Head/Director of Safeguarding

The Head/Director of Safeguarding has responsibility for overseeing and directing the safe provision of all activities and associated learning relating to children, young people and adults at risk, providing senior leadership and guidance on all safeguarding matters and relevant legislation. They are responsible for the effective implementation of safeguarding awareness and best practice across all areas of the Club and Foundation.

They will be required to provide effective Club-wide strategic leadership of safeguarding, with a clear sense of vision, direction and purpose, that embeds and promotes a safeguarding culture in all of our activities that promote and protect the welfare of children and adults at risk.

Below is a summary of the key responsibilities:

Strategy and Policy:

• Lead the implementation of the Club and Foundation Safeguarding Strategy and support its future development and delivery considering long- and short-term safeguarding strategies and objectives that maintain, embed and improve the Club’s safeguarding provision, and ensure the highest standards for safeguarding children and adults at risk.
• Lead on the development, implementation and regular review of safeguarding policies and good practice guidelines, and ensure they continuously meet statutory and football authority requirements.
• Act as the Club’s lead source of safeguarding, expertise, advice and support.
• Meet regularly and work collaboratively with the Strategic Safeguarding Lead (SSL – the responsible Board member) to provide updates and reflect/innovate on safeguarding practice.
• Coordinate and provide executive support for the Safeguarding Board.
• Support the Safeguarding Board with reports, analysis and assessment of Club and Foundation risk as well as presenting updates to the Board on regular basis – this will include progress against the safeguarding implementation plan which links to any areas identified in the Club’s safeguarding strategy, and aligns with the Club and Foundation Strategy.
• Provide support and guidance to all operations of the Club and Foundation with new initiatives, projects and events which have safeguarding implications including drafting and/or approving the safeguarding arrangements in all partnership working.
• Act as Prevent Lead and Coordinator for the Club.

Culture:

• Work with Club and Foundation senior leaders to embed a robust safeguarding culture, including awareness, engagement and working practices, ensuring that all staff understand their individual responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable groups.
• Ensure that the Club provides distinct codes of conduct and behaviour expectations to employees, workers, players, parents, carers.
• Work with the People and Culture team, and Heads of Departments, to develop and implement safer recruitment and induction practices.
• Provide support, guidance, and direction to staff in respect of all safeguarding incidents, concerns or allegations and ensure full evaluation of any lessons learnt.
• Provide guidance on, review and approve safeguarding risk assessments; support staff to develop and embed bespoke safeguarding risk assessments across all activities.
• Create opportunities for active feedback and dialogue with staff, players and parents on the review and evaluation of safeguarding arrangements.

Safer Recruitment:

• Work collaboratively with the People and Culture Team to ensure effective safer recruitment practice.
• Provide regular reviews of safer recruitment practice, evolving and innovating practice as required.

Governance, Data and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date records on all safeguarding incidents, concerns and allegations.
• Provide regular insight, anonymised reports and updates to the Club Board and operational management groups, that highlight concerns, allegations, patterns and trends.

Training and Development:

• Develop and implement a (for team delivery) seasonal workforce development plan across all worker groups; assess effectiveness of training and ensure continuous improvement of all training sourced and delivered.
• Ensure all relevant employees and workers are appropriately trained and equipped to operate effectively, ensure coaching and guidance is provided to enable them to respond appropriately to concerns about welfare of safety of vulnerable groups.
• Periodically review, on a strategic basis, in conjunction with HR Team, training records to ensure delivery and Club and Foundation compliance.

Case Management:

• Work collaboratively with Club and Foundation Senior Leads to proactively identify and mitigate safeguarding risks to individuals and to the organisation.
• Lead and guide members of staff in managing safeguarding incidents, concerns and allegations.
• Provide senior management and leadership of safeguarding incidents or concerns and implement and manage the Club’s reporting and recording procedures for safeguarding including the case management system for the Club.
• Develop processes for the safeguarding team and relevant individuals to refer cases or incidents to local authorities or relevant agencies; liaise with the necessary local authority departments, police, local children and adults social care departments, local Safeguarding Children partnership and other external bodies as necessary on all safeguarding children and adults at risk matters.
• Ensure the reporting and referral of child protection and adult protection and/or poor practice matters in line with policy guidance advised by the FA and the Premier League.

Team Management:

• Ensure all Designated Safeguarding Officers are appropriately trained, supported, regularly supervised, and facilitate regular safeguarding team meetings.
• Lead and provide direction to the Safeguarding Team through regular individual support meetings, supervision and training as required and in accordance with Premier League Standards.

Compliance and Audit:

• Ensure compliance with all statutory obligations under relevant legislation, rules, regulations, standards, and guidance as laid down by the football authorities under which the organisation is bound (i.e., the Premier League and the FA).
• Develop and maintain relationships with statutory and football authorities (such as the Police, Local Authorities, NSPCC, the Premier League, the Football League, and the FA).
• Act as the club’s principal point of contact with the Premier League and the FA on all matters relating to safeguarding.

Person Specification:

• Ability to build key stakeholder relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in sensitive situations.
• A self-starting work ethic, with the ability to continuously innovate and collaborate.
• A proven effective leader of people and experience in growing a thriving team.
• Exceptional organisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and processes concurrently.
• A previous track record, and a desire, to continuously improve processes.
• A commitment to ongoing personal professional development and supporting development in others.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills including the ability to relate well to people on all levels with sensitivity, tact and diplomacy and to build and sustain effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally;
• Able to advise and influence senior management on organisational priorities and specific issues through expertise and advanced knowledge of safeguarding;
• Confident in designing and delivering training and education;
• Experience of organisational and administrative skill, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines;

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Proven experience in a senior safeguarding leadership role, managing a team of designated safeguarding officers, ideally within sport.
• Experience in developing a strategic safeguarding vision and aligned implementation.
• Experience in developing and monitoring strategic risk assessments.
• Experience leading the development and implementation of cohesive safeguarding policies and practices.
• Experience leading cross-departmental meetings and managing senior stakeholders.
• Experience of safeguarding case work and investigations, together with excellent report writing skills and managing organisational responses.
• Experience in sourcing and delivering safeguarding training.
• Experience and confidence in using systems, analysing data and presenting findings
• Ability to lead and manage and coach staff
• Highly proficient ICT capability (including Excel) and analytical numeracy and statistical skills
• Excellent knowledge of legislation relating to child protection and safeguarding including GDPR, Prevent and other associated legislation;
• Excellent knowledge of best in class safeguarding practice
• Experience of working at a senior level in a complex organisation - managing others, commissioning and directing activity and ensuring objectives are translated into effective plans and strategy;
• Experience of managing investigations under complaints or other policies;
• Experience of record keeping, records systems and maintaining accurate, confidential and sensitive data.

Desirable:

• Relevant experience in mental health and well-being and/or mental health first aid qualification.
• Understanding of Prevent.
• Senior Management or Leadership Qualification