About the job Job summary If you: Are passionate about keeping children safe. Have experience of allegation management and multi-agency working. Want to be part of a dynamic team that supports and improves the educational outcomes of c.5000 children and young people in Service Families. Would like to develop your skills through the opportunity to work with diverse overseas locations and the wider Defence community. Then this could be the role for you. Defence Children Services (DCS) are seeking a highly skilled and appropriately qualified Safeguarding specialist with expertise and proven success managing relationships and systems in a multi-agency environment. The context of Defence allegation management is unique and complex but also exciting and rewarding. Although very different to a county level or unitary local authority, the MOD is equally committed to the principles that allegations against people who work with children are not dealt with in isolation and that any action necessary to address corresponding welfare concerns in relation to a child or children involved should be taken without delay and in a co-ordinated manner. The MOD executes its responsibilities as part of multi-agency arrangements to deliver the management and oversight of allegations against people who work with children. The DCS Defence Allegation Designated Officer (DADO) will be based at Trenchard Lines in Upavon, Wiltshire. As the DCS DADO you will make a huge difference to Defence and Service families by being responsible for the operational leadership of systems and processes that deliver allegations management within Defence. The allegations management service sits within the DCS Safeguarding (SAFE) Team, which is led by the Senior Safeguarding Lead/Defence Allegations Designated Officer. The DADO Service is made up of a team of dedicated personnel who assist in the management of child safeguarding allegations made against MOD personnel (Service/Civilian and locally employed). DCS is a Defence delivery organisation. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child Support the Family Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is a diverse, multi disciplined team, based in Wiltshire but with forward deployed staff all over the world. We are responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings and we provide advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job description The post holders key responsibilities and main duties of the DADO are: To ensure the child's voice is heard and that they are safeguarded. To provide advice, support and guidance to Defence partners on complex issues that reach the DADO threshold, in overseas locations. To coordinate and oversee the response to allegations made against MOD personnel working with children overseas, monitoring case progression to ensure all actions are met swiftly and resolving any inter-agency issues. To ensure a consistent, fair and thorough process for all persons working with children and young people. Where there is no Local Safeguarding Partnership, support the coordination of the safeguarding and investigative process and provide advice/guidance. To set the agenda and chair allegation management strategy meetings, holding agencies to account and where required, respectfully challenge decisions and attitudes. To work with policy partners to develop policy and practice with regards to allegations management. To ensure local processes are compliant with the requirements of the Joint Service Publications - Safeguarding (JSP 834) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Safer Recruitment and Employment (JSP 893) and guidance outlined within Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education. To work closely with the Safer Recruitment and Assurance Officer to provide briefings regarding safer employment for professional staff, the voluntary sector, and other agencies involved in safeguarding children across Defence. Where a need for organisational learning has been identified, make referrals to the Safeguarding Practice Review Group or other authoritative bodies within Defence to ensure learning is effectively disseminated. To develop innovative responses to changing circumstances and to problem solve with a high degree of responsibility and independence. To process and manage information relating to casework, advice given, timescales agreed and outcomes. To ensure that senior leaders are kept fully informed in respect of those situations that may result in adverse or negative publicity for Defence or its members. To establish, promote, develop and maintain good working relationships with the local Safeguarding Partnership Leads, health, education, police and Commands in overseas locations. Person specification In your personal statement and CV, please provide evidence of: Previous experience as a Local Authority Designated Officer or active registration with Social Work England (SWE), the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or Social Care Wales. Being an experienced senior safeguarding practitioner with extensive knowledge and experience of safeguarding children. Highly developed specialist knowledge and experience of working in partnership with a range of agencies to keep children safe, particularly with education and social care professionals and police. Key skills in analysis and risk management within your practice and your understanding of the strength and merit of developing great partnership relationships. In addition: You will be a committed, confident and competent professional who has a proven record of progressing/managing complex child protection investigations. You will possess demonstrable evidence of current knowledge in national safeguarding policy, guidance and learning from reviews for children. You will demonstrate evidence and experience of applying effective analytical skills and using problem solving skills to foresee obstacles and make strategic decisions. You will demonstrate evidence and experience of managing conflict between different stakeholders, particularly where there may be different requirements and expectations. You will have the ability to work independently, managing caseloads to ensure efficient and effective response to enquiries. You will have strong collaborative skills and the ability to ensure the continued good team ethos. You will be able to demonstrate excellent organisational skills and contribute to the ongoing improvement of the Defence Allegations Management Service and its delivery to a range of partners. You will demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication and report writing skills. You will be both passionate and ambitious for children. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Communicating and Influencing Working Together Benefits Alongside your salary of 36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes 10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance. Other benefits for Army civil servants include: 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service Highly competitive pension scheme Personal and professional development of skills Alternative working patterns for many roles Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Enhanced parental and adoption leave 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities Learning and Development On-site Gymnasium Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. At sift you will be assessed on: Experience Candidates will be required to provide a CV, details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience. Candidates will be expected to provide a Personal Statement (up to 1000 words) detailing how they meet the criteria in the Person Specification detailed above. At interview you will be asked to complete a work related assessment and your professional knowledge and skills will also be assessed against the following: Behaviours: Leadership Communicating and Influencing Working Together The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam1mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Rebecca Tarren Email : RC-DCS-HQ-SAFEmod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:, Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email:infocsc.gov.uk.