Volunteer Designated Safeguarding Lead and Team Welfare Lead

What will you be doing?

LonSAR work has vulnerable missing people at its centre, and the team is seeking to recruit a Designated Safeguarding Lead (“DSL”) and Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead (“DDSL”) to ensure that any safeguarding incidents involving either missing people, team members or people we encounter in the course of a search are properly recorded and that our safeguarding procedures reflect current legislative requirements. Relevant professional experience is highly desirable.

What are we looking for?

Essential Skills & Qualities:

Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and procedures Excellent judgement and decision-making under pressure Clear, confident communicator (verbal and written) Empathetic and approachable, with high emotional intelligence Strong organisational skills and attention to detail Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive issues appropriately Calm, resilient, and composed in challenging situations Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a volunteer team

Desirable Experience:

Prior experience in a safeguarding role (e.g. DSL, welfare officer, social work, education, healthcare or emergency services) Experience managing safeguarding concerns and reporting processes Familiarity with relevant safeguarding legislation (e.g. Children Act 1989/2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Care Act 2014) Experience delivering training or raising awareness of safeguarding best practices

Personal Attributes:

Committed to LonSAR’s mission and values Trustworthy, inclusive, and emotionally grounded Comfortable operating in a volunteer-led, high-trust environment Flexible, proactive, and solution-focused mindset Willing to engage in continuous learning and development

What difference will you make?

The DSL and their Deputies will play a vital role at the heart of LonSAR's mission to help end preventable loss of life in London. Safeguarding is central to our work — not just in protecting the vulnerable missing people we search for, but in ensuring the safety, wellbeing and trust of our volunteers, our partners, and the public we serve. By embedding best safeguarding practice into every aspect of our operations, this role will:

Enhance psychological safety across the team and within our interactions on live searches; Ensure compliance with current safeguarding legislation and the expectations of partner agencies; Support a culture of trust, openness and vigilance, empowering volunteers to act confidently and appropriately when concerns arise; Provide clarity and assurance to emergency services, families and the wider public that safeguarding is not just a policy, but a lived priority; Strengthen our credibility as a professional, dependable partner in the wider emergency services community.

As LonSAR continues to grow, this role will be fundamental in helping us stay true to our values: empathetic, professional, determined and innovative.