Jo Austin has been appointed as Safeguarding Caseworker for the diocesan safeguarding team. Jo joins the team with a wealth of experience from the Probation Service, where she spent nine years working in both community-based roles and within the prison service.
Jo says, “My seven years working in the community as a Probation Officer with individuals with drug, alcohol and mental health issues was varied and rewarding but I always wanted to work within the prison service. I found it was a very different experience, more about managing high risk behaviour in a punitive setting, and over time I missed building longer-term relationships with the individuals I was supporting.”
“Working with one offender in particular, however, made me realise that I could step out of the Probation Service and still make a difference. The individual had communication issues and was suicidal before they started to play the organ and ended up building up a choir in the prison. This, with the support of the prison chaplain, enabled their own welfare to improve as well as that of many other individuals in the prison. This experience showed me that activities outside of those mandated by statutory agencies were just as, if not more, important to making a genuine difference to someone’s life”
Ben Goodhind, Safeguarding Manager says, “I am really delighted that Jo has joined the team and that the team is back to full strength and in a position to provide the safeguarding support our parishes need. Having both come from a Probation Service background we have a similar approach to managing safeguarding and can not only work together really effectively but also offer a consistent approach to parishes.”
The safeguarding team is now comprised of Ben Goodhind, Safeguarding Manager; Leonie Jones, Safeguarding Co-ordinator; Jo Austin, Safeguarding Caseworker and part-time Safeguarding Trainers, Revd Jacqueline Keir-Bucknall and Enita Andrews.
Out of hours support is provided by our partners with ‘thirtyone:eight’ who offer an out of hours Safeguarding Helpline on 0303 003 1111 (17:00 - midnight and 07:00 to 09:00 Monday to Friday; 07:00 - midnight on Saturdays and Sundays), on bank holidays and other absences.