Role: Safeguarding Officer
Grade: Grade 4 - £23,881 - £26,338 Pro Rata (exclusive of 15% shift allowance)
FTE and working pattern: 1.2 FTE, a full time role
Holiday Entitlement: 28 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)
Purpose of Role
The main purpose of the role is to provide an effective SafeGuarding Service which protects the University’s population, assets and reputation whilst underpinning its values and supporting its strategic objectives. We are also pivotal in delivering a strong care and support service to the University.
SafeGuarding operates 365 days a year and 24 hours a day and our SafeGuarding Officers are the first responders to any security and emergency incidents occurring on campus.
SafeGuarding Officers must be very approachable and always welcome direct contact with the various elements of our University Community.
SafeGuarding also manages the campus roadways and car parking and lost/found property.
This role involves a stable rotational working pattern, encompassing 12 hours shifts 0.5 FTE, a part time role, 2 shifts on 6 off and includes day shift then night shift which does include weekend working. Overtime opportunities are available.
Training – a comprehensive package of enhanced training is provided for successful applicants.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Ensure a reliable, effective safeguarding service to meet the university requirements.
- Provide high levels of professional pastoral care and support to the student population.
- React as a first responder to emergency situations as necessary.
- A SafeGuarding Officer’s priority when responding is to ensure the wellbeing of the individuals involved and to create an environment that helps to promote safety and reassurance.
- A SafeGuarding Officer will work collaboratively with Student Wellbeing, the Chaplaincy and the Student Union and other relevant disciplines to ensure that the full spectrum of student support is available to all.
- Adherence to University policies and procedures.
- Participate in relevant initiatives in partnership with other services in the University.
- Locking and unlocking University buildings including satellite locations as necessary.
- Supporting Borders Campus events where necessary (e.g. graduations etc).
- Patrolling University buildings and campus to protect the property of the University from crime.
- Protecting the assets of the University against damage by fire, flood or other hazards and reporting possible breaches of Health and Safety procedures as required within SHIELD System.
- Monitoring CCTV coverage and dealing appropriately with identified breaches of security.
- Contacting and liaising with emergency services as necessary.
- Supporting Students with replacement keys, recording details for charging purposes.
Perform weekly fire equipment checks. - Support and assist with the organising, carrying out and reporting of Fire Drills.
- Providing support to JMSV Manager on security related issues as necessary.
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
- Demonstrable customer service skills
- Computer literate
- Advanced information handling skills both written and verbal
- Full driving licence
- Experience of communicating with a wide audience
- Relevant similar experience in a support focussed disciplined environment
- Ability to work as part of a team and act on own initiative
- Courteous and helpful manner
- Flexible approach to work
Desirable - Experience of using integrated CCTV systems
- First Aid Certificate or be willing to undertake appropriate training to obtain certificate
- Operate IT based access control systems in conjunction with integrated security management systems
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Tuesday 8th July 2025.
Please submit your CV via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
About the Team
SafeGuarding is a key element of SafeGuarding Services. This Service encompasses emergency incident planning and management across all of the University's sites in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia. The primary role of SafeGuarding Services is to provide an integrated framework to:
Support an ethos of effective risk control to protect our staff, students and others; and which protects University property and assets.
Provide competent advice to the University Executive in support of the development and application of a safety and security management framework which ensures that the University can meet its statutory requirements and contributes to the University's values.
Ensure that the University has a modern SafeGuarding provision which meets its needs and enhances its reputation whilst supporting its strategic plans.
React proportionately to threats to the University's business processes by provision of robust emergency planning and management framework which protects the University's population and secures its assets.
About Heriot-Watt University
At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
