Head of Safeguarding (Foundation)

JOB DESCRIPTION: Head of Safeguarding

Department

Swansea City AFC Foundation

Report to

Head of Foundation

Salary

£30,000 - £33,000 per annum

Contract

Permanent

Contract

Full Time / 35 hours per week.

Purpose of Role

To be the Foundation’s lead for Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I).

Roles and Responsibilities

• Be the Foundation’s first point of contact for staff, volunteers, parents, children, and adults at risk where concerns about welfare, poor practice or abuse are identified.
• Manage cases of poor practice and abuse reported to the organisation.
• Play a lead role in developing and establishing the organisation’s approach to Safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk by ensuring safeguarding standards are met and maintained.
• Ensure that all Safeguarding concerns are recorded, tracked, and managed appropriately, escalating any serious matters when necessary.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date documentation on all cases of Safeguarding and child protection and report where required in line with GDPR regulations.
• Oversee the MyConcern case management system and ensure all staff are trained and competent in its use.
• Manage referrals to children’s social-care services, LADO, the police, the EFL, the FA and the FAW as and when required.
• Review, update and develop the Foundation’s safeguarding, health and safety policies and procedures ensuring they meet (or exceed) minimum legal requirements and industry standards.
• Ensure that all policies relating to Safeguarding and welfare are signed off by the Board annually or when required due to a change in legislation or practice.
• Be the designated Prevent Lead for the Foundation
• Provide advice and support to all staff, volunteers and associates of the organisation in relation to Safeguarding concerns and queries.
• Conduct regular site visits to Foundation sessions to ensure compliance with Safeguarding and health and safety policies.
• Coordinate the dissemination of policy, procedures and resources throughout the organisation.
• Advise on the organisation’s training needs and the development of its training strategy; provide training where appropriate.
• Ensure that Designated Safeguarding Officers have adequate time and resources to fulfil the requirements of their role as well as access to training relevant to the role.
• Ensure ongoing training and support for all staff around all matters relating to Safeguarding and health and safety.
• Ensure all staff have the necessary Safeguarding qualifications for their role and work with Foundation HR officer to ensure training/qualification logs are kept and updated regularly.
• Liaise regularly with designated Safeguarding Trustee
• Meet regularly in minuted meetings with Club’s Head of Safeguarding to ensure information can be shared regularly and best practice is consistent
• Receive regular Safeguarding supervision from Club’s Head of Safeguarding
• Work with key external organisations, partners, and funders to ensure all Foundation provision meets the grant conditions relating to safeguarding.
• Represent the Foundation at local networks and steering groups in relation to safeguarding.
• Ensure the Foundation’s compliance with Sections 9, 10 and 13 of CCOP and be responsible for reporting into Section 15 of CCOP.
• To be responsible for the Foundation’s DBS process, including checks, renewals and risk assessments.
• To be part of the Senior Management Team at the Foundation, contributing to the ongoing management and future direction of the organisation; to report on Safeguarding and Health and Safety to the Senior Management Team.
• To be responsible for leading on all Equality, Diversity and Inclusion matters relating to the Foundation and ensure ED&I is embedded across all aspects of Foundation work.
• Review, update and develop the Foundations ED&I policies and procedures ensuring they meet (or exceed) minimum industry standards.
• Lead on ED&I campaigns (Rainbow Laces, No Room for Racism etc), supporting project leads with the development of ED&I resources which can be delivered by various projects.
• Review, update and develop the Foundation’s ED&I action plan – ensuring that the Foundation continues to offer increased opportunities for underrepresented groups.
• To be a part of, and actively contribute to, the Club’s ED&I steering group.
• To embody the Foundation mission of supporting inclusivity, acting as a role model by ensuring all of all activities are accessible and welcoming for all
• To ensure that the Foundation’s policies and procedures including Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection are considered, and all legal obligations are adhered to, ensuring that the safety of participants, volunteers and staff (including self) is prioritised at all times
• Represent and regularly report to the Board on Safeguarding policies, procedures and practices within the organisation
• Report to the Board regularly on organizational Safeguarding and Duty of Care matters, including highlighting areas of risk/concern, identifying areas of poor practice/areas for improvement, and providing analysis of numbers and types of Safeguarding concerns/disclosure, complaints, and bullying incidents within the organisation
• Ensure all aspects of Safeguarding are integrated across the delivery of the programme and all activities are delivered in a safe and suitable manner; with all Safeguarding concerns reported through appropriate channels. Working with others within the organisation to create a positive, child-centred environment.
• Play a lead role in maintaining and reviewing the organisation’s implementation plan for Safeguarding and protecting children

General

• Follow all Foundation Policies, such as Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Anti-Corruption & Bribery and GDPR.
• Make suggestions to improve the working environment and contribute to positive employee relations within your area of work and Swansea City AFC Foundation as a whole.
• To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and other employees and members of the public who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.
• To comply with all aspects of the Swansea City AFC Foundation Health and Safety Policy and Arrangements, to enable the Company to perform its civil and statutory obligations in relation to Health & Safety
• Ensure effective communication within your work team and across Swansea City Foundation whilst actively offering support and guidance as necessary.

Person Specification

Essential requirements:

• Hold and maintain comprehensive knowledge and understanding of government strategy, legislation, guidance and plans for:
  • safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and other vulnerable individuals as well as the management of safeguarding incidents, concerns and allegations of poor practice and abuse,
  • health and safety
  • equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Ability to work effectively under own direction without day-to-day management
  • Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing with agencies, colleagues, vulnerable groups and parents/carers.
  • Ability to recognise and challenge inappropriate behaviour and poor practice.
  • Discretion and ability to keep confidential information confidential, sharing information only where appropriate.
  • Ability to record, handle and store clear and comprehensive records and information in line with legislation.
  • Experience of offering safeguarding/health and safety advice and support to colleagues, vulnerable groups and their parents/carer within a comparable organisation.
  • Experience in contributing and working as part of a team.

Desirable requirements:

• Experience of working within a charitable organisation.
• A successful track record of supporting and driving organisational change.
• Experience in contributing and working as part of a team
• Knowledge and experience of identifying and managing risk

Personal requirements:

• Well organised, able to prioritise workload whilst being flexible and able to cope with the unexpected or unplanned
• Personable and approachable with excellent interpersonal skills
• Remain focused on responsibilities and objectives
• Must adhere to confidentiality and data protection procedures at all times