Academy Designated Safeguarding Officer

Job purpose

The Club is seeking an exceptional individual to take up this challenging role. This is a key appointment for the Club, and we are therefore seeking a qualified and experienced person, who displays outstanding communication and organisational skills alongside attention to detail and the flexibility and resilience to manage diverse and conflicting demands.

The person will be responsible for ensuring that safeguarding is truly embedded within the Club, specifically the Academy and creating a culture where everyone feels valued, safe, and supported.

Main duties and Key Tasks

• Work closely with the Head of Safeguarding to ensure the Club’s compliance with statutory obligations under the relevant legislation and the adherence to the rules and regulations surrounding safeguarding as laid down by the relevant governing bodies under which the Club is bound.
• Continuously work to maintain, embed, and improve the Club’s safeguarding provision across the Academy whilst ensuring the highest standards for safeguarding vulnerable groups, policies, practices and good practice guidelines
• Support staff to respond appropriately to concerns about the welfare or safety of vulnerable groups
• Work closely with the Academy Player Care Manager to ensure host families are all risk assessed in line with statutory regulations and following best practice in their delivery of the service.
• Conduct risk assessments for all extra-curricular activities including trips, tours, and tournaments.
• Facilitate parent workshops providing education and resources for key safeguarding matters.
• Work closely with the Head of Safeguarding and the Academy Manger to actively promote and implement the Clubs Safeguarding policies within the Academy.
• Utilise the CPOMS online platform and case manage each appropriate report.
• Produce a monthly report to the Head of Safeguarding regarding all Academy safeguarding concerns and actions.
• Be a visible, accessible, and approachable safeguarding presence for the Club’s parents and players across the Academy training schedule and games programme.
• To be responsible for staff compliance to the Safer Recruitment Policy and the requirements of the Workforce Development Plan. This includes the verification of applications to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
• To attend all Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings
• To attend Safeguarding Team meetings as designated by the Head of Safeguarding
• To help with gathering evidence to support internal and external audits and striving to align delivery against the English Football League’s Safeguarding Standards.
• To assist in the monitoring, compliance, and training for the safeguarding provisions of the Emerging Talent Centres.
• To ensure all Academy transport arrangements are managed safely by ensuring all safeguarding principles are considered.
• To deputise for the Head of Safeguarding as Designated Safeguarding Lead for all Cardiff City Stadium events and matches.

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

Certified Safeguarding Qualification

Emergency First Aid

Valid and in date passport to be able to travel as necessary

UK driving licence and use of own vehicle.

Note: At the stage where an offer of employment is made, an Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service check will be conducted including a check against the child barring list, as per the Club’s Safer Recruitment Policy.

Educated to degree level in a relevant field (e.g. wellbeing, psychology, social sciences).

Mental Health First Aid

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training

FA Safeguarding Children Course certificate or equivalent and working knowledge of processes

Experience

Experience working with young people of varying backgrounds and cultures

Experience in managing safeguarding concerns and keeping clear and comprehensive records of incidents, allegations, details of progress and investigative outcomes,

Experience in developing and implementing programmes, initiatives, and interventions.

Experience working within a football Academy environment

Experience of delivering content to groups of varying sizes in varying styles.

Knowledge

Ability to deliver CPD training course to all Academy stakeholders.

Knowledge of safeguarding and welfare

An understanding of Premier League/EFL rules and Elite Player Performance Plan

Understanding and experience of using an online safeguarding platform and ability to train others as necessary

Skills

Adaptability to be effective in a dynamic, fast-paced

Environment

Strong communication skills in a variety of settings

Ability to work as part of a

broader multidisciplinary team

Competent IT skills e.g. Microsoft Office

Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality

Excellent presentation skills to groups of varying sizes and ages.

Self-awareness and

reflective skills as part of a

professional development

process

Open-minded approach to

adopting best-practice and

current research-backed

principles

Attitude

Passionate and hard working

Self-motivated within a team

and capable of motivating

those around them

Approachable and trustworthy manner

Behavioural Competencies

• Communication: Able to communicate to the highest level, listens, interprets and conveys information in a clear and accurate manner, provides timely delivery of information and selects the most appropriate method of communication.
  
  - Teamwork: Works within a multi-disciplinary team environment, co-operates with others, considers the needs of others and helps others to achieve objectives.
  
  - Taking ownership: Ability to work autonomously on own initiative, pro-active in managing one's own time, building an understanding of the internal and external environment in order to deliver work in a highly effective and professional manner.
  
  - Relationship Management: Is able to use a range of appropriate techniques to build strong relationships with players, parents and stakeholders.