Army - Defence Children Services Defence Allegation Designated Officer

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 376524

**Salary**:

- £36,530
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- MOD - Army - Defence Children Services

**Type of role**:

- Education and Training

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Trenchard Lines, Upavon, Pewsey, Wiltshire

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 holder’s 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 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