Cathedral Safeguarding Adviser (CSA)

Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd
Cathedral Safeguarding Adviser
Job Description

JOB TITLE:                Cathedral Safeguarding Adviser (CSA)
SALARY:
LOCATION:                Co-located - Diocesan Office, Clayton House, Walker Office Park Blackburn
  BB1 2QE,  and Blackburn Cathedral, Cathedral Close, Blackburn, BB1 5AA

          £15 951.98      per annum

CONTRACT TYPE:         14 hours per week
LINE MANAGED BY:      Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO)

The Diocese of Blackburn

The Diocese of Blackburn represents the Church of England in most of Lancashire and part of Wigan
Metropolitan Borough, covering an area of 878 square miles with a population of 1.3 million.

The Diocese is made up of two archdeaconries, Blackburn and Lancaster, with a total of fourteen Deaneries.
There are 281 Churches, comprising around 226 parishes, with around 250 clergy (c. 200 stipendiary) and
230 licensed Readers. Blackburn Cathedral is one of England’s newest cathedrals, yet one of the country’s
oldest places of Christian worship. God has been worshipped on this site for over 1,500 years and we are a
vibrant community serving the people of Lancashire.

We are looking for a person who can apply good safeguarding practice in a way that delivers positive
outcomes for children and adults at Blackburn Cathedral. You will need a relevant professional qualification,
and substantial practitioner experience including recent experience of managing a caseload of safeguarding
cases.  It’s essential that you have up to date knowledge of statutory safeguarding guidance and legislation. If
you are a team player and passionate about safeguarding, then we would love to hear from you!

The Cathedral Safeguarding Adviser (CSA) will support the Church of England’s commitment to creating a
safer environment by managing safeguarding concerns, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring that
appropriate safeguarding measures are in place. The role involves working closely with Cathedral staff and
clergy, survivors, statutory agencies, and other safeguarding professionals to promote best practices in
safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

Our Diocesan Safeguarding Team is key in delivering on this commitment. The CSA will be embedded within
the Diocesan Safeguarding Team which consists of four safeguarding professionals; the DSO, an Assistant
Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, a Safeguarding Case Worker, and a Training Officer all supported by a
Safeguarding Administrator.

Following an independent audit at both the cathedral and diocese we are currently seeking to grow and
develop the cathedral’s safeguarding function.  This is an opportunity for an experienced and motivated
professional to help shape and deliver our safeguarding work there.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Joint cathedral and diocesan working
Safeguarding arrangements between the diocese and the cathedral are formalised within a Service Level Agreement
Where an allegation or concern is raised in connection with a Church Officer, the Cathedral Safeguarding Adviser must
report to, and consult with the DSO and agree a plan for response, including case lead, respective roles, responsibilities
and action

The Cathedral Safeguarding Adviser (CSA) has operational authority within the Cathedral, subject to agreement with
the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer.

The following responsibilities are arranged according to the Church of England’s five National Safeguarding Standards.

Standard 1: Organisational culture, leadership and capacity

Church bodies have safe and healthy cultures, effective leadership, resourcing and scrutiny arrangements necessary to
deliver high-quality safeguarding practices and outcomes.

The CSA will lead the Cathedral’s work on this standard by:
•  Working with the DSO, Chapter, Dean, other senior clergy, the Chief Operating Officer, other senior staff, relevant
Cathedral committees and structures, the Diocesan and Cathedral Safeguarding Advisory Panel and key diocesan
staff to support, develop and improve the safeguarding practice and culture across the Cathedral.

•  Cooperating with and supporting the work of the relevant Cathedral committees and structures and the Diocesan

and Cathedral Safeguarding Advisory Panel as required.

•
•

•

Supporting the Cathedral’s response to ongoing safeguarding quality assurance and audit processes.
Escalating safeguarding concerns or issues to the appropriate body, such as the Diocesan Safeguarding Team,
and/or the relevant statutory safeguarding agency, including the Charity Commission, and/or the National
Safeguarding Team, as the situation requires.
Ensuring that appropriate learning and reflective practice takes place across the Cathedral and contributing to
learning within the Diocese arising from safeguarding casework and referring to the DSO where required in relation
to commissioning or requesting safeguarding practice reviews.

Standard 2: Prevention

Church bodies have in place a planned range of measures which together are effective in preventing abuse in their
context.

The CSA will lead the Cathedral’s work on this standard by:
•  Co-ordinating the implementation of House of Bishop’s safeguarding policy and practice guidance in the cathedral.

•  Giving advice, support, direction and challenge, as required, to the Dean, Chapter and other church officers across

the Cathedral and where necessary escalating any concerns to the DSO.

•  Providing, or co-ordinating, in partnership with the Diocesan Safeguarding Training Officer, and Diocesan

Safeguarding Administrator, and the cathedral administrative team, the provision of, safeguarding training across
the Cathedral, according to the Church of England’s Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework.

Standard 3: Responding to and managing risk

Risk assessments, safety plans and associated processes are of a high quality and result in positive outcomes. The
assessment and management of risk is underpinned by effective partnership working.
CSA JD_PS – July 2025

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The CSA will lead the Cathedral’s progress on this standard by:
•

Ensuring that all allegations and concerns relating to Church Officers and members of the clergy are reported to,
and a plan is agreed with, the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and/or relevant members of the National
Safeguarding Team (NST).
Leading and coordinating all aspects of safeguarding casework within the Cathedral, ensuring that all work is
completed in line with House of Bishop’s safeguarding policy and guidance and all other relevant statutory
guidance and legal responsibilities.

•

Standard 4: Victims and Survivors

Victims and survivors experience the timeliness and quality of Church bodies' responses to disclosures, and their
subsequent support, as positively meeting their needs, including their search for justice and helping their healing
process.

The CSA will lead the Cathedral’s progress on this standard by:
•  Coordinating the Cathedral’s response to those reporting abuse.
•

Leading the ongoing implementation of the House of Bishop’s Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse
guidance.

Standard 5: Learning, supervision and support

All those engaged in safeguarding-related activity in Church bodies receive the type and level of learning, professional
development, support and supervision necessary to respond to safeguarding situations, victims and survivors, and
respondents, effectively.

The CSA will lead the Cathedral’s progress on this standard by:
•  Working collaboratively with the Diocesan and National Safeguarding Team and other Church of England

Safeguarding Officers and attending national safeguarding events and activities as required.
Engaging in professional supervision and quality assurance with the DSO and engaging in continual professional

•
       development.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
•

•

In the cathedral, the Dean provides leadership concerning safeguarding, supported by Chapter and the senior
leadership team requiring good working relationships with both clergy and lay colleagues.
It is essential that the CSA forms excellent working relationships with key people in the Diocese, including: the
Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO), the safeguarding team and other relevant staff; the chair and membership
of diocesan safeguarding governance structures e.g., the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) and
relevant sub-groups; and in the National Safeguarding Team.

•  Relevant officers in the various statutory authorities: the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO); key officers

•

from local authority adult social care and children’s services and associated partnership arrangements); Probation
Service, including officers responsible for Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA); Police officers
from key teams; and health services.
It is essential to have good connections with colleagues in relevant local third sector agencies, including those
working in the fields of homelessness, poverty, domestic abuse, mental health, substance misuse, refugee support,
language and learning support, etc.  Adults and children who are using, have used or may use the services of the
cathedral, particularly in relation to safeguarding.

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Person Specification

Criteria

Education and Qualifications

Relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience for
example, social care, criminal justice or relevant third sector,
with current professional registration where applicable.

Knowledge and Experience

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the
following:

Essential /
Desirable

Criteria Assessed by
Appl/Int/Refs

Essential

Appl

1.  Case worker lead responsibility in cases involving the

protection and safeguarding of children and/or adults.
2.  Broader leadership experience and influence regarding
the development of good safeguarding practice and
healthy safeguarding cultures.

3.  Up-to-date knowledge of research and evidence-based

practice models relevant to safeguarding.

4.  Experience of working with victims, survivors and

Essential

Appl/Int

Essential

Appl/Int

Desirable

Int

perpetrators of abuse.

Essential

Appl/Int

5.  Working with statutory and non-statutory organisations
in managing safeguarding allegations and assessing risk.

Essential

Appl/Int

Skills and Aptitudes

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability
to:

1.  Apply good safeguarding practice in a way that delivers

Essential

Int

positive outcomes for children and adults.

2.  Transfer good safeguarding practice to a non-statutory
organisation, working with colleagues from a non-
safeguarding background, and achieve good safeguarding
outcomes in that context.

3.  Model leadership across an organisation regarding the

development of good safeguarding practice and healthy
safeguarding cultures.

Essential

Int

Essential

Int

4.  Able to maintain professional boundaries while showing

Essential

Appl/Int

compassion and understanding.

5.  Support and coach others in the implementation of good

safeguarding practice.

6.  Communicate clearly and effectively, engaging diverse

stakeholders with authenticity and expertise.

7.  Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and to
work sensitively around those affected by safeguarding
issues.

Desirable

Int

Essential

Appl

Desirable

App/Int

CSA JD_PS – July 2025

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8.  Develop effective new ways of working for an

organisation.

9.  Strong report-writing and record-keeping skills.
10. Able to understand and navigate the complexity of

working in a large organisation.

Desirable
Desirable

Appl
Appl

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will have the following attributes:

1.  The ability to inspire the trust, confidence and

Essential

Int

commitment.

2.  A strong value base and commitment to doing the right

Essential

Int

thing.

3.  A good understanding of self; understands how their
personal history, life experiences and characteristics
inform how they understand and respond to safeguarding
situations.

4.  The ability to be self-reflexive, welcoming feedback from

others.

5.  A high level of personal resilience – working effectively in

a pressured environment and under scrutiny.
6.  Maintains calmness and clarity under pressure.
7.  Uses self-care strategies and seeks supervision or support

when needed.

8.  A strong commitment to equality and diversity.
9.  A broad sympathy with the aims and objectives of the

Church of England.

Essential

Appl/Int

Essential

Int

Essential

Int

Essential
Essential
Essential

Appl
Appl
Appl

Essential

Appl

Outline of Terms and Conditions

Employer: Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance

Contract type: 2 years fixed term subject to review.
Salary: £15 951.98
Hours: This is a part-time role based on a 14-hour working week, but the post holder may be required to work
additional hours as to meet the reasonable requirements of the role. The post holder will be entitled to time off in lieu
for attending meetings outside normal office hours which may include evenings and weekends.
Location: The post holder will be based at Blackburn Cathedral, Cathedral Close, Blackburn, BB1 5AA.    The nature of
the role requires travel between the diocesan office at Clayton House in Blackburn and the cathedral, and occasionally
beyond. A smartphone and laptop will be provided to assist remote working.
Pension: The default for staff is a Royal London Pension Scheme, 10% Employer contribution 2% minimum employee
contribution.
Annual leave: The full-time entitlement is 25 days (not including statutory bank holidays) in the first year of
employment rising by 1 day per completed calendar year up to a maximum of 30 days per year.  This is pro rata for part
time employees.  The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December.
Probationary period: The appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

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Notice Period: During the six-month probationary period 4-weeks' notice is required on either party. Thereafter you
will be required to give 12-weeks’ notice should you wish to resign.
Expenses: Working expenses are paid at the diocesan rates.
Employee Assistance Programme: Employees of the BDBF are entitled to the Medicash Employee Assistance
Programme following their second month of employment. Medicash is available to all employees whose contracts
exceed 3-months from their continuous start date.
Right to work: The post-holder must have the right to reside and work in the UK.
Diversity: The Diocese of Blackburn believes that diversity enables us to thrive and develop and is committed to race
equality, welcoming applications from UK Minority Ethnic/ Global Majority Heritage backgrounds
Safeguarding: The Diocese of Blackburn and Blackburn Cathedral are committed to safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment and
may be required to have a disclosure and barring service check.

Job Description Agreement

Preparation of Job Description

Author of Job Description: Catherine Smith

Date signed off:

Version:

CSA JD_PS – July 2025

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Recruitment Manager’s signature    Date   HR Manager’s signature   Date