Independent Safeguarding Board Member (Unpaid Volunteer)
The role of the Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) is to provide advice to the NAS board of trustees in relation to the quality and effectiveness of safeguarding across the charity, including in our schools, children’s services, adult services and services provided through our network of local branches. The ISB is not responsible for the management of safeguarding or for the charity’s strategy. Its function is to advise the board of safeguarding a best practice and to review practice across the NAS to ensure it is implemented.
The ISB is independent from the NAS. The chair and members have no governance connection to the NAS and are not NAS trustees. ISB members have relevant experience of safeguarding, which may come from being a practitioner or professional with a background in social care or health, someone with lived experience, or a combination of these. We would especially welcome applications from current or previous users of NAS services and their family members.
The ISB meet four times a year and meetings are generally held online via Teams. Ideally members will be available to visit NAS services from time to time so they have a feel for what services are like in practice. This is an unpaid voluntary role, but expenses are paid for all members. The Chair is paid a nominal retainer.
ISB meetings are also attended by relevant NAS staff and the NAS trustee who is the NAS board’s nominated safeguarding lead. The ISB chair provides an annual report to the NAS board but is also free to raise any issues or concerns as and when they see fit to do so.
ISB members will benefit from meeting other members and NAS staff with expertise in safeguarding.
About NAS:
The UK’s leading autism charity, the National Autistic Society (NAS) exists to transform lives and change attitudes to help create a society that works for autistic people.
Since we began over 60 years ago, we have been pioneering new ways to support people and understand autism. We continue to learn every day from the children and adults we support in our schools and care services. Based on our experience, and with support from our members, donors and volunteers, we provide life-changing information and advice to millions of autistic people, their families and friends. And we support professionals, politicians and the public to understand autism better so that more autistic people of all ages can be understood, supported and appreciated as the unique and valued individuals that they are.
Safeguarding the people who use our services, who turn to us for advice and information, or who volunteer and work for us, is the Society’s number one priority – ensuring that everybody is protected from abuse, harm or neglect, while vigorously protecting their human rights to choice, self-realisation and dignity. The Independent Safeguarding Board supports, challenges, scrutinises and holds to account the organisation for delivering on this commitment.
Our ideal candidates:
We are looking for individuals with a passionate commitment to the rights of autistic people, including their right to live free of abuse, neglect or discrimination.
You will have a thorough understanding of the importance and complexities of effective safeguarding. You will have, or be able to develop with support, the confidence to make a positive contribution to complex meetings, to ask the right questions, to critically examine the information that the ISB is presented with, and to constructively challenge and hold to account senior and experienced NAS staff.
Currently, the ISB does not include any members who are or have been NAS service users, which is a wrong that we are determined to put right. If this describes you, we encourage you to apply. The NAS is committed to inclusion and accessibility, and we will endeavour to meet the access requirements of all applicants.
Salary: Unpaid Voluntary – expenses will be paid
Contract: Two years with the possibility of extension
Please click here to review the job description and person specification
Time commitment:
You will be required to attend a minimum of three out of four board meetings a year, which are usually held online, and up to a maximum of seven days for other business including visits to NAS services, with some flexibility around the level of commitment required. There may also be extraordinary meetings of the ISB, but these are rare.
How to apply:
To apply for this role please click apply and complete the online application form. You can apply by completing the form in writing, or by uploading recorded audio or video of you answering the questions. Recordings can be made using a phone or laptop; the quality of the recording is not important so long as we can hear your answers clearly. No preference is given to any particular format.
When giving your supporting statement, please refer to this job description and person specification and highlight any information that shows your suitability for the role.
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact the Independent Chair of the Board, John Goldup, on john.goldup@nas.org.uk
Closing date: 28th February 2025
Interview date:
Interviews will be held via video call and will be arranged to be mutually convenient.
Applications for this job are sought from anyone who is suitably qualified and/or experienced for the role but we particularly welcome applications from autistic people.
The NAS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.
We are an equal opportunities employer.
