Safeguarding, Risk & Incidents Manager

Location

ADH Stratford/Hybrid

Vacancy Type

Permanent, Full-time

Hours per week

Application Deadline

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Salary

£46,852 - £51,228

Job Profile

Job Profile document

Job Summary

About the Refugee Council

The Refugee Council is the nation's refugee charity. For more than 70 years, we have supported people who have fled war, violence and persecution to find safety and rebuild their lives in Britain. Born in the aftermath of the Second World War, we have extensive experience helping refugees overcome the challenges of displacement and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Working alongside community groups, partners and volunteers, we support refugees and people seeking asylum to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities, and play an active part in British society. Refugees are at the heart of everything we do, and we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live a safe, purposeful and fulfilling life.

Our Values

Our values underpin everything we do:Inclusive:We work with - not for - refugees and people seeking asylum, so they have an equal voice, co-producing projects and ensuring their expertise and experiences are at the heart of what we do.Collaborative: Working with others is a priority in order to have the collective impact that is vital to achieve policy and practice reform.Courageous:We speak out when we see injustice, cruelty and unfairness. We always stand up for what we believe is the right thing to do to transform the experiences of those seeking protection in our country.Respectful:We are respectful of all those we interact with. We treat everyone – our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, partners and people we disagree with – with the same respect, professionalism and understanding.About the role
We are seeking an experienced and values-drivenSafeguarding, Risk & Incidents Managerto lead the delivery of safeguarding, incident, complaint, risk and data protection processes across the Refugee Council.

As Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Data Protection Officer, you will provide expert advice, oversee complex cases and investigations, support organisational learning, and help ensure services are safe, compliant and effective.

Working closely with quality and operational teams, you will drive continuous improvement, strengthen governance, and improve outcomes for refugees and people seeking asylum.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional passionate about safeguarding vulnerable people and embedding a culture of learning, accountability and excellence.

Who we’re looking for

We're looking for a compassionate and experienced safeguarding professional with a strong understanding of trauma-informed practice.

You'll bring substantial experience in safeguarding, risk management, investigations, compliance and data protection, together with the ability to manage complex incidents, identify emerging risks and drive continuous improvement.

You'll be confident providing expert advice to senior leaders, producing high-quality reports and recommendations, and building effective relationships across diverse stakeholders.

A strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, information governance and the needs of refugees, people seeking asylum and people with lived experience of forced migration is essential.

Why Join the Refugee Council

At the Refugee Council, we care about our people. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance and professional development, including:

Flexible working and hybrid working arrangements
28 days' annual leave, rising to 30 days with service (excluding bank holidays), plus the option to purchase additional annual leave.
Group Personal Pension Scheme with up to 5% employer contribution.
Life Assurance
Ongoing learning and development opportunities
Interest- free loans, including season ticket loan and Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme, providing confidential advice and wellbeing support

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of the UK refugee protection system.

If you meet most of the essential criteria and are excited about the role, we'd encourage you to apply. We value different experiences and perspectives and recognise that skills can be developed in different ways.

Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and employment. If you require any adjustments, please let us know and we will work with you to support your participation.

How to apply

Please click on the ‘apply now’ button and send your application and a personal statement explaining how you meet the requirements of the role.

Application Deadline: 17 September 2026 at 23:45.We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

Successful applicants may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, where applicable to the role.

For more information, please contact Shauna McAllister -

Shauna.McAllister@refugeecouncil.org.uk