At the heart and soul of London since 1895 West Ham United is a dynamic, fan-focused football Club constantly moving forward but always with an eye on the past.

Our home at the London Stadium has a capacity of 62,500 making it one of the biggest club Stadia in the country however our tickets are the lowest priced for London based clubs in the Premier League, echoing objectives to create Affordable Family Football.

In 2018, our Women's team gained a professional status for the very first time, jumping 2 divisions and competed in the Women's Super League (WSL), the premier division of women's football in England. After finishing a respectable 7th, the team enjoyed particular success in the FA Cup reaching the final of the competition, eventually being beaten by 2017 winners Manchester City.

In April 2019, we opened our brand-new Academy facility based at Chadwell Heath which will help to bring through some of the very best talents in the area, the recent emergence of First Team Players Declan Rice and Ben Johnson are a testament to the work already being done at the Academy.

On the business side, we are continuing to create a Stadium our supporters can call home, with the renaming of the Billy Bonds Stand and Claret and Blue pitch surrounding amongst the latest developments. Additionally, the Club has achieved the Disability Confident Leader status.

The Club employees a constantly growing workforce of approximately 300 core staff and 500 Foundation and events staff, and is a truly unique place to work. We welcome talented individuals who will thrive in our ambitious organisation.

In October 2023, West Ham United was awarded the Advanced level of the Premier League Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard, recognising the Club’s ongoing dedication and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). It is the second time West Ham United has received the award, which is the top accolade that can be achieved by Premier League clubs, having first been presented with the Advanced level in 2020.

Role: Foundation Community Safeguarding Manager.

Contract: Full Time.

Hours: 40 per week.

Location: WHU Foundation, Beckton; Satellite Sites across East London and Essex.

West Ham United are looking for an experienced Safeguarding professional to report to the Head of Safeguarding & Operations at West Ham United Foundation.

West Ham United Foundation provide 35 programmes, engaging 50,000 participants per season.

The role involves managing and overseeing safeguarding concerns, welfare arrangements, and wellbeing initiatives for participants within Community projects ranging from the age of 5 through to Older Adults.

The Safeguarding Manager will be an integral part of our team, working closely with Foundation Programme Managers, Hub School staff, Post-16, Mentors, Community coaches, Player Pathway, and Health Advisors. Your expertise in implementing, monitoring, and reviewing safeguarding strategies will be highly valued as we strive to adopt inclusive practices across all departments and areas of operations. This collaborative approach is key to our success, and we look forward to welcoming you to our team.

Submission Task: Along with your application please upload a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and why you are a good fit. Please also reflect on the fact that this role is the Safeguarding Manager for the Foundation, which is the charitable arm of West Ham United FC, and where your experience and interest fits within Community Engagement and initiatives rather than Elite Sport.

Key Responsibilities

• To be a point of contact for all Foundation staff and beneficiaries with safeguarding and welfare concerns, as well as monitor reporting and

escalate as required.

• To attend Foundation sessions to observe the delivery of Safeguarding objectives, Quality Assure, and provide feedback to the Head of

Safeguarding & Operations.

•To fulfil Welfare Officer responsibilities for a Football Player Pathway of 1200+ Grassroots participants. This includes match day monitoring (Saturday)

and session visits to enhance Safeguarding visibility.

• To provide support for open cases and reported cause for concern referrals by staff through the sharing of information.

• Liaison with Marketing & Communications relating to Safeguarding consideration in content and messaging.

Support cases of Staff Welfare concerns.

• To ensure safeguarding measures are included in all proposed events, projects, and partnerships in the Programme Managers Framework.

•To support Central Services with Safeguarding admin tasks and compliance checks.

•To collate and supply information and evidence for audits.

• Refer cases of suspected abuse and neglect to the local authority children’s social care, LADO, and FA and Premier League Safeguarding

Departments.

• Refer cases to the Disclosure and Barring Service where a person is dismissed or leaves due to risk or harm to a child.

• Support the embedding of safeguarding and welfare matters across the Foundation, including supporting the handling of concerns and issues and

supporting mentoring and case management.

• Help develop the Foundation's Safeguarding training plan and conduct safe staff briefings.

• Proactively promote and raise safeguarding awareness, including developing and delivering relevant training and workshops to staff, participants,

parents, and stakeholders.

Strategy & Policy:

• Support formal executive coaching and operational advice to the Foundation Programme Managers, Lead Staff around safeguarding and risk

management to embed a culture that encourages high-quality practice at all levels.

• Work alongside the Head of Safeguarding & Operations to ensure all policies, procedures, and guidance remain up to date and help to develop new

policies where appropriate, ensuring compliance with safeguarding legislation and guidance.

• Collaboratively shape safeguarding and wellbeing support consistent with local demands and priorities.

• Contribute to promote a culture of inclusivity, transparency, and confidence and demonstrate sustainable organisational improvement.

• Provide ideas for safeguarding awareness, including the development and delivery of relevant training and workshops to staff, participants, parents

and all relevant stakeholders.

Operations:

•Maintain Safeguarding concern reporting via CPOMS and provide data analysis.

• Maintain Health and Safety incident reporting via dashboard and provide data analysis.

•To provide Safeguarding risk assessment guidance for venues, sessions and individuals.

•To support Operations functions related to risk assessments and compliance.

• Ensure safeguarding complaints are acted upon appropriately and outcomes are monitored, implemented and evaluated.

• Ensure sensitive information is held securely and is GDPR compliant, and all safeguarding and wellbeing concerns are logged appropriately on

CPOMS.

Resource Management:

• Ensure all safeguarding and wellbeing services adhere to the overall organisational strategy and inform future planning.

• Use Safeguarding knowledge and expertise to support funding applications and new business opportunities that contribute to the organisation's

growth.

• Support the growth of organisational resilience by enhancing safeguarding and well-being resources and ensuring the safety of safeguarding

volunteers, internships, and student placements.

Partnership, Stakeholder & Third Parties:

• Build and maintain positive relationships with statutory agencies and safeguarding partners, as well as attend and contribute to local network

meetings and forums.

• Contribute to successful relationships and collaborations with all key partners and stakeholders.

• Co-chair the Foundation Safeguarding Steering Group.

• Attend weekly and monthly My Ends/VRU Safeguarding Meetings.

Skills and Experience:

• Must have employment history working as a DSL or Deputy DSL with associated qualification.

• Must have recent experience of working effectively with external agencies, local community, and a governing body.

• Risk Assessment qualification and Health & Safety qualification is desirable.

• Experience of working in Community Engagement is desirable.

• Must have strong safeguarding and pastoral experience.

• Must show experience in managing safeguarding concerns and keeping clear and comprehensive records of incidents, allegations, details of progress and investigation outcomes.

• A Track record of creating, implementing and updating policies and procedures for the safeguarding of children and 'adults at risk'.

• Demonstrable experience of strategies to raise standards; an aptitude for effective analysis of data and it's use in setting targets for improvement.

• Evidence of working in partnerships and effective collaboration with other organisations and agencies.

• Must show an ability to motivate staff towards a strong safeguarding and welfare vision and to build on the existing high standards in the

organisation.

• Must have an in depth understanding of the importance of and the desire to engage with and inspire young people, whatever their challenges. The

ability to deal sensitively with complex problems that can arise in child protection issues.

•Must display a proven ability to manage change and to establish and maintain good working relationships with staff, children, young people,

parents and 'adults at risk'.

• Recent involvement in providing training and development for staff is desired.

• Must have strong written communication and presentation skills; high-order administrative and management skills, including risk assessment and

report writing.

• Excellent organisational skills are essential and to demonstrate an ability to effectively manage competing priorities and adhere to a range of tight

deadlines.

• Must display strong emotional intelligence that is attuned to supporting participants, parents and staff.

• An experience of using data for improvement is desirable.

• Must display a high degree of professionalism and integrity, upholding the values of West Ham United Foundation.

Benefits on offer (may vary based on contract type and location)

• 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off


• Pension and life insurance


• Healthcare cash scheme


• Travel season ticket loan


• Cycle to work scheme


• Priority access to apply for match tickets


• Discounted season tickets


• Staff discounts in the club store, café and our official partners products and services


• Discounted gym membership and onsite fitness room facilities


• Family friendly leave policies


• Company Social events