Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer

MENTAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS

35,000 per year (pro rata)

Remote

Full-time

10th October 2025

Job Openings

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer

Safeguarding - London, Greater London (Remote)

Department

Safeguarding

Employment Type

Full-Time 40H

Compensation

£35,000 per annum / pro rata

Title: Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer

Reporting To: Safeguarding Manager

Location: Remote, based in the UK or New Zealand

Salary: £35,000 per annum, pro rata

Hours of Work: Full and Part-Time Opportunities available. Your preferred number of hours per week can be discussed at interview. This role is shift based, supporting a 24/7 UK based service. UK based staff will work evening and night shifts in local time, while New Zealand based staff will work morning, afternoon, and daytime shifts in their local time. All roles, whether in the UK or New Zealand, include weekend work.

Contract: Permanent and Fixed-Term opportunities available

Benefits:

25 days annual leave per year, plus public holidays;
Company electronic devices;
Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme;
Private health insurance after completion of probation;
Eligibility for a Blue Light discount card

Closing Date: 10th October 2025

Please Click Here for the full Candidate Pack for this role.

Job Summary

To ensure the appropriate care and protection of children and adults at risk, who are using Mental Health Innovations (MHI)’ services, and to take appropriate actions to safeguard those identified as being at risk of significant harm.

Key Responsibilities

Alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead/Safeguarding Manager, contribute to ensuring that everyone working or volunteering with children, young people, and adults at risk of harm at Mental Health Innovations understands the safeguarding policies and procedures and knows what to do if they have concerns about a child’s or adult’s welfare.
Implement Mental Health Innovations’ safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all concerns are responded to appropriately.
Deliver training to the MHI workforce around safeguarding processes and thresholds.
Respond to information that may constitute a safeguarding concern for children or adults at risk of harm, including:
- assessing and clarifying information
- reporting and recording safeguarding issues as they arise
- responding to and supporting staff who raise concerns live in the moment on the Shout/The Mix platforms, including counsellors
- making referrals to statutory organisations as appropriate
- consulting with and informing relevant members of the safeguarding management team
- following the organisational safeguarding policy and procedures
Be aware of PREVENT concerns and ensure the Prevent Duty is followed and adhered to.
Regularly liaise with, share information with, and, when necessary, make formal referrals to statutory agencies such as social services, police, and ambulance services.
Keep and maintain accurate records of safeguarding concerns for both young people and adults at risk of harm.
Work closely with the Head of Safeguarding and Safeguarding Manager to ensure they are kept up to date with safeguarding issues and are fully informed of any concerns.
Be familiar with multi-agency working and ensure adherence to statutory guidance and processes in line with MHI policies and procedures.
Have a sound understanding of safeguarding, keeping up to date with relevant changes and common trends/concerns regarding children, young people, and adults at risk of harm. Attend regular training relevant to safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm and share the learning with the wider MHI organisation.
Attend team meetings, supervision sessions, and regular one-to-one sessions as arranged.
Facilitate safeguarding workshops and drop-in consultations to support the ongoing training and development of Mental Health Innovations’ employees.
Facilitate reflective practice and debrief sessions for the volunteers of MHI.
Work flexibly as required and carry out any other reasonable duties.

Person Specification

Essential

Excellent communicator who is reflective, compassionate and respectful, able to work collaboratively across the organisation and provide constructive feedback.
Resilient and adaptable, able to stay calm and maintain quality in fast-paced, high-pressure environments while managing multiple tasks, creating clear systems, and meeting tight deadlines.
Self-motivated with a growth mindset, committed to continuous personal development, and contributing to a positive team culture.
Strong analytical and decision-making skills; able to gather, review and interpret sensitive information, assess risk, and make defensible, high-quality clinical decisions in line with safeguarding policies and procedures.
Strong administrative and IT skills and attention to detail, able to maintain accurate records and ensure appropriate action is taken.
Confident to lead and influence others while working independently or as part of a team.
Face-to-face experience with adults at-risk and/or children and families, including managing risk related to suicide, self-harm, complex mental health issues and safeguarding concerns.
Sound understanding of the Children’s Act 1989/2004, the Care Act 2014, and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, with good knowledge of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and awareness of safeguarding partnership thresholds for children and adults.
Experience of multi-agency safeguarding work and understanding of safeguarding issues affecting children, young people and adults at risk of harm.
Ability to work flexibly on a 24/7 rota, including evenings, overnight and weekends.
Level 3 Safeguarding Training (adults and children) or equivalent, Prevent training and awareness of the Prevent Duty.
Understanding of data-protection legislation and regulations i.e Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR.

Desirable

Experience working as a Designated Safeguarding Officer or Lead
Experience of working in a digital environment with risk or safeguarding concerns
Level 4 Safeguarding Lead training (Adults and Children)
Social Work qualification and professional registration.

This role is subject to eligibility to work in the UK, plus satisfactory background and reference checks. 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.

Thank You

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Location

London, Greater London (Remote)