Scouts Careers

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Supporting Statement

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In line with the Exception Order to the Rehabilitation Act, for all roles which involve regulated activity and an Enhanced DBS check, applicants are required to declare both spent and unspent convictions. If the role requires a Basic DBS check applicants are required to declare unspent convictions. The Applicant pack will detail which DBS check is required for each role. Please see our Recruitment and Selection Policy.

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Equal Opportunities

We are committed to the fair treatment of our staff, potential staff, regardless of race, gender, religion/belief, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy/maternity, marital or civil partnership status, physical/mental disability, responsibilities for dependants or offending background.

This information will not be disclosed to hiring managers for shortlisting purposes. It is not obligatory but would be used to ensure our recruitment processes are open to all sections of the community.

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Checklist

You are nearly complete with your application. But before you click submit, we just want make sure you understand our recruitment process and the next steps.

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Data Privacy Statement

This form is used to collect information about you for the purpose of assessing your application for a role at The Scout Association, and is done so under the lawful basis of performance of a contract. Your information will be stored securely on a third party system called Talos 360, and only accessed by relevant staff. Information about successful candidates will be retained for six years after their employment has ended. Information about unsuccessful candidates will be retained for six month after the decision is made, unless they opt in to join the talent pool. Data will be held on the talent pool for two years, and will be used to contact people about future vacancies that may be of interest to them. After the two year period we may invite people to provide a further opt in to remain part of the talent pool. For further information about how we manage personal data please read our Data Protection Policy and our Data Retention Policy

Thank you for completing this form

We aim to treat all current and prospective employees fairly and with dignity and respect, in accordance with our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. The Scouts Association consider candidates solely on merit and against role requirements and person specifications.

About My Application

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Job Details

Job Title: UK Head of Safeguarding
Job Reference: VF1313695GilUHOS
Location: Gilwell Park, Essex, United Kingdom
Salary: £85000.00 to £85000.00

Title: UK Head of Safeguarding

Location: Gilwell Park, Chingford, London (with hybrid working)

Salary: £85,000 per Annum -Band I

Term: Permanent

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

At the Scouts, everything we do is about helping young people gain skills for life. But nothing is more important to us than their safety and wellbeing. We’re looking for a dedicated and strategic safeguarding leader to join us at a pivotal moment in our journey of transformation.

The Role
As the UK Head of Safeguarding, you’ll lead our safeguarding and vetting functions across the UK, covering both employed staff and the thousands of volunteers who deliver life-changing experiences to nearly half a million young people. Your mission? To ensure that safeguarding is the golden thread running through everything we do.

This is more than a leadership role—it’s an opportunity to drive real cultural change across the movement. You’ll influence national strategy, ensure the delivery of high-quality training and advice, and develop a strong quality assurance framework that identifies areas for improvement and delivers lasting change.

You’ll report to and work closely with the Scouts’ Board of Trustees and Safeguarding Committee, providing clear, expert advice and reporting to support their governance and oversight responsibilities.

What You’ll Bring
We're looking for a safeguarding expert who combines emotional intelligence, resilience, and a passion for continuous improvement. You’ll need to demonstrate:

Deep subject matter expertise in safeguarding and vetting, ideally in a large and complex organisation
Experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving organisational culture change
Strategic thinking with the ability to deliver practical, operational solutions
A collaborative leadership style, with a commitment to ongoing personal and professional development

Why Join Us?
You’ll be leading a large and committed team of over 30 safeguarding professionals and working alongside a passionate network of colleagues and volunteers. We’ve already made significant improvements in the way we work—but we’re not stopping there. Now is a perfect time to join us and shape the next phase of our safeguarding journey.

In return we offer:

We are an award-winning Charity of the Year (Charity Times Awards 2022) with over 400 employees across multiple locations across the country.
Onsight free accommodation for staff
28 days holiday and going up to 32 days after 2 years’ service plus additional days at Christmas
Flexible working hours
Work in a way that suits you, your role and your department
Double matching pension up to 10% of gross salary
Family Friendly employer with generous family leave
Learning and Development/training opportunities via our internal learning hub

For a full list of our benefits click here.

Closing date for applications: 23:59pm Sunday 8th June 2025

Interviews will be held on week commencing Monday 16th June 2025 at Gilwell Park.

Strictly no agencies.

The Scouts is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We offer flexible working arrangements to support diverse needs and lifestyles, ensuring that our teams can thrive both professionally and personally. We welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life, believing that varied perspectives strengthen our innovation and community. Your unique experiences and ideas are essential to our success, and we look forward to hearing from all voices.