Cheltenham Town Football Club is welcoming applications for a Designated Safeguarding Officer (full-time, 35 hours). The individual will report to the Senior Safeguarding Manager and work closely with the Senior Management Teams across the Club.
We are looking for an individual who is a rigorous planner and effective communicator. The role would suit someone with knowledge and experience of safeguarding governance and policy.
The role is full-time, working across the football club, and would suit someone who is flexible and can meet its demands.
The successful candidate will be joining an ambitious EFL League Two club who have a dedicated and experienced staff that is striving to be the best they possibly can be.
Role Title: Designated Safeguarding Officer
Report to: Senior Safeguarding Manager
Responsible for: To work closely with the Senior Management Team across the club
Role Purpose: On behalf of the organisation, to be the first point of contact to Trustees and the senior management team, as well as staff members, volunteers, children, young people, adults at risk and/or their family, carers and advocates - as well as anyone else that has a safeguarding concern; whilst ensuring that all safeguarding policies, procedures and practice across the organisation meet statutory requirements.
Key Working Relationships of the Designated Safeguarding Officer
Internal Relationships
- Senior Management Team across the club
- Safeguarding Team
- All Staff Members & Volunteers
- All Service Users, Families & Carers.
External Relationships
- Disclosure & Barring Service
- Local Authority Designated Officer
- Local Safeguarding Adults Board
- Local Police
- Other Statutory Agencies (EFL, PL, LFE)
Responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Officer
Safeguarding Knowledge
- To stay up to date with changes in legislation and best practice related to safeguarding
- To have a higher level of safeguarding training and knowledge than the rest of the team
- To undertake all relevant safeguarding training as authorised by the organisation
- Attend EFL and any other relevant agency safeguarding children and vulnerable adults training days
- To know the contact details of all relevant statutory agencies relating to safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk
- To provide appropriate safeguarding advice to anyone that has a safeguarding concern
- To ensure that the organisation’s safeguarding policies and procedures are reviewed and kept up to date and are complete - as well as being examples of best practice
- To support employees who have responsibility for the recruitment of staff and volunteers to adhere to safer recruitment policies and procedures.
Safeguarding Training
- To ensure that all new staff and volunteers receive the required safeguarding induction training prior to them being allowed to work with children, young people and/or adults at risk
- To ensure that all staff and volunteers receive safeguarding refresher training at regular intervals - as well as every time policies and procedures are updated as a consequence of new legislation and best practice changes.
Support & Guidance
- To support senior managers, staff members and volunteers regarding concerns related to safeguarding
- To promote a safe environment for all children, young people and adults
- To encourage a culture of listening to children, young people and adults at risk and taking account of their wishes and feelings
- To ensure that the organisation’s safeguarding policies and procedures are known and used appropriately
- To support families, carers and/or advocates of children, young people and adults at risk where there are safeguarding concerns or complaints.
- Contribute to the delivery of the SEP apprenticeship programme where applicable
Reporting of Safeguarding Concerns
- To report safeguarding concerns promptly (and without any undue delay) following the policies and procedures detailed in the Safeguarding Handbook
- To report promptly to Trustees and Senior Management any safeguarding concerns and issues
- To challenge poor safeguarding practice.
Liaison
- To act at liaison between the organisation and all relevant statutory agencies concerned with safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk
- To ensure that all service users, parents, carers and/or advocates are fully aware of the organisations safeguarding policies and procedures
- To link with all relevant statutory agencies and identify training opportunities to ensure that the organisation stays at the forefront of best practice.
Safeguarding Administration
- To ensure all staff working with children and adults at risk have the appropriate level of DBS check for the role being undertaken
- To ensure that all procedures surrounding the management, security and sharing of safeguarding information relating to a child, young person or adult at risk are adhered to
- To ensure the compliance with data protection principles in relation to all safeguarding information.
- Maintain the Staff Registration System and Single Central Record
- Complete and evidence risk assessments as required