Suicide and Trespass Reduction Manager

Job Introduction

What is the job about?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join SE Trains in an exciting and rewarding new role as Suicide & Trespass Reduction Manager.

Southeastern Trains, supported by our stakeholder Network Rail (Kent Route) have created this dedicated role of Suicide & Trespass Reduction Manager for the Kent route. The role will involve implementing and developing the current and future Joint Suicide Reduction Plan that aligns with the Joint Safeguarding Strategy, influencing the industry to proactively tackle this subject.

You will work for our existing Safeguarding Manager to lead and develop our joint approach to safeguarding across our network. You will assist with delivering a strategy that encompasses our operational response to a range of vulnerable people using or seeking refuge on our network; including those who are suicidal, homeless, impacted by mental health issues, children, young adults and those at risk of being involved in criminal activity due to their vulnerability.

The wide-ranging remit of this role will allow you to focus and deliver improvements on a range of interconnected issues and provide strategic alignment between Network Rail and other Train Operating companies, including GB Freightliner who operate on the Kent Network.

Please be aware that due to the nature of this role, and the focus on suicide prevention the successful applicant may be required to view upsetting and/or graphic footage of operational incidents and may, on occasion, be required to represent Southeastern at Coroners Court.

Where will I work?

This role is network wide, so candidates must have the ability to travel throughout our network. It is a hybrid position where you will have some days working from home, some days working out of the office in either Ashford or London Bridge as well as having to attend regularly the Safeguarding office based in Chatham and be able to commute to other Stations across the network as required.

Role Responsibility

You will have a number of accountabilities and responsibilities in this role, that will include but not be limited to:

• Be responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of the Joint Safeguarding Strategy, liaising with central and route-based action owners to track and report on the progress of suicide reduction intervention.
• Be responsible for delivering the strategic objectives as set out in the Southeastern, Network Rail and British Transport Police Joint 2022/23 Suicide Reduction Plan and focusing attention on the anti-trespass work being undertaken by Southeastern Trains, BTP and Network Rail.
• Leading the implementation of initiatives designed to reduce the likelihood of trespass and suicides taking place across the Kent route, this will include ownership of Operation Safer for NWR and Southeastern.
• Liaising with industry groups on suicide prevention and anti-trespass, continuing to champion improvements nationally, maintaining the Southeastern and NWR reputation and representing the Safeguarding team for all review meetings where performance has been severely impacted as well as supporting the Joint Performance Team with reports and discussion points prior to these reviews and undertaking completion of assigned actions, and implementing learning recommendations, following the review to mitigated future events.
• Be responsible and oversee the Southeastern and NWR Welfare Officers, ensuring they are an efficient and effective resource that is embedded within Southeastern and aligned to all policies and training and equipped with all the required equipment as well as delivering end of period reports and yearly reviews to include NWR Southern Route (Kent) Welfare Officers.
• Ensuring Southeastern has effective arrangements in place to respond to suicide events by being the initial point of contact for suicide reduction matters, involving colleagues at an appropriate level to ensure timely responses to stakeholders, including coroner courts and embedding learning throughout the organisation.
• Managing and where appropriate, improving the process for responding to recommendations made in BTP Designing Out Crime Unit (DOCU) reports by ensuring joint site visits are attended that will contribute to these reports.
• Overseeing the Managing Suicide Contacts (MSC) training (and associated) and tracking progress, ensuring Area and Station Managers are leading and implementing this training for all station colleagues.
• Liaising with the NWR and Southeastern safety teams to ensure that the Kent route has appropriate management arrangements and control plans.

The Ideal Candidate

Is it for me?

Are you highly motivated and enthusiastic, with influencing skills?

Do you have experience of working collaboratively across a complex structure of internal and external stakeholders?

Are you a strong relationship builder who is excited about the idea of being a champion for change within a large organization?

Then this could be the role for you!

Do I need railway experience?

No! Of course, this would be beneficial, but if you have experience of leading and supporting staff through a period of significant change and have a background in being able to analyse and use research and evidence to create effective policies and procedures, then we want to hear from you!

Skills, experience and Knowledge:

• Proven experience of working in a business environment requiring a high degree of self-motivation and personal integrity
• Proven experience of leading or supporting staff through process or business change
• Demonstrable experience of using research and evidence in policy making
• Demonstrable experience of successfully managing complex and/or high-profile projects
• Demonstrable experience of developing partnerships with external organisations to drive change forward
• IT Skills – Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) as well as excellent report writing skills
• Communication – The ability to express oneself confidently and effectively and are able to engage others in open, honest and productive conversations.
• Presentation Skilll - Confident presentation skills and analytical understanding, including excellent written skills with a proven ability to research and write accessible, clear reports for a range of audiences.  
• Leadership – The ability to motivate, empower, negotiate, and influence people at all levels within your own team, across the organisation and externally as well as being able to influence others including those not in their direct reporting line.
• Interpersonal Skills – A proven ability to build effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally.
• Decision Making – The ability to use your initiative and sound judgment, to make informed decisions or recommendations and work under pressure to tight deadlines in a complex political environment.
• Persuasiveness – Is able to presents the key points of an argument persuasively and is able to influence decisions.
• Collaboration – Is able to work collaboratively and productively with a broad range of parties who may have differing needs/ agendas.
• Commercial Awareness – An excellent understanding and application of commercial and financial principles with the ability to view issues in terms of costs, profits, markets and added value.

Package Description

Southeastern recognises the value of every individual employee and offers benefits that reflect this.

As well as a generous salary, we offer an comprehensive benefits package which includes;

• A Contributory Final Salary Pension Scheme 
• Free rail travel on Southeastern and GTR rail services (extends to family members for leisure/educational travel)
• After a qualifying period, reduced rate travel on other train operators, including European services
• Up to 25 days annual leave entitlement (plus bank holidays)
• Private healthcare
• Access to an array of discounts for retail and leisure products through our benefits scheme.
• Family friendly benefits including enhanced maternity/paternity leave, parental leave and carers leave.

About the Company

About Southeastern

Southeastern runs train services into London from Kent and East Sussex, operating almost 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 400,000 passengers, serving 176 stations and covering 540 miles of track.

Just over 4,600 employees - mostly from the communities that we serve - work together to provide this vital service and we are looking to expand our successful team. We have a strong set of values that shape the way we run our business and guide our staff in delivering what our customers need. These are:

• We aim to be the best
• We make the difference together
• We care passionately about our people and our passengers

We are committed to being an inclusive employer, creating a workplace where everyone can come to work, feel safe and comfortable and able to do everything to the best of their ability. Read about some of the great Diversity and Inclusion initiatives our Head of Colleague Experience has been leading on here. 

We recognise the positive value of diversity and it matters to us that our teams reflect the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

We proud to be a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for Women. If you would like to know more information about how we are supporting our employees, you can view our policies and initiatives here.

We have also won the Top Employer award at the Women in Rail Awards 2022!

If you have been unsuccessful in the recruitment process for the same/similar position you will not be eligible to apply for a period of 6 months from that date.

All offers of employment are subject to us obtaining satisfactory references (covering all education, training, employment and unemployment in the preceding 5 years and any previous railway employment). We will also complete right to work in the UK and criminal record checks. This is to ensure we are employing the best person for the role and to protect our customers, colleagues and our reputation. We are unable to offer sponsorship to work in the UK. 

This post will close before the intended closing date should sufficient number of suitable applications be received. Therefore, if you are interested in applying for this role, we suggest that you do so at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.

SOUTHEASTERN is owned by SE Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of the Department for Transport’s public sector owning group, ‘DOHL.’ DOHL has responsibility for three rail companies, LNER, Northern Trains Limited and SE Trains.

SE Trains Limited