great settled at Downside in 1814. Downside Abbey Church, one of only three Minor Basilicas in England, has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade 1 listed building.

This newly created role of Safeguarding Assistant is fundamental to our on-going commitment towards safeguarding of children, young people and adults within our organisation and the wider community we serve.

Working closely with the Clifton Diocese safeguarding team and our colleagues within , you will be proactive in building on the good working relationships we have, ensuring a robust and responsive attitude to safeguarding. Applicants should hold a relevant professional qualification and/or demonstrate significant experience of working in a safeguarding environment. An empathy with the Catholic Benedictine ethos of the organisation is also highly desirable.

As well as requiring discretion, sensitivity and strict confidentiality this role requires the ability to build rapport, gain trust and have good observation and judgement. Above all, a strong personal commitment to safeguarding is essential.

Contractual Details Salary: £30,000 pro-rata per annum Hours: 8 hours a week Probation: 3 months Contract: Permanent

How to Apply Please complete your application through our applicant tracking system, which can be found on our ‘Working with Us’ page: www.downside.co.uk/working-with-us. Please contact the Human Resources email address ([email protected]) if you require further information after reading the job description. Closing date for applications: Midday, Friday 12th October 2018

Downside is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the DBS. We are an equal opportunities employer.

Registered Charity Number 1158507

Downside Abbey

Downside Abbey is the senior Benedictine monastery of the English Benedictine Congregation. Originally founded in Douai, in 1606, the community of St Gregory the Great settled at Downside in 1814. Sir Nikolaus Pevsner described the Abbey as “the most splendid demonstration of the renaissance of Roman Catholicism in England”.

Downside Abbey’s main parish is based at St Benedict’s Church, Stratton-on-the-Fosse. The Church was built to the designs of Charles Hansom and completed in 1857. The parish is served by monks from Downside who say mass and hear confessions as well as conducting parish pastoral work. It has its own Parish Centre for activities, weekend services are busy and it is only a short walk from the Abbey Visitor Centre. Downside also has parishes in Bungay, Beccles and Little Malvern.

The Community is relatively low in numbers and the English Benedictine Congregation now wishes to strengthen Downside so that it can transition to new structures for the Monastery, its heritage and the School. These new structures will enable each element of Downside to develop the leadership and resources needed for each to flourish as we move towards the planned organisational separation of Downside Abbey and Downside School, which has now been agreed in principle.

The administration of Downside Abbey has recently changed with Dom Nicholas Wetz, former Prior at Belmont Abbey, moving to Downside from 1 September 2018 to take up the post of Prior Administrator. Dom Leo Maidlow Davis, the outgoing Prior, will continue to be an active part of the resident community at Downside. Dom Oliver Holt from has also recently joined the Downside Community, and Dom Mark Barrett from will be a regular visitor; both are already Trustees and members of the Prior’s Council. Together they will help to reinvigorate our Community and strengthen Downside.

The Post

Building on our well established relationships with the Clifton Diocese safeguarding team and our colleagues at Downside School, Downside Abbey is responding to the need to increase its capacity to embed excellent safeguarding across its community.

This is an exciting time to join Downside Abbey as we embark on a new era of growth to enable the Abbey to transition to new structures for the monastery. Supported by the English Benedictine Congregation

Working closely with the Prior Administrator, the post holder will respond to the safeguarding learning needs of Abbey colleagues, support the management of individual safeguarding cases and help to further build and develop a culture of robust and responsive safeguarding practices within the community.

Registered Charity Number 1158507

JOB DESCRIPTION

Downside Abbey

Post Title: Safeguarding Assistant to the Prior Administrator

Department: Prior Administrator’s Office

Location: Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse,

Reports to: Prior Administrator

Date of Issue: September 2018

The Organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Although human nature itself is inclined to be compassionate towards the old and the young, the authority of the rule should also provide for them (Rule of St Benedict, chapter 37, 1). Role Summary

Downside Abbey is formally linked with the Clifton Diocesan Safeguarding Office. The Safeguarding Assistant is appointed by the Prior Administrator in consultation with the Downside Abbey Trustees and the Clifton Diocesan Safeguarding Office. The Safeguarding Assistant is accountable to the Prior Administrator and assists him in the discharge of his safeguarding responsibilities.

The Safeguarding Assistant will liaise with the Compliance Trustee, who is currently a member of the monastic community, and will assist the Prior Administrator to:

 Initiate and maintain relevant policies and standards within the Abbey setting.  Keep up to date with developments in legislation and practice, including recommendations from Inquiries and Reviews.  Plan, co-ordinate and monitor all safeguarding work to standards set and monitored by the Clifton Diocesan Safeguarding Office and the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS).  Implement the recommendations for the monastery of the 2018 Social Care Institute for Excellent (SCIE) audit.

Downside School and the Parishes for which Downside is responsible have their own Designated Safeguarding Leads. The post holder will be responsible for building and maintaining good relationships and robust liaison between these bodies.

Duties and Responsibilities

The following list is not exhaustive but the post holders’ principal responsibilities are:

 Keeping appropriate records, using standard case-file formats and storing information securely.  Maintaining confidentiality as required and ensuring safety of potential victims.  Designing appropriate levels of training for members of the monastic community and all monastery personnel; this training package will incorporate child and adult safeguarding, and reflect the variety of monastic tasks. It will include training in relation to handling disclosures of abuse.  Maintaining contacts and links with the statutory agencies in the locality, working with them as necessary.  Developing regular links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and Adult Social Care Services in the locality.  Providing monitoring information and completing surveys and reports as requested.  Organising safeguarding meetings, including their preparation and carrying out any follow-up actions.  Ensuring Trustees are routinely informed and kept up-to-date on safeguarding matters.  Liaising with Downside’s Human Resources Department to process DBS checks and to liaise on safer recruitment and risk assessments.  Attending periodic safeguarding forums.  Specifically for Downside Abbey, developing and applying the twenty-five standards of PRAESIDIUM’s Safety Equation in preparation for regular Visitation Audits (every four years).

The Safeguarding Assistant will assist the Prior Administrator to:

 Lead and manage the protection of children and adults who may be vulnerable, abused, or at risk of abuse, in accordance with current safeguarding policy and practice, and its implementation at Downside Abbey.  Promote safeguarding in collaboration with the Compliance Trustee.  Maintain a culture of vigilance, appropriate challenge, and to create a safe environment.  Create appropriate best practice in the prevention of abuse of children and adults at risk of abuse.  Respond to matters of protection relating to children, young people and adults at risk.  Respond to victims and survivors of abuse by assisting with relevant services and support.  Report all concerns or allegations that relate to the CSAS National Safeguarding procedures to the person responsible for insurance matters.  Report all serious incidents to the Charity Commission.  Liaise with key managers in their specific area and provide advice and guidance where concerns are raised or allegations made.

Registered Charity Number 1158507

 Respond to allegations and referrals, and then act on them in compliance with Statutory Guidance and Timescales, and within the Policies and Procedures of CSAS.  Make referrals to the Clifton Diocesan Safeguarding Office, the Police or Children’s Social Care Services/Adult Social Care Services as appropriate.  Manage robustly monastic safeguarding cases with risk assessments, safety plans and regular reviews of both, which may involve some travel to undertake visits.

The following duties are ones which all staff are required to perform:

 Observe health and safety procedures and work safely at all times;  To be responsible for your own continuing self-development, undertaking training as appropriate to the working environment and location, and developments in your role;  Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and with whom you come into contact;  Undertake any other duties as required by your manager in order to meet the changing needs and demands of the Organisation.  Conduct yourself with professionalism, tact and diplomacy at all times as a representative of the Organisation.

Review

This job description is provided to assist the post holder to know their principal duties. It may be amended in consultation with the post holder without change to the level of responsibility or remuneration appropriate to the post. This list is not exhaustive.

Registered Charity Number 1158507

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ATTRIBUTES ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE HOW These are qualities without This information could IDENTIFIED which the applicant could be used to differentiate (Application / not be appointed. applicants. Interview)

Qualifications A relevant professional A further education qualification and/or significant qualification or equivalent experience of working in a gained through safeguarding environment experience; a university

degree would be desirable although not essential.

Knowledge & Excellent working knowledge Knowledge of the Skills of Word, Excel and Outlook standards of PRAESIDIUM’s Safety High-level organisational Equation skills Understanding of Every Effective, clear Child Matters principles communication and and strategies interpersonal skills both orally and in writing Ability to identify signs of abuse and neglect; physical, Able to review and develop sexual, emotional and safeguarding policies and financial procedures

Able apply knowledge of legislation relating to safeguarding in a practical setting

Experience Relevant professional Experience of and empathy safeguarding experience in a with the Roman Catholic, similar role Benedictine ethos

Experience of successfully working with vulnerable Children and Adults, and understanding their needs

Registered Charity Number 1158507

ATTRIBUTES ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE HOW These are qualities without This information could IDENTIFIED which the applicant could be used to differentiate (Application / not be appointed. applicants. Interview)

Experience Experience of maintaining Experience of working in accurate records and writing partnership with the Local reports and risk assessments Safeguarding Children

Board and Adult Social Care Services (or other agencies)

Personal Good observation and competencies judgement and qualities Empathy and understanding with an ability to support and engage with individuals experiencing personal trauma and crisis

Understands and adheres to strict requirements for discretion, sensitivity and confidentiality

Friendly, assertive manner with the confidence to appropriately challenge

Able to work on own initiative and equally work well in a team

Received by (print name): ______

Signature: ______Date: ______

Registered Charity Number 1158507

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

PLACE OF Downside Abbey, Stratton on the Fosse, Radstock BA3 4RH WORK

SALARY This is a salaried position at £30,000 per annum (pro-rata).

TRAVEL Expenses for travel follow HMRC guidelines at 45p per mile up to EXPENSES 10,000 miles, 25p per mile thereafter.

HOURS OF 8 hours per week (23% of FTE). WORK

HOLIDAY Paid annual entitlement is 33 days pro rata per annum (52.8 hours) ENTITLEMENT which includes the 8 statutory public and bank holidays in England and Wales.

CONTRACT This is a part-time permanent contract. TYPE

PROBATIONARY There will be a probationary period of 12 weeks. PERIOD

NOTICE PERIOD There will be a notice period of 12 weeks.