HR safeguarding officer

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Staff Profiles: Divisional communications assistant; Human resources officer; Management information officer; Administrator, Human Resources; PA to heads of service; Senior consultant; Senior training and development consultant

Vika Golokoz

HR safeguarding officer

What do you do?
I help to ensure that the NSPCC has sound vetting policies and practices that allow us to employ the most suitable people to work with and for children. I provide advice and training to staff and volunteers around legislation, safer recruitment and selection practices. For the past several years I have worked on developing a value-based approach to recruitment of staff and volunteers.

I have been blessed to have exceptionally good managers and work in a very supportive environment. It has its own challenges and frustrations, but the people are very passionate individuals who really believe in what they do. It is a hard working organisation but it gives a lot in return.

Why did you join the NSPCC?
Before the NSPCC I worked in Human Resources in the hospitality industry. It was my first job in this country, having come from Ukraine. After 18 months of initial experience in HR, I was ready to move to further my career. The job came to me as matenity cover for six months - five years later I am still here and enjoying it.

What do you find rewarding?
I deliver a lot of training and I have seen how positive it can be. Training staff and volunteers in value-based recruitment and raising awareness of safeguarding practices in recruitment internally and externally, I have seen managers experience a great sense of achievement when they saw for themselves the benefit of a well planned and well thought through recruitment process.

What other benefits are there?
Development opportunities are unlimited. Training is wide-ranging and of an exceptionally high standard. At the same time the NSPCC is great at encouraging people to get the work-life balance right and is very family friendly.

What values do you feel are important for working with the NSPCC?
Four key values drive all of the NSPCC's work: courage, protect, trust and respect.

Working in HR with lots of very experienced colleagues, I value the fact that we trust each other to get on with our work, we respect each other's expertise, we stand for one another and offer help in difficult times. But we also celebrate each other's successes as a team!