Job Description

Trustee – Safeguarding Lead
Contract: Voluntary (reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed)
Commitment: Average 3-4 hours a month
Location: Dartington/Hybrid

Are you passionate about protecting vulnerable people?

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated individual to join our Board of Trustees as our Trustee Safeguarding Lead.

Since 1996 our charity has been dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities and safeguarding is at the heart of our work. We operate in three areas:

• Lifeworks College: A welcoming and lively further education college for 16-25 year-olds with a learning disability.
• Lifeworks Community: A programme of activities for children and young people with learning disabilities giving them opportunities to meet friends, improve their health, try new activities and support them to achieve their best futures.
• Lifeworks Residential: A warm and welcoming home providing 24-hour residential care and support to adults with autism and severe learning disabilities.

The Role

As a Trustee of the charity, you’ll play an important role in our success and oversee the effective and responsible management of a charity. This involves ensuring the charity operates in accordance with its charitable purpose and best interests of its beneficiaries, complies with relevant laws and regulations, and safeguards the charity's assets.

With a focus on safeguarding, you will work with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Board of Trustees to ensure our service users are safeguarded. You will provide strategic leadership, oversee the development and implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures, and work closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to maintain a culture of safeguarding across the charity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the development and implementation of robust safeguarding policies and procedures;
• Monitor and review safeguarding practices and procedures;
• Liaise with external agencies such as social services and the police; and
• Provide advice and support to the Board on safeguarding matters

Time Commitment:

• New trustees are required to attend an induction session at Lifeworks before their first board meeting.
• Trustees must attend all five board meetings held annually during standard business hours at our Head Office, Lescaze, Shinners Bridge, Dartington. One full-day meeting is dedicated to strategic planning, while the other four meetings are approximately three and a half hours each. Meeting materials are distributed one week prior to each meeting.
• You may also be asked to join additional sub-committees.

What we’re Looking For:

We're seeking someone with experience of child and/or adult safeguarding, preferably in the education sector, and a good understanding of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures.

You don’t need to have previous experience as a charity board trustee – we will give you the support that you need to learn about us and your role.

We believe that having a diverse board of trustees is key to our success so we’re especially keen to receive applications from under-represented communities and people with lived experience of learning disabilities.

Building a diverse and safe team:

At Lifeworks, we're committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals with disabilities who meet the job criteria, and we guarantee qualified candidates with disabilities an interview.

However, ensuring a safe environment for everyone we support is our top priority. Therefore, all trustees undergo pre-employment checks, reference checks, and an enhanced DBS check.

Apply today and tell us why you'd be a great fit for our charity!