Club Welfare Officer

Our Club Welfare Officer is Sara Hammett-Ridsdale contact her at kestrelswelfare@gmail.com.

A Club Welfare Officer (CWO) with the support of the club committee has the responsibility to:

  • implement effective Safeguarding Policies and 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 and 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.