Job Description

Annual salary: up to \xc2\xa339,000.00

Regional Safeguarding Lead

Belfast

\xc2\xa339,000 per annum

Permanent

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers whilst their claim is being assessed. In May 2021, Mears had over 19000 service users across five regions: Northwest, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Mears work in partnership with central and local Government, registered providers, tenants, landlords and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing and create specialist housing for people with care needs.

Our Safeguarding department provide leadership and direction on the AASC (Asylum Accommodation & Support Contract) relating to all safeguarding matters affecting both vulnerable service users and staff. As Regional Safeguarding Lead for a Northern Ireland, you will lead the work to embed learning, prevent harm and ensure that we meet our contractual obligations to vulnerable service users. You will ensure the effectiveness of processes for responding to concerns about the welfare of vulnerable service users received from The Home Office; housing managers; welfare support officers, representatives from VCS/3rd Sector organisations and members of the public.

Key Responsibilities \xe2\x80\x93 Regional Safeguarding Lead

• Maintain a programme of assurance to ensure that standards of safeguarding are maintained across all areas of the contract.
• Provide leadership support to housing and welfare support officers working with service users in all areas including Dispersed Accommodation, Initial and Contingency Accommodation throughout Northern Ireland.
• Represent Mears on regional safeguarding meetings (Home Office Safeguarding Hubs; sub-contractors); SMP\xe2\x80\x99s; support multi-agency meetings and attend any other relevant meetings.
• Establish regular safeguarding case review meetings with internal staffing teams
• Ensure our training tools (Mears Learning) and resources are used to maximum effect.
• Tap into any local safeguarding training, where regional variations apply.
• Establish links with Migrant Help; specialist trafficking organisations, Police Modern Slavery & Organised Crime Units; Refugee Council; British Red Cross; Barnardo\'s; specialist mental health support agencies both statutory and voluntary and Health professionals throughout the contract area.
• Establish and/or develop strong working relationships both internally and externally with Voluntary and Statutory partners; The Home Office; safeguarding hubs etc.

Qualifications & Requirements \xe2\x80\x93 Regional Safeguarding Lead

• Previous experience working within support / homelessness.
• Safeguarding knowledge and experience
• Experience within Health and Safety
• Relevant qualifications in a safeguarding related field (desirable)

What We Can Offer \xe2\x80\x93 Regional Safeguarding Lead

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more.
• Company Vehicle and Fuel Card.
• Access to EAP which includes counselling sessions.
• Access to additional training such as mental health first aid/fire marshal training/ safeguarding level 2.

If you feel you have skills and experience needed, please apply below via the link. If you have any further questions, please contact Michael Farrell on Michael.farrell@mearsgroup.co.uk or 07354901492, quoting the job reference number for further information. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a DBS & BPSS check, as well as Security Clearance. For these checks to be completed, we will require from you the relevant identification, including Proof of Address, References, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.

Mears Group is a Disability Confident employer and recognises our people as our greatest asset, we hire individuality, recognising and valuing everyone is individual and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all regardless of social economic background or individual make up.

Please note that all our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship and all our roles are subject to relevant DBS/Security checks either before or upon commencement of employment.

Mears Group