The Barking and Dagenham Safeguarding Children Board (BDSCB) is looking to recruit two representatives who are resident within Barking & Dagenham, and members of the local community, to become Lay Members of our Board.

This is a great opportunity to help us to ensure that all of our agencies are safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people across the borough.

We are ideally looking for someone who is currently involved in local child safety issues and can help us make better links with local community groups. We are also looking for someone who can challenge us to make our policies and procedures more accessible to the public, to children and to young people.

The LSCB is the statutory mechanism for the safeguarding and protection of children in the Borough. It sets out how agencies should work together to safeguard children and monitors how well they are doing. The board is made up of senior professionals from partner agencies that are responsible for safeguarding children such as Barking& Dagenham Council Children’s Social Care and Adult Services, the Police, Schools and Health agencies. Recent developments in legislation mean that we are now required to appoint two local members of the community to the LSCB to become Lay Members on our Board.

We are looking for individuals who will act as independent, yet informed observers. The person will also bring to the LSCB his/her understanding and perspective of the communities where he/she live in Barking & Dagenham.

Our Lay Members will operate as full members of the Board attending the six half day meetings per year. Lay Members will also participate in a small number of relevant Working Groups. Appointments will be for 2 years, and subject to annual review. We expect a commitment of at least ten days per year.

We will provide induction training for those appointed and other training opportunities available which will enable the position holder to increase skills and understanding of safeguarding issues. Out of pocket travelling expenses will be available to attend meetings, if required.

To apply, please submit your CV along with a covering letter outlining why you feel you would be a suitable member of the Board to lscb@lbbd.gov.uk

Successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau from which a satisfactory result is required. Further information about the role can be found at http://www.bardag-lscb.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx  or by calling Avraamis Avraam, Interim Group Manager Safeguarding on 020 8227 2318