Key Objectives of the Role
• To provide leadership, management and implementation of the Club’s safeguarding strategy, policy and procedures.
• This role should ensure a collaborative approach across the Club to the promotion of safeguards and the protection of children, young people and adults at risk both on and offline.
• Work in partnership with The FA, statutory agencies and other relevant organisations to report and manage concerns effectively and efficiently.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

• Pro-actively promoting and raising safeguarding awareness.
• Being the Club’s lead source of safeguarding support, advice and expertise.
• The implementation, promotion and review of the Club’s safeguarding policies, procedures and best practice guidelines.
• Provide regular reports to The Board.
• Work closely with senior management to develop and implement safer recruitment and induction practices across the Club.
• Giving direction and guidance to staff in respect of safeguarding concerns, allegations and the Club’s whistleblowing policy.
• Respond to poor practice concerns within the Club and its Pathway in line with disciplinary policy.
• Ensure all safeguarding and poor practice concerns are recorded in a robust system and securely retained in accordance with data protection legislation.
• Work in partnership and maintain effective relationships with statutory and football authorities, sharing information where appropriate to safeguard.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and up to date records on all safeguarding concerns and allegations in line with Applicable Data Protection Laws.
• Attending regular safeguarding training and maintaining an up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and best practice.
• Ensure all staff/volunteers understand their individual responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable groups and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Ensuring staff engage with regular safeguarding education to ensure they develop and
maintain the necessary skills and knowledge to safeguard in their role.
• To address poor behaviour and raise standards in football, promote safeguarding and creating a culture that celebrates good practice across the club and pathway.
• Co-ordinate safeguarding visits, spot checks/audits on clubs throughout the season.
• Arrange and deliver briefing workshops, in safeguarding topics such as anti-bulling, appropriate use of social media, code of conducts, to staff and players.

The above provides an outline for the role required and should not be regarded as a conclusive list.

Person Specification

Essential

• A professional background in child related work.
• Knowledge of safeguarding children legislation and statutory guidance.
• Experience of working in safeguarding or child/adult protection and implementing policy and procedure.
• Comprehensive understanding of Local Authority statutory bodies.
• A person-centred approach and the ability to maintain this perspective.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build meaningful, strong relationships with staff, players and parents/careers
• Clarity about what constitutes poor practice and what is abusive behaviour.
• Experience of writing reports and compiling case file information.
• Ability to deal constructively with people’s emotions (e.g. upset, distress, conflict, animosity).
• Capacity to handle confidential data/information sensitively.
• Ability to promote best practice and the importance of a safe environment.
• Demonstrates a working understanding of inclusion, equality and anti-discrimination, safeguarding and best practice.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable

• Professional qualification in social work, probation or experience in a police child protection team.
• Proven experience of volunteering with children or young people.
• Proven experience of an inclusive approach.
• Knowledge and understanding of the culture and structure of football
• Working knowledge of systems such as Whole Game System and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
• Experience of organisation assessment or audits.

How to apply

If you have the aspiration, drive, and qualifications to join our professional Club, please send your CV, cover letter (2 pages maximum), current salary and available start date to email.