Job Overview

The Jersey Designated Officer (JDO) is responsible for overseeing and managing allegations against adults who work with children.

Job Purpose

This role ensures that concerns are addressed promptly, fairly, and effectively, safeguarding the welfare of children. The JDO provides guidance, advice, and support to employers and voluntary organisations, coordinates investigations with relevant agencies, and monitors the progress of cases to ensure timely resolution. The JDO's objective is to protect children from harm while maintaining a consistent and thorough process for handling allegations.

For an informal discussion or further information please contact Sue Butterworth - s.butterworth@gov.je

Job Specific Outcomes 1 of 2

• Responsible for ensuring that the Government of Jersey fulfils its obligations for managing allegations against staff and volunteers working with children in any setting within Jersey.
• Lead designated officer in all matters related to managing and reviewing allegations, and further develop the structures and processes in relation to allegations made against adults that work with children.
• Contribute to embedding safety and excellence in practice into performance, behaviour, and culture within Jersey.
• Professional adviser to relevant senior managers on policy and operational matters related to allegations against staff.
• Establish positive relations with key partners and provide expert consultation and advice. This includes delivering training and workshops on behalf of Jersey Safeguarding Partnership Board.

Job Specific Outcomes 2 of 2

• Deliver advice and consultation for staff in Children’s services and agencies in respect of the Managing Allegations Procedure, including the scrutiny and oversight, of safer recruitment and due diligence and proposing where necessary improvements to systems.
• Challenge any safeguarding or planning and performance issues that raise concerns in accordance with the organisations policies and procedures and legislative requirements.
• Provide advice across the safeguarding partnership in respect of interpreting and implementing Safeguarding Procedures and policies
• Challenge, as required, decisions made by employers in respect of their employees which do not assure the safeguarding of children
• Ensure that the client information system in respect of adults who may pose a risk to children or have caused harm to a child is maintained

Qualifications

• A Professional qualification in Social Work (e.g. Degree, Diploma or equivalent in Social Work), with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience in a child protection setting.
• Registered with the appropriate UK professional governing body e.g. Social Work England and locally must register with the Jersey Care Commission.
• Evidence of continued professional development in relevant safeguarding field.

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of the legislative and procedural framework relating to managing allegations.
• Sound knowledge of diversity issues and of anti-discriminatory practice
• Sound understanding of confidentiality and information sharing protocols in relation to safeguarding children.
• Commitment to keeping abreast with new developments in legislation, guidance, policy and research, sharing learning and understanding of safer recruitment, HR and disciplinary processes. developing practice as appropriate.
• A good understanding of child & adult Safeguarding issues.
• Good understanding of the management of risk of adults and volunteers who pose a risk to children.
• Understands how to assess and manage risk when making complex decisions. An understanding of the framework for information sharing between professionals and confidentially requirements.
• Practical knowledge of maintaining records according to confidentiality and data protection principles

Technical Work Based Skills

• Ability to use Outlook, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc)
• Possess good analytical skills and be able to interpret information at multiple levels, supporting others to understand risk and appropriate solutions.
• Ability to travel off Island and work autonomously.
• Good report writing skills
• Enhanced DBS

General skills / attributes

• Ability to ensure the rights of staff who are the subject of an allegation.
• Well-developed communication skills demonstrating a professionalism in building and developing influential and respectful relationship with others.
• Ability to work autonomously with the capacity for independent responsible, professional decision making, often whilst under considerable pressure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to set the highest possible service standards for work quality, adherence to deadlines and procedural requirements.
• Ability to engage effectively with representatives from partner agencies and ensure a focus upon the child within the multi -agency process.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a complex workload and to manage time effectively.
• Able to play an active and positive role within the Standards and Quality Service and be a role model to others.
• Management organisational and administrative skills.
• Ability to quickly take on board complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation of a range of options to arrive at balanced decisions that ensure the welfare of the child.
• Ability to chair and manage meetings and deal with complex situations.
• Thorough working and understanding of the legal process,
• Good understanding of children & adult safeguarding issues and the management of risk.

Experience

• Substantial experience as a Social Worker with children and families in a statutory setting.
• Experience and ability to chair complex interagency meetings to gather information, identify risks and progress the management of individual cases.
• Substantial experience of working with complex child protection situations.
• Experience of the purpose and process of undertaking audits and quality assurance activity.
• Ability to challenge poor practice as appropriate and to facilitate sound
• Experience of supervision and supporting staff to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Decision making where there are opposing and conflicting views.
• Experience of managing conflict and disagreement effectively.

Personal Attributes

Appointees to this role will be required to adhere to and perform their duties in line with the standards identified in the States of Jersey tier 5 core accountabilities attributes and behaviour indicators