Women's Team Safeguarding OfficerIpswich Town

The Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) will support the Head of Safeguarding in delivering a safe, positive and inclusive environment across all areas of the Club, with a particular focus on the Women's First Team, Under 21’s, Elite Girls Academy (EGA) and wider community activities.
The postholder will be responsible for the day-to-day management of safeguarding matters, ensuring compliance with Football Association (FA), Women's Super League (WSL), Elite Girls Academy (EGA), statutory and Club safeguarding standards. The DSO will act as a key point of contact for safeguarding concerns and support the effective implementation of the Club's safeguarding strategy.

Key Responsibilities:
• To be a visible point of contact and provide advice and guidance, including at times of incident crisis, to Women’s Team staff.
• Work hours in line with the Women’s team schedule, including some evenings and weekends.
• To promote and ensure that staff understand that safeguarding of all children, young people, and adults at risk in the Women’s Team and Club more broadly is everyone’s responsibility.
• To lead and provide guidance to other staff on responses to safeguarding issues or concerns that are raised within the Women’s team.
• Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date records on all safeguarding incidents, concerns, or allegations using the Club’s Safeguarding Case management system, MyConcern.
• To Assist the Club’s Head of Safeguarding (HOS) and HR with any investigations including (but not limited to) working with the LADO, FA Safeguarding Team, WSL and any other statutory or regulatory authorities.
• Be actively involved in the different age groups/phases Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (MDT) process, providing expert safeguarding advice to the members to then support players.
• To lead on support plans for players where there are safeguarding concerns or complex needs as part of the MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team).
• To assist in the preparation, the approval and quality assurance of the Safeguarding element of risk assessments completed regarding activities, trips, and tours within the Women’s Team.
• Work with the Club’s HOS & HR to support safer recruitment processes and to ensure robust induction, and review processes where appropriate, for all staff.
• To assist in the review and updating of all Safeguarding policies to ensure effectiveness and compliance with appropriate legal frameworks and statutory guidance.
• Support and deliver training to staff, and coordinate delivery from external providers, which promotes understanding and knowledge of Safeguarding issues and best practice in the Club.
• Manage the Women’s Team safeguarding workforce development plan, working with the HOS and HR to ensure compliance, consistence, and continuity.
• To support the Club’s Head of Safeguarding and with audit preparation as required.
• Liaise and network with the FA, WSL and counterparts across other professional clubs to identify and share best practice in safeguarding.
• Lead on the safeguarding provision on first team (home) matchdays, including providing support to young mascots and the ball retrieval team.

Essential Criteria
• Excellent knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies, and processes.
• Experience in working with statutory agencies and safeguarding partners including MASH, LADO and sporting bodies.
• Knowledge of using a case management system (e.g., My Concern) to keep clear and comprehensive records and reports.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral and be confident communicating at all levels with the gravitas, sensitivity and kindness required within this role.
• Level 3 safeguarding training
• FA Safeguarding Children Course
• UK Driving Licence
• Be available to evenings, weekends and matchdays (primarily ITFC Women’s Home Fixtures)
• Enhance DBS Check and Safer Recruitment Process

Desirable Criteria:
• Experience and knowledge of safeguarding delivery in the elite sports industry and experience of complying with codes of practice, procedures and legislation within the football industry.
• Experience of designing and delivering training and awareness workshops on various safeguarding areas to staff and children, young people and adults
• A strong sense of ambition and enthusiasm, coupled with a self- motivated attitude, positive outlook and demonstrable initiative which will be assist you to thrive within this dynamic environment.
• ACAS investigations
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training
• Safer recruitment training
• Other relevant Safeguarding Training.
• Experience of external assessments and auditing


What good looks like:
• Safeguarding is embedded in the everyday working practice of staff. Staff, parents and players know who to come to for advice.
• WSL Safeguarding Standards are upheld.
• My CONCERN recording system is efficiently operating with concerns being recorded and updated.
• Low level concerns are managed, and trends detected and acted upon.
• Safer recruitment practices are embedded.
• Safeguarding risks are identified and mitigated with regular assessment and updates.
• Workforce development and staff training is documented and relevant.
• All policies relating to the Women’s Team are updated in line with Club polices and made available.