Women's Safeguarding and Welfare Officer

**Blackburn Rovers Womens Football Club Ltd.**

Job Title: Safeguarding and Welfare Officer

Department: Blackburn Rovers Women Football Club Ltd

Based at: Blackburn Rovers Academy, Brockhall Village, Old Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8BA. You will also be required to attend home match days as and when required.

Reports to: General Manager

Responsible for: N/A

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week plus any additional hours necessary for the performance of duties. This will include regular evening and weekend work.

Contractuctual status: Permanent

Job Purpose: To ensure a collaborative approach across the Club to the promotion of safeguards and the protection of children, young people and adults at risk.

**Full description**

**Duties and Responsibilites**:

- Arrange and deliver briefing workshops in relation to safeguarding topics such as anti-bullying, appropriate use of social media, code of conducts, to staff and players;
- Draft and implement procedures and processes which allow consistent due diligence and risk assessment of core activities;
- To implement standards of criteria for action and referral in response to an allegation or concern, in accordance with best practice models (e.g., National Decision Model);
- Act as the main point of contact and host audits conducted by outside parties;
- Effectively lead and manage the policies and procedures involving players aged 18 and above with those under 18 in the environment;
- Engage in discussion with staff regarding the risks associated with their activities to encourage attention to participants’ safety (e.g., trips, activities, commercial events involving young people);
- Challenge bad practice and behaviors in the moment and encourage colleagues to reflect on and discuss the reason for challenge;
- Develop and oversee practices to ensure all participants both know how to - and are comfortable to - report concerns and allegations;
- Develop training materials or source from FA, Premier League, EFL or other external providers;
- Deliver - or manage delivery of - training (and periodic update training) to key groups, including coaches, performance staff, interns, scouts, players, parents/carers, other club staff;
- Produce and update communications, and deliver events which champion, educate and encourage dialogue regarding safeguarding to stakeholder groups (e.g., Parent Handbook, Inductions, youth forums);
- Educate coaches to conduct risk analysis for activities - such as trips and tours. Act as advisor and help them develop skill in assessing suitability of proposed location, and suggested mitigations to put in place if event goes ahead.
- Respond to process queries or specific enquiries, concerns and allegations in a timely manner;
- Manage, or delegate, cases and ensure they are managed in accordance with club procedure, making a proportionate response (using guidance from FA resource where appropriate);
- Refer serious cases to the appropriate agency when required, in accordance with internal procedures;
- Report cases to FA in accordance with current procedures;
- In the case of non-referred cases, manage them as part of a multidisciplinary team within the club in a person-centred manner, and ensure the appropriate expertise is consulted;
- In response to incidents, review lessons learned and respond accordingly (e.g., through amending policy/ procedures, managing individual performance or initiating training / education activities);
- Use case management software to record information, decisions and to be able to demonstrate decision criteria in the event of case review;
- Seek feedback from others and reflect on personal behaviour and performance to identify areas for improvement;
- Set boundaries and develop balance between being approachable and taking on non-relevant workload;
- Be abreast of current safeguarding issues, legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice;
- Create and maintain a personalised Development Action Plan (DAP), taking input and feedback from a variety of sources;
- Participate in internal and external professional development activities and demonstrate a commitment to undertake on-going formal education programmes; and
- To hold positive and constructive productive relationships with the following stakeholders: Coaches, Medics and Performance staff: to ensure participants are thriving and safe. o Designated Safeguarding Officers; to collaborate and support o Human Resources: To ensure recruitment activity is in place to minimise risk to participants. o Transport and other auxiliary services: These groups are in regular contact with people and are therefore core stakeholders and deliverers of effective safeguarding. o Children and Young People: Be a recognisable person at the club who children and young people are confident to approach and has their interests at heart. o Facilities and entity partners so that service provision is seamless; this is especially important if facilities are shared and / or include pu