Purpose:

Safeguarding-related risks are recognised as some of the most significant identified in the CFG Risk Register. The City Football Group has an established Safeguarding Strategy and Framework (known as SafeAtCity) which is implemented across its portfolio of football clubs.

Working under the direction and supervision of the Head of Safeguarding (UK & MENA), the post holder will be a key member of the City Football Group’s Safeguarding Team. They will be focussed on the implementation of an effective safeguarding programme working in close collaboration with all departments that make up the women’s and girls’ football programme (known as Manchester City Women’s FC) based at Manchester City Football Club and at some off-site locations.

Role specific accountabilities:

1. To promote and protect the rights, safety and well-being of children, young people and vulnerable adults who come into contact with any MCWFC activities, ensuring that all participants, parents, carers and workers clearly understand these rights


2. To provide safeguarding support, monitoring and visibility across all MCWFC operations and ensure that the safeguarding and welfare programme is effectively planned, promoted, implemented, embedded, monitored, reviewed and continuously improved.


3. To work closely with multi-disciplinary teams across MCWFC to raise awareness of and implement safeguarding and welfare principles, regulations and practice and ensure that everyone is working together in creating and maintaining a safe, respectful and welcoming environment.


4. To create opportunities to ensure that the voices of players are heard in decisions, policies and practices that impact them.


5. To collaborate with recruiting managers and core safeguarding staff to coordinate and implement the Safer Recruitment Policy and take responsibility for ensuring compliance with background checks (and other relevant overseas checks where necessary) for relevant staff, and in accordance with UK legislation, Premier League and FA rules, and Club policy.


6. To help coordinate and deliver a scheme of safeguarding and welfare education to the workforce, players and other participants, in MCWFC programmes. Including the coordination and delivery of activities for safeguarding and well-being campaigns throughout the season (including, but not limited to, Anti-Bullying Week, Parents in Sport Week, and Safer Internet Day).


7. To provide subject matter expertise to the design and implementation of relevant policy and practice to address key safeguarding and welfare issues specific to the MCWFC pathway environment including (but not limited to) under-18s playing in the senior environment, trips & tournaments, residential provision and transitional moments (e.g. player recruitment, players on loan, playing out of age group)


8. Working closely, and with support and direction from the Head of Safeguarding, respond appropriately to safeguarding and welfare-related concerns across the women’s and girls’ football pathway operations, liaising with Premier League Safeguarding Team/FA Case Management Team and, where appropriate, relevant statutory agencies.


9. Work collaboratively with the Performance Lifestyle department in the delivery of high-quality, age-appropriate holistic support for players across all age groups.


10. To support MCWFC management in the implementation of the Disciplinary Policy relating to players and in particular provide direct support to players subject to disciplinary procedures.


11. To contribute to and support the maintenance of accurate records (using established recording systems) in respect of training, vetting checks and concern management systems and ensure all sensitive data and information is held securely and in accordance with data protection and privacy obligations; and providing decision-ready, data-driven insights to organisational leaders upon request.


12. To provide data to, and support the production of, regular reports and annual reviews, of the safeguarding and welfare programmes to the Safeguarding and MCWFC Leadership teams.


13. To be an active member of the CFG Safeguarding Team contributing to the development of safeguarding policy, protocol and practice. Support all MCWFC operations in the development of policy, procedure and projects that impact on, or involve, children and vulnerable adults, ensuring that these include an appropriate, proportionate and contextualised safeguarding response.

Role specific knowledge, skills and experience:

Essential

• A professional background in child rights, welfare or safeguarding-related work.


• Knowledge of safeguarding children legislation and statutory guidance.


• 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/carers.


• 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 practices 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 the police child protection team.


• Knowledge of the workings of professional sports businesses and particularly the application of safeguarding principles therein.


• Understanding of sports coaching or educational practice and how to work with children (or vulnerable adults) in these settings.


• A second language.


• Experience of policy design.