The post holder location/office base is subject to negotiation

Are you passionate about children’s rights?

Are you resilient, and able to lead and support Safeguarders in their demanding role for children?

The Safeguarders Panel Team at Children 1st is established as an integral feature of the Children’s Hearing landscape, contracted by the Scottish Government to manage the national Safeguarders Panel.

We are looking for a relational, child-centred, and resilient leader to join our team, ensuring that children’s rights and quality are at the heart of the Safeguarders Panel. The Safeguarders Panel Team (SPT) recruit, support, provide learning opportunities and monitor Safeguarders practice. We collaborate with partner agencies and deliver all other operational tasks associated with Safeguarder appointments.

You will develop relationships with Safeguarders individually and in groups, working as part of a team, to provide direct support in their important and challenging role. You will help them provide an excellent, accountable, trauma-sensitive and rights-based service for children and young people, and to provide evidence for their re-appointment.

Children 1st along with partners share a determination to act upon the recommendations from The Independent Care Review and deliver The Promise. We are also determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported.

What kind of person will make a great Support Manager for Children 1st Safeguarders Panel Team?

• have a working knowledge of the Children’s Hearing System

• be passionate about children and their rights being respected

• proven leadership skills with a background of support and monitoring of others - volunteers and or employed staff

• be able to grasp complex systems quickly

• be supportive and flexible in ensuring the day-to-day operation of the service

• be creative and interested in the development of associated support, learning and development agenda.

• be confident with independent working but also comfortable within a whole team context

• be comfortable facilitating and presenting

• is kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of Support Manager will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• positive, enthusiastic and energetic

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform practice

• solution focused with a strength-based approach

• big hearted and courageous

• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations

• is compassionate and understanding of trauma

• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure

• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better

• an amazing ambassador for children and Children 1st

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

Base

Safeguarders Panel Team is a National service, though this post will support Safeguarders in the north region of Scotland. The post holder location/office base is subject to negotiation.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 7 public holidays), flexible working opportunities and a contributory pension scheme.

Hours

This is a full time post of 35 hours per week, commencing in January 2024 for an initial period of 2 months to cover a period of maternity leave.

Hours to be worked flexibly to meet the needs of the service, some evening and weekend work on occasion.

Further Information

Due to potential conflict of interest issues which may arise, it is not possible to undertake the role of a Children’s Panel member alongside a role within the Safeguarders Panel Team here at Children 1st. We apologise for any disappointment this may cause.

Why apply for this role?

Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) is undergoing an exciting period of reform designed to make a step change in improving the outcomes for infants, children and young people who need us most. We are looking for a highly skilled and proactive Data Protection Officer and Information Governance Practitioner to join our Team and help us to refine and continuously improve our processes and procedures.

We are committed to #KeepThePromise to Scotland’s infants, children and young people, and you would be joining us during an exciting period of change as we redesign the children’s hearings system with our partners and people with lived experience over the next five years.

As Information Governance & Data Protection Officer, you will take an operational lead in advising and assisting CHS colleagues and community members in achieving best practice in information governance and data protection, as well as supporting the organisation in meeting its statutory IG obligations, in particular those outlined in the GDPR, DPA, FOISA, and PRSA by acting as Data Protection Officer. You will enhance our existing processes and polices ensuring compliance and best practice is applied across the organisation. You will have the opportunity to shape the way we approach records management and apply data protection principles across all of our projects and process improvement initiatives.

If you think that you can help to shape and improve our practices and build on our strong governance culture, then this might be just the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on Data Protection issues on behalf of CHS . This includes regular reporting and presentation to the Board, working with the SIRO on requests, and acting as the main point of contact for Data Protection to regulators, staff and the CHS Community.

• Oversee and ensure ongoing compliance with information governance, records and data protection legislation, providing on-going evidence of compliance with the statutory requirements as set out in the PRSA and CHS’ Records Management Plan.

• Lead on and support CHS staff and Community to carry out Data Protection Impact Assessments, offering advice and proactive solutions to queries.

• Play a key role in the corporate governance of CHS by ensuring that all projects, including digital development, have data protection by design and default built in.

• Manage information security incident resolution including recording, investigating and reporting of information security incidents and identifying vulnerabilities in our systems and practices.

• Draft responses to requests for information, and leading on responding to requests submitted under Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, 2002 and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

• Managing requests submitted under Data Protection legislation, such as Subject Access Requests.

• Manage statutory reporting to regulators, principally the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Scottish Information Commissioner.

• Work with colleagues to ensure a risk-based approach to the application of data protection principles across all areas of the business and lead on auditing CHS’s compliance with IG policies and practice.

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Please note that You may be required to travel across Scotland and work on occasion outside CHS’ normal working hours to meet the requirements of the job.

Life at CHS

Our 2,500 volunteer Panel Members take part in children’s hearings in their local areas, making decisions with and for infants, children and young people. Our organisation also supports a network of 22 Area Support Teams made up of 400 volunteers who support Panel Members in their local communities.

As an organisation that works within the children’s hearings system, we are passionate about making a positive contribution to improving outcomes for Scotland’s infants, children and young people.

You can read more about our core values HERE as well as view an introductory video to our organisation. We also offer a generous benefits package from hybrid working, flexi hours and a fantastic pension scheme - you check out our full benefits summary HERE.

Diversity and Inclusion

CHS is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We actively encourage applicants from all protected characteristics and are committed to providing any reasonable adjustments required during application and assessment process, and upon joining us.