Safe From Harm Program Director

Do you want to use your skills and talents to make a lasting difference in the world? The Salvation Army Central Territory Headquarters is seeking a motivated and experienced professional to join our Personnel Department as the Safe From Harm Program Director. We are mission-driven, diverse, collaborative, and focused on positive results for people. Join our team to help support our mission by Doing the Most Good!

Central Territory Headquarters LI

Job Objective:

The Safe From Harm Program Director will lead The Salvation Army Central Territory in the management, development, and implementation of the child and vulnerable adult protection program Safe From Harm (SFH), upholding and carrying out the mission of The Salvation Army on the premise that safety is a human need, and this need is met by applying safety practices and principles in all aspects of ministries, programs, services, properties, and administrative procedures. The role will lead SFH program development and the planning and integration of SFH at all levels throughout the organization, serving as the primary monitor of organizational compliance to international, national, and territorial child and vulnerable adult safety standards. The position will lead the development of child and vulnerable adult protection policy and serve as the chief manager of incident response and consultation, working in close collaboration with the Legal Department. The position is responsible for the ongoing development and implementation of advanced and specialized trainings and presentations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Policy and Procedure Development

• Retain a thorough knowledge of: 1) policies at the territorial, national, and international levels that include safeguarding standards and principles applicable to minors and vulnerable adults, 2) state laws applicable to The Salvation Army Central Territory that pertain to abuse prevention training and abuse reporting mandates.
• Lead the ongoing development of territorial policies, procedures, standards, and protocols according to The Salvation Army International Child Protection Policy Framework, Protection  of  Children  from  Sexual  Abuse  in  Salvation  Army Programs national policy, Minimums Standards for Child & Vulnerable Adult Protection Policies at the Territorial Level, and other applicable policies.
• Holistically integrate best practices and principles in child and vulnerable adult safeguarding into organizational practices and culture, including but not limited to the areas of personnel, program, program participants, property, and electronic engagement of youth and vulnerable adults.
• Create standardized template tools and processes to empower commands and field units to successfully implement policy and seamlessly incorporate child and vulnerable adult safeguarding measures in everyday operations.
• Chair the Territorial SFH Committee, leading interdepartmental collaboration that helps steer Central Territory initiatives in child and vulnerable adult safety and provides consultation for the development and ongoing review of territorial SFH policies.  

Incident Response

• Act as the Lead Administrator for the Territorial SFH Incident Response System, continuing to build, refine, maintain, and oversee its various components: the SFH Reporting Hotline, SFH Reporting Website, the Emergency Rapid Response system, and the record keeping system for SFH Reports and related correspondence.
• Head the ongoing development of documented SFH incident response protocols, including basic decision trees for the various types of incidents reported and workflows that define how initial and follow up communications are directed.
• Review all incident reports that come through the SFH Incident Response System, providing consultation to commands about incident management with strategies for future incident prevention and holding commands accountable for follow through in reporting to child or adult protection agencies.
• Field questions and provide direct consultation/direction to reporters about proper use of the SFH Incident Response system.
• Use a trauma-informed care approach when working directly with reporters of incidents, who may include: employees, officers, volunteers, program participants, clients, abuse survivors, or the family/friends of abuse survivors.
• Discern the “need to know” individuals for each SFH incident, acting as the primary distributor of SFH Reports and related correspondence to “need to know” people or departments serving at Central Territory Headquarters (THQ). Assist commands with proper report dissemination as needed.
• Regularly consult and collaborate with the Attorney-On-Call for SFH in the THQ Legal Department as a component of incident response.
• Under attorney direction, coordinate meetings and conference calls related to incidents undergoing a privileged investigation and assist in gathering information necessary to support the investigation.
• Deploy systems of care for affected personnel and program participants as applicable following an incident.
• Keep statistical data and records for SFH incidents, developing a system to gather, categorize, calculate, and file the data. 

Program Development & Management, Consultation, and Incident Prevention

• Actively provide consultation, SFH planning, program development support, and practical tools/resources at territorial and command levels for programs that serve minors and vulnerable adults throughout the organization, including but not limited to: Kroc Centers, residential camps, day camps, adult day centers, corps community centers, social services programs, Emergency Disaster Services, Adult Rehabilitation Centers, College for Officer Training, Territorial and Divisional special events, and volunteer-led programs and ministries.
• Assure the incorporation of SFH-related paperwork and practices into screening and selection processes at the territorial and command levels.
• Oversee the Territorial Registry (TR)/Placement Advisory List (PAL) screening process for the Central Territory, submitting TR/PAL hits and considers shared by commands along with case details to the territorial TR/PAL Council to make the necessary determinations.
• Analyze SFH Incident data and known near misses to determine program gaps and where more robust prevention measures are needed; act on them accordingly.
• Conduct SFH All-Coordinator meetings at least 3x/year to keep Command SFH Coordinators informed with the latest updates in SFH, Salvation Army child and vulnerable adult protection initiatives at all levels, and industry standards.
• Team with each Command SFH Coordinator through formalized individual mtgs at least 1x/year and as needed to support progress towards the command’s Action Plan goals and provide command-specific consultation.
• Assist the Territorial Property Department in the strategic review of property plans/schematics to assess potential SFH-related safety concerns of new property designs or remodels, taking part in on-site property reviews as assigned and providing written feedback following an assessment.
• Assist units as needed in the preparation and completion of Personal Safety and Risk Reduction Plans (PSRRP) or Safe Boundaries Plans (SBP) and monitor these plans at a territorial level, holding commands accountable to maintaining the plans according to policy and through the proper procedures.
• Contribute to territorial, national, and international boards and committees as appointed. 
• Through attitude, modeling, and productive working relationships, promote a positive “all in” organizational culture toward the SFH program and associated child and vulnerable adult safety efforts.
• Serve as the primary representative for The Salvation Army Central Territory at special events, conferences, and trainings in and outside of the territory, including nationally and internationally.  
• Collaborate with those responsible for territorial publications (in-print and online) to offer content that features various aspects and implementation of the SFH program territory-wide, including commendable field-level implementation stories, examples of positive safety culture, major program updates and other program initiatives.  

Training:

• Maintain certification as a SFH Trainer.
• Provide training to new SFH Coordinators and act as a mentor and support during proficiency development. Provide ongoing development opportunities for all SFH Coordinators (e.g., SFH Coordinators Conference).
• Oversee the development of new training materials and formats to assure alignment with organizational mission and policies at all levels.
• Produce and execute Specialized SFH Trainings, seminars, or talks for the College for Officer Training, territorial and divisional meetings, and other conferences and engagements in and out of The Salvation Army as needed.
• Collaborate with the Inter-Cultural Ministries Department or other sources to obtain and integrate language translations of these trainings to meet needs throughout the territory. 

Compliance:

• Develop and administer a SFH compliance tool to measure territorial standards, divisional compliance, and expectations of units, integrating the tool within existing audit/review systems wherever possible.
• Conduct SFH Compliance reviews of each command on an every-other-year basis, helping command SFH Coordinators develop an action plan to correct or further bolster safeguarding efforts. Provide an evaluation summary/review report to the command and territorial administration citing any command program deficiencies and the plan to address them.
• Establish and lead SFH Review Teams to assess compliance and provide unit specific consultation for larger programs and institutions serving vulnerable populations.
• Model and enforce child and vulnerable adult safety standards, ensuring accountability for proper implementation of policies and procedures, goals and objectives related to the SFH program at the territorial and command levels. 

Professional Development:

• Complete specialized training to become a certified Praesidium Guardian.
• Keep current on industry standards and best practices in child and vulnerable adult protection with emphasis on trauma-informed methods of preventing and managing instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, spiritual abuse, bullying, suicidal ideation and self-harm, including the actions/behaviors that precede these things, both in the physical world and through use of technology. Work to integrate and apply applicable standards within SFH.  

Education:

Graduate degree preferred in social work, education, law enforcement, or comparable field preferred.

Experience:

At least 10 years of experience working in a human services program, youth serving program, or related programs. Knowledge/experience related to abuse prevention and trauma-informed care a plus. Familiarity with Salvation Army policies and procedures preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of abuse prevention strategies, team-building and multi- disciplinary collaboration, organizational development, and training (design and delivery).
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of employees.
• Enthusiastic and collaborative team player with a positive personal presence and role model demeanor.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and presentation skills, with demonstrated ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of auiences.
• Demonstrated capacity to create and utilize compliance measurement tools and systems for online training and engagement.
• Skilled in the use of web-based learning management platforms, MS 365 and MS Office application skills, Internet research skills, and effective e-mail communication skills.
• Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English in a manner that is sufficient for effective communication with supervisors, employees, beneficiaries and customers, and to perform the requirements of this job.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions, interpret an extensive variety of instructions, and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Curious, creative problem solver with rational decision-making ability.
• Professionally mature, action-oriented self-starter who is organized and resourceful, with superb attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure.
• Flexible and adaptable to change in the working environment.
• Maintain confidentiality and a professional demeanor at all times.

 Travel:

Travel required approximately 20% of the time throughout the USA Central Territory. This position is also subject to occasional travel outside the Territory and/or international travel.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a typical office environment. This is a full-time position which may require on call duties during weekends and evenings.