Head of Academy Safeguarding in Rotherham

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a subject matter expert, you are responsible for ensuring you are conversant with relevant local and national legislation, policies and procedures and an awareness of best practice and using this to make changes and recommendations. To work closely with the departmental Designated Safeguarding Officers across the organisation to create a positive, child-centred, safe environment where the safeguarding ethos is embedded across all areas. To develop, implement and review safeguarding policies and processes to ensure they meet legislation, guidance and are relevant. Co-ordinate the dissemination of policy, procedures and awareness throughout the organisation. Work with Human Resources to deliver and quality assure safer recruitment requirements, safeguarding inductions and training for staff. To work in accordance with the English Football League (EFL) and FA safeguarding standards and audited practices. Be the main point of contact for audit procedures (FA, EFL and any others as required). Triage and investigate where appropriate all reported safeguarding concerns, managing the caseload appropriately and ensuring records are clear and full and defensible decision making has been evidenced. Provide support and guidance to any member of staff who reports suspected abuse of a child or adult at risk. 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. Reports will need to be presented to the Senior Safeguarding Manager on a monthly basis and quarterly at board meetings. Ensure that all policies relating to safeguarding and welfare are reviewed, then approved by the Board at least annually or as required due to a change in legislation or practice. Provide advice and support to all staff, volunteers and associates of the organisation in relation to safeguarding concerns and queries. Manage the electronic case management system, CPOMS, for all staff’s recording and tracking of concerns and allegations pertaining to the safety and welfare of children. Attend internal and external meetings as required to ensure safeguarding is consistently championed and reviewed. Be the main point of contact and provide expert advice for all Rotherham United Academy safeguarding concerns for internal and external individuals and agencies. Report, refer, signpost and work closely with external agencies including LADO, EFL, FA all concerns/incidents as necessary and where appropriate in accordance with standards and policies relating to child protection and/or poor practice. Be responsible for updating and reviewing the safeguarding sections of the Single Central Record (SCR), including DBS checks via FADV, personnel risk assessments and mandatory safeguarding training requirements. Support Player Care Lead in escalations and with scholar accommodation. To collect stakeholder voice around safeguarding and welfare and plan accordingly. To support the Rotherham United values, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and our Safeguarding policies in every aspect of your work and positively promote the principles of these policies amongst colleagues, stakeholders, service users and other members of the community. To represent Rotherham United Academy at external multi-agency safeguarding meetings, creating new links with external statutory and voluntary agencies. Confidentiality is important within our business, understanding the need for boundaries and privacy is paramount and where safeguarding is not required GDPR policies must be adhered to. To make sure that your own knowledge, skills and training remain up-to-date.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential criteria:

• At least 2 years experience of working in safeguarding and/or a child or adult protection related role.
• Experience of implementing and reviewing safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Evidence of promoting good practice, continuous improvement, and management of safeguarding concerns.
• A working knowledge and understanding of current safeguarding legislation, guidance, best practice, and policies in respect of the welfare of Children.
• The ability to create and deliver training across different departments and engage key stakeholders internally and externally to the Club.
• Significant experience of managing and investigating staff safeguarding allegations.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding legislation, guidance regulations and best practice Rotherham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership arrangements.
• Experience of working in a sporting environment desirable but not essential.
• Willingness to work unsociable hours as and when required (including evenings, weekends).
• Full UK driving licence or ability to travel to various locations, due to the demands of the role.

Desirable criteria:

• Educated to level 4 or above.
• Level 3/4 qualification in Safeguarding.
• FA Safeguarding Children Certificate or equivalent.
• Mental Health First Aid Certificate.

This role will have regular contact with children, and it is therefore required by law to have a DBS Enhanced Criminal Record Check with children’s barred list check.

About The Club

Safeguarding: Rotherham United takes safeguarding very seriously and is committed to ensuring that all children and adults at risk are safeguarded at all times when engaging in Club activities or services. The club has numerous safeguarding policies and best practice guidelines to support this and expects all employees to adopt such policies and practices at all times. The club adheres to strict guidelines, policies and procedures when recruiting staff who work with children and/or adults at risk and is committed to ensuring staff receive appropriate safeguarding training suitable to their role/s. Successful applicants are expected to share the club’s approach to safeguarding at all times.

Equal Opportunities: The post holder’s duties must be carried out in compliance with the Club’s Equal Opportunities Policy, with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent Health and Safety Legislation. Rotherham United is an equal opportunities employer and a signatory to the new FA Football Leadership Diversity Code and all applicants for employment will be given equal opportunities irrespective of sex, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin.

These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities within Rotherham United Football Club, commensurate with the post without changing the character of the post. This post requires a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) enhanced Criminal Records Check (CRC) check with a barred list check. The applicant must be prepared to submit a CRC application if they do not hold an FA CRC Certificate. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Information on all convictions including spent convictions must be declared, in line with the new Government Filtering System.