Women's National League Designated Safeguarding OfficerThe FA

As the Women's National League Designated Safeguarding Officer, you will play a pivotal role in delivering The FA's safeguarding strategy, leading safeguarding policy and practice across the WNL, and driving continuous improvement to protect and support everyone involved in the game. Working closely with clubs, County FAs and colleagues across The FA Safeguarding team, you will help shape safeguarding culture, manage concerns effectively, and ensure the highest standards of welfare and compliance are embedded throughout the women's game.

This role will require frequent national travel. It is expected that this will be one or two days a week, although this could flex up or down.

What will you be doing?

• Work with WNL colleagues to embed safeguarding throughout their governance, policy, standards, systems, and events, supporting learning and development needs as appropriate. 
• Lead and influence clubs to drive continuous improvements in safeguarding culture and practice. Drive safeguarding standards, where appropriate, aligning with the pro and semi-pro games to maximise impact, including event safeguarding.
• Support member clubs to recruit, appoint and induct Club Welfare Officers and facilitate a programme of support, CPD and training for this WNL Club Welfare Officer and Club/Academy workforce. 
• Work with WNL Clubs, The FAs Safeguarding Teams and County FA Designated Safeguarding Officers to ensure safeguarding concerns are managed in line with The FA's Policy, Regulations and thresholds for referrals.
• Develop the standards across the WNL in line with other leagues' safeguarding criteria for the future development of the WNL and its strategy .
• Collaborate to ensure systems enable effective visibility of relevant data for compliance oversight of the requirements in the Safeguarding Standard.  
• Maintain current safeguarding CPD, attend relevant safeguarding training and networking meetings and provide safeguarding updates and reports as required. 
• Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.
• As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

Knowledge 

• A professional safeguarding qualification and or relevant experience in a safeguarding / welfare role. 
• In depth knowledge of national safeguarding legislation, policy and implementation.   
• Knowledge of current issues that impact on the development of grassroots to elite young players, particularly in the Women's game.
• A sound working knowledge of data protection principles and practice.  
• Sound knowledge of equality legislation and inclusive practices as they relate to safeguarding and additional vulnerability. 

Experience 

Experience of:

• Implementing safeguarding policy and safer working practice guidance.  
• Supporting safeguarding and player wellbeing in elite sport pathways. 
• Managing referrals and concerns and operating within legal and regulatory frameworks to manage them. 
• Risk and crisis management.

Technical Skills 

• Ability to create inspiring presentations and present to a wide range of key stakeholders
• Advanced Reporting Writing skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office
• Excellent communication, management, presentation, and facilitation skills
• Reporting Writing skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office 

Beneficial to have:

Knowledge 

• An understanding of the case management processes, legislation and related statutory and voluntary infrastructure  

Experience 

Experience of:

• Working in safeguarding in a sporting context
• Developing tailored resources for different stakeholders
• Differentiating learning materials and using a blended approach to learning 

Technical Skills 

• Basic Project Management skills 

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles. To achieve this, we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves on offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encourages you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Private medical cover funded by The FA.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' day's leave, volunteering days, as well as 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract)
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.