Redress Scheme Steering Committee Member (Professional with Lived Experience)

We are looking to recruit three members of this committee, with two or more of them being individuals who have lived experience of abuse. They will join the RSSC for a period of 2.5 years, starting in January 2027.

This is primarily a remote role, as committee meetings are held online. However, committee members are expected to attend one in-person meeting in London each year.

Background

The National Redress Scheme is part of the Church of England’s commitment to victims and survivors, as set out in its response to the IICSA final report. The Church’s response was approved by the Archbishops’ Council, House of Bishops and General Synod in 2020. The Scheme aims to acknowledge harm caused by abuse, recognise its impact on people's lives and provide meaningful forms of redress. This includes financial and non-financial outcomes where eligibility criteria are met.

Governance

The RSSC provides oversight and governance of the Redress Scheme, as a sub-committee of the Archbishops’ Council. The Archbishops’ Council agreed that it can operate with delegated authority to take decisions in the best interests of the Council.

The RSSC ensures that the Scheme delivers fair, compassionate and accountable redress to victims and survivors of Church of England-related abuse. At the same time, it respects the independence of the Scheme and maintains transparency and public trust.

The Scheme Administrator, Kennedys Law LLP, will work with the Contracts Team of the National Safeguarding Team (NST) of the Archbishop’s Council. Together, they will report to the RSSC. The RSSC will in turn report to the Archbishops’ Council and General Synod as needed.

How the RSSC works

The RSSC is expected to meet monthly from January to June 2027, at the beginning stage of the Redress Scheme. Thereafter, the RSSC is expected to meet every three months or so. Meetings will mostly be online, but once a year the RSSC will meet in person in London.

The RSSC will consist of a non-executive chair and six members, all appointed by the Archbishops’ Council. Three of these members are openly recruited. The other three members are representatives of the Archbishops’ Council, the Church Commissioners and a senior clergy of the Church of England.

RSSC members can come from backgrounds of different faiths or no faith.

RSSC meetings will take place on weekdays during office hours. Each meeting is expected to last for 1 to 3 hours.

The RSSC will be supported by the NST Contracts team, including a Deputy Director of Safeguarding, a Senior Contracts Manager and relevant staff members.

Remuneration

This is a voluntary opportunity.

Before you take on the role

The openly recruited RSSC members will be required to complete a Basic DBS check and provide two references.

These processes must be completed ahead of their first meeting with the committee.

RSSC members will have to formally agree to the Terms of Reference of the RSSC. These terms will be shared with shortlisted candidates for this role.

RSSC members will also be required to undertake mandatory training including:

• Church of England National Safeguarding Basic Awareness training (1 hour and 15 minutes)

Conversations and interviews

If you would like to have a conversation, please get in touch with Vicki Levick, Senior Contracts Manager, vicki.levick@churchofengland.org.

If you would like to apply for this role, please apply through the recruitment website and not through the email address above.

Application Process

Please answer all the questions on the form, and provide a covering letter and a CV. In the covering letter, we invite you to share how your lived experience of abuse will contribute to the work of this role. You do not have to describe the abuse you experienced.

The deadline for application is 11.59pm, Wednesday, 2 December. Shortlisting will be done shortly after, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted as soon as possible.

Interviews for this position will take place on Monday, 14 December. They will take place online.

• Provide professional expertise on the management of the Redress contract
• Provide oversight of and advice on non-financial redress
• Maintain confidentiality of information

You should have these skills and experiences:

• Have a good understanding of abuse and trauma
• Have insight and understanding of the particular impact and consequences of Church-related abuse
• Have experience working in trustee or similar bodies

You should also have one or both of these skills and experiences:

• Strong expertise in oversight of contracts valued at approximately £150 million or more, KPI monitoring, legal compliance and assurance
• Strong financial, legal and governance backgrounds and/or a familiarity of overseeing large schemes

A member of the RSSC (Professionals with Lived Experience) should:

• Have lived experience of abuse
• Not be involved in another survivor participation activity with the Church of England National Safeguarding Team
• Not be currently going through a live Church of England safeguarding case as a victim or respondent.
• Not be an applicant of the National Redress Scheme