Safeguarding Lead

Salary: £31,001 to £33,500 (the salary offered will depend on relevant qualifications, experience and skills)

Hours: 37.5 per week (compressed hours will be considered).

Location: Hybrid working available and expected in the office a minimum of 2 days a week (the office is based in the Central Office in Cheltenham but the role will be required to work across all YMCA Cheltenham sites)

“Shape a legacy. Grow impact. Lead with purpose.”

YMCA Cheltenham is looking for an experienced and values-driven Safeguarding Lead to join us at an important and exciting point in our development. This is a new and influential role with the opportunity to shape, strengthen and lead safeguarding practice across a diverse and ambitious charity.

As our Safeguarding Lead, you will act as the organisation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, providing expert advice, guidance and support to colleagues across our services. You will help ensure that children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected, listened to and supported, while also giving staff the confidence, knowledge and systems they need to respond well when concerns arise.

This role sits at the heart of our organisation’s future — shaping how we are seen, how we are supported, and how we sustainably deliver life‑changing services for children, adults, and families across Gloucestershire.

In 2026, we mark the extraordinary milestone of 170 years of continuous service to our communities. For nearly two centuries, we have stood alongside those most in need – providing housing, support and opportunity where it is needed most.

This is a role with real reach and impact. Working closely with Senior Leaders, service managers and external partners, you will help develop a consistent, high-quality safeguarding approach across YMCA Cheltenham, including our supported housing, children and families work, community activities and wider charitable services. You will support complex case work, lead safeguarding reviews, represent the organisation in multi-agency settings and help ensure we meet the expectations of regulators and partners.

We are looking for someone who combines strong safeguarding knowledge with sound judgement, emotional intelligence and the ability to influence positively. You will be confident working with sensitive information, able to communicate clearly with a range of audiences and be committed to building a culture where safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility.

In return, you will join a professional, compassionate and forward-thinking charity with a long history of supporting people in Cheltenham and Gloucester. This is a chance to make a lasting difference: not only by responding to safeguarding concerns, but by helping to shape the systems, training, standards and culture that protect the people we serve.

If you are passionate about safeguarding, committed to continuous improvement and motivated by work that genuinely changes lives, we would be delighted to hear from you.

About the Role

The Safeguarding Lead will:

• Work under the direction and leadership of the Head of Communities, Health & Wellbeing.
• Act as the organisations Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Act as the main source of advice and expertise for the organisation.
• Support and advise Senior Leadership team with the development of all aspects of the organisation’s response to safeguarding.
• Respond to all safeguarding concerns raised by staff by ensuring any appropriate actions and support are in place.
• Attend and represent YMCA Cheltenham at multi-agency meetings, as appropriate, ensuring all actions are implemented.
• Work alongside the HR department to ensure organisational safeguarding training is compliant and appropriate to support the delivery of all YMCA Cheltenham’s work.
  
  
• Actively contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by way of delivering internal training, professional development and the promotion of external development opportunities in relation to safeguarding.

What You’ll Bring

• A minimum of a Level 3 professional qualification in training or organisational development is required (Level 4 is desirable).
• Experience working as a Safeguarding Lead.
• Experience of working in a safeguarding environment with both children and vulnerable adults.
• Relevant qualifications in safeguarding Children or vulnerable adults.

Evidence of relevant Continuous Professional Development. 

Competencies, Technical Skills & Experience

• Strong understanding and track record of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
• Knowledge of safeguarding approaches and partnership working to safeguard vulnerable children and adults.
• Experience of using digital platforms, such as CPOMS and Microsoft 365.
• Excellent presentation skills and able to engage with a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent training design and facilitation skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence, coach, and support staff at all levels.
• Analytical skills to interpret data and measure effectiveness of systems and procedures.
• Highly organised, with strong administration skills.

Personal Qualities

• People‑centred: builds trust and understands the challenges within the organisation.
• Facilitator and Coach: excellent listening skills, and able to support learning and development of a safeguarding culture across the organisation.
• Adaptable and Versatile: adjusts communication and training styles to suit diverse audiences.
• Collaborative & Influential: builds trust across teams and partners; confident negotiator.
• Organised & Resilient: manages competing priorities, stays calm under pressure, delivers to deadlines.
• Ethical & Professional: champions fairness, safeguarding, and integrity in all interactions.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: curious, pragmatic, and solutions

ABOUT US

YMCA Cheltenham, founded in 1855, is a registered charity and has become a leading provider of supported housing for the most vulnerable in Cheltenham and Gloucester, alongside other works including early-years provision, sports facilities, community engagement and other charitable activities.

Organisational Values

YMCA Cheltenham is an organisation founded on Christian values and, as such, employees may encounter behaviours, artefacts, or other elements particular to or representative of the Christian faith in their workplace.

As an organisation founded upon the Christian Faith, YMCA Cheltenham draws its Values from the Bible, principally as described in Micah 6:8. Our Values are therefore expressed as follows:

OUR VALUES

YMCA Cheltenham will OPERATE with Equity, Integrity, Openness and Honesty.

YMCA Cheltenham will ENGAGE with Empathy, Kindness, Generosity and Grace.

YMCA Cheltenham will BE Thoughtful, Discreet, Ethical and Respectful to all.

Employees are not required to adhere to the Christian faith, nor any faith, and no such consideration is made by the organisation in employment choices nor in delivering its services – however, we do expect all employees to demonstrate the list of Values shown while in the workplace.

ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER

The organisation recognise that employees need a good balance between work and life.  We are committed to supporting a healthy balance between work and life and creating a workplace where people can thrive. Our benefits include:

• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, rising by up to 5 extra days with service.
• Two wellbeing days per year.
• Retail discounts and rewards across major high‑street and online brands.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Generous contributory pension.
• Company sick pay.
• Life Assurance at two times salary.
• Health cash plan, covering optical and dental costs, GP/consultant access, and independent personal, workplace, and financial advice.
• Free use of on‑site sports facilities.
• Occupational Health support and reasonable adjustments where needed.
• Extensive training and development, including opportunities to gain relevant qualifications.
• Regular social events for colleagues and their families
• Critical Illness cover.
• Wellbeing / wellness services and apps.
• A supportive, passionate and high-performing team environment.

We are committed to creating a dynamic and diverse workforce and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their age, gender, disability, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or faith. We have procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

YMCA Cheltenham is committed to following safer recruitment guidelines.  In line with the requirements of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must be able to demonstrate they have evidence to be eligible to live and work in the UK.  Successful candidates will need to provide two satisfactory references, undergo a DBS check and demonstrate full employment history. 

YMCA Cheltenham is wholly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.