Head of Safeguarding

Location: Remote-first (with regular travel to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire) or hybrid (with 2–3 days/week at the Stoneleigh based office).

Salary range: £47,000 to £51,500

Contract: Permanent, full time (some evening/weekend work required).

Application Deadline: 12 noon, Tuesday 9 September 2025

Make a difference in the lives of young people across rural communities

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) is one of the largest rural youth organisations in the UK, with 23,000 members, aged 10 to 28. We are proud to offer personal development opportunities, leadership training, and a national voice for young people in farming and rural areas.

We are seeking a strategic, experienced, and passionate Head of Safeguarding to lead our safeguarding functions and ensure a consistent culture of safety, inclusion, and support across our federation.

About the role

The Head of Safeguarding is a senior leadership role within the organisation, responsible for driving safer cultures and safeguarding strategies across the organisation. It requires collaboration across all levels of the federation — from our national office to county-level clubs and volunteers.

You will serve as the organisation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, working closely with the Chief Officer, Board of Trustees, and a dedicated Safeguarding Subcommittee.

This role requires a highly experienced professional who has experience of cultural change and safeguarding work at a strategic level and brings a strong understanding of how safeguarding principles apply across different organisational cultures. The postholder will play a key role in leading the influencing of strategic cultural change and safeguarding and will contribute to the development of learning resources and events.

As our Head of Safeguarding, you will lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of safeguarding and safe recruitment policies and practice across the organisation — supporting staff, volunteers, and members in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all, especially children, young people, and vulnerable individuals.

We are a children’s charity that supports young people transitioning through adolescence and into adulthood, many of whom will assume leadership roles and responsibilities within the organisation. The Head of Safeguarding role is pivotal in promoting a safe, inclusive, and supportive culture across the organisation. A culture that supports safer working practices, robust risk assessment and ownership of safeguarding at all levels to promote positive opportunities and environments that allow all individuals to thrive.

You will also supervise our internal safeguarding practitioners and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and improvement by overseeing case reviews, leading appeals processes, and advising on training and the development learning tools and materials in relation to safeguarding policy and practice.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage NFYFC’s safeguarding and safe recruitment strategies and ensure compliance with legislation and best practice.
• Supervise NFYFC’s Welfare, Safeguarding & Behaviour Case Managers.
• Provide high-quality safeguarding advice and guidance across the federation, including to County Designated Welfare & Safeguarding Officers (DWSOs).
• Identify safeguarding training and develop resources that will embed a safeguarding-first culture throughout NFYFC. Develop and implement a safeguarding training/learning strategy and implementation plan.
• Report to the Chief Officer and support the Board of Trustees with accurate safeguarding reports and recommendations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external safeguarding stakeholders.
• Monitor, assess and continuously improve safeguarding performance across the organisation.

About you

For this senior role, and we’re looking for someone who brings a strong track record in safeguarding, along with the integrity and confidence to influence at all levels.

You will have:

• Extensive safeguarding expertise and experience in a senior role, ideally within youth or volunteer-led organisations.
• Technical and practical knowledge in safeguarding children and adults at risk, with a relevant professional qualification.
• Personal integrity, resilience, empathy, and a strong commitment to creating inclusive, safe environments for all.
• Expert knowledge of statutory safeguarding and DEI frameworks, legislation, guidance, safeguarding policy, and regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience in identifying safeguarding training and learning needs and developing and implementing a comprehensive safeguarding training strategy.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills — able to advise, challenge and support diverse stakeholders.
• Confidence and competence in managing sensitive and complex safeguarding cases with professionalism and integrity.
• Demonstrated success in building partnerships and managing referral pathways with statutory agencies and external partners.
• Experience of line management, safeguarding supervision and leadership.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and learning in safeguarding practice.
• Comfortable using data and insights to drive performance, report on impact, and guide decision-making.

Desirable:

• Experience in the voluntary sector with/reporting to boards or other senior level.
• Knowledge of rural youth issues or experience in youth engagement programmes.

About NFYFC

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs is one of the largest rural youth organisations in the UK. With over 22,000 members aged 10 to 28, we empower young people through education, social action, leadership training, and community involvement.

NFYFC is run by young people, for young people, supported by dedicated staff and volunteers. We are passionate about rural life, personal development, and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and inclusive environment.

What we offer:

• Flexible working options: remote-first or hybrid model
• Supportive, team environment
• Time-off-in-lieu policy for occasional evening/weekend work
• The chance to make a positive national impact upon the experiences of young people and to contribute to their safety and welfare in rural communities

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and ensure all staff appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and when necessary enhanced DBS with barred list checks.

How to Apply

Please send NFYFC’s completed application form and a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria for this role to: recruitment@nfyfc.org.uk or post to James Eckley (marked Private & Confidential), Chief Officer, National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, YFC Centre, 10^th Street, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG

Closing date for applications is 12 noon Tuesday 9 September 2025 If you would like an informal conversation about the role before applying, please contact James Eckley, Chief Officer T: 02746 857 200 or email recruitment@nfyfc.org.uk.