Safeguarding Manager

Position Description

E/1.5.3

Completed Position Description are to be supplied to People and Culture for endorsement before use.

Position title

Safeguarding Manager

Synod service area

**Risk and Safeguarding**

Location

Uniting Church Centre, 60 Bayliss Street, Auchenflower

Classification/salary

Award Free - Remuneration Grade 6[NS1]

Next review date

May 2027

**The organisation**:
The Uniting Church in Australia is a passionate and diverse Christian church, a community of people who are shaped by Jesus' teaching and example. The church in Queensland includes congregations, faith communities, presbyteries, schools and colleges, early learning centres, hospitals, aged care centres and many expressions of mission and community service. We are a multicultural church, committed to reconciliation with First Peoples and social justice for all, seeking to steward our resources wisely in the furtherance of God’s mission in the world.

The Queensland Synod is the state council of the Uniting Church who come together every 18 months for Synod in Session - a meeting to discern together and make decisions for the management of the Synod.

The Office of the Synod’s purpose is to act upon the discernment of the Synod, to enable, equip and encourage a renewing and growing Church across Queensland. We are mission-driven, service-orientated and relationally focussed.

**Position purpose**:

- The purpose of this role is to provide strategic direction and lead the execution of the Queensland Synod’s Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy. The role is also responsible for overseeing, managing and continuously improving Synod’s safeguarding, Person of Concern and other related frameworks, systems, tools and materials (including training material).

The role will take the lead in investigating, responding to and advising Executive decisions-makers on all matters related to safeguarding and persons of concern. The role may also be required to investigate complaints and discipline matters that involve allegations of sexual abuse.

The role is also responsible for providing reporting on safeguarding compliance and assurance reporting to Synod governing bodies.

The role will involve training staff and stakeholders, liaising with key stakeholders including congregations, presbyteries and other Synod bodies.

**Key responsibilities**:

- Ensure the Safe Church/Safeguarding/Person of Concern strategy and related frameworks align with relevant legislation and regulations, and that it focuses on safeguarding all vulnerable persons including children, young people, and adults at risk.
- Manage and maintain policy frameworks with a view to continuous improvement of safeguarding and persons of concern policies and procedures.
- Manage a suite of on-line tools to support safeguarding efforts of a diverse range of audiences
- Conduct annual audits of Registers of Workers, safeguarding training, and screening processes across congregations, faith communities, Presbyteries, and Synod Agencies to ensure robust implementation of safeguarding practices.
- Support and build capacity within Presbyteries, congregations and other entities to administer comprehensive Risk Management Strategies that protect all vulnerable persons, through the provision of shared resources and guidance.
- Liaise with agencies, regulated businesses, colleges, and schools of the Church to monitor and support alignment of their safeguarding strategies with the broader Policy Framework and Safe Church /safeguarding standards.
- Facilitate and support the implementation of safeguarding strategies by Congregational Councils throughout Queensland, providing expert compliance advice and ensuring alignment with State and national legislative compliance and Assembly frameworks/practices and guidelines.
- Oversee and ensure the quality of training frameworks, modules, and documentation tailored for diverse audiences, including volunteers in congregations.
- Engage actively with partner organisations and communities of practice to share knowledge and collaborate and to build a network of support and resources.
- Convene and lead the Safeguarding Reference Group (comprising representatives from entities and agencies across the Synod, meeting at least annually) to promote continuous improvement in safeguarding strategy and resources.
- Work with Synod communications to enure clear, consistent messaging on safeguarding responsibilities and updates across Congregational Councils, Presbyteries, the Synod office, and other Synod Agencies.
- Develop and implement assurance checks and reports to provide Synod Executive with confidence that safeguarding and persons of concern frameworks are being complied with.
- Maintain a deep understanding of cultural values and behaviours that support safeguarding and consistently model these values in all interactions and leadership practices.
- Uphold the values of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod, in all professional co