ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A Club Welfare Officer (CWO) with the support of the club committee has the responsibility to:
• implement effective Child Safeguarding Policy and Child Safeguarding Procedures and keep them up to date
• implement effective Adult Safeguarding Policy and Adult Safeguarding Procedures and keep them up to date
• promote safeguarding at the club and encourage good practice
• respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
• regularly report to the club’s organising committee on safeguarding matters
• ensure that members of the club/volunteers/staff who are working with children and/or adults at risk are recruited safely and in line with legal requirements
• maintain records of safeguarding training attended by club members
• maintain records of club coaches and officials’ licences and criminal record checks
• make sure the sports volunteers/staff, parents/carers, adults and children are aware of:
• how to contact the CWO
• the codes of conduct for working with children/adults at risk
• how to respond to safeguarding concerns
• deal effectively with breaches of the codes of conduct, poor practice, or allegations of abuse
• keep up to date with developments in safeguarding
• attend the relevant safeguarding courses for the role of CWO
• complete a criminal record check through the relevant Home Country procedures
• maintain confidential records of reported safeguarding concerns and action taken
• liaise with the HCAF Welfare Officer and/or statutory agencies if/when required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
It is desirable for a Club Welfare Officer to:
• have an interest in safeguarding and welfare matters
• be friendly and approachable with the ability to communicate well with adults and children
• be willing to challenge opinion, where necessary, and to drive the safeguarding agenda
• have strong listening skills and the ability to deal with sensitive situations with empathy and integrity
• have an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and when information may need to be shared in order to protect the best interests of a child or an adult at risk
• have the confidence and ability to manage situations relating to the poor conduct/behaviour of others towards a child or an adult at risk and know when to ask for support.