Safeguarding Case Management Group Independent Member in London

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) are seeking a Safeguarding Case Management Group Independent Member to join the Safeguarding Case Management Group (SCMG) in a volunteer capacity.

Anticipated Commitment: Approximately 8 hours per month, including meeting preparation and urgent case consultations.

Location: Primarily virtual (via Microsoft Teams), with occasional attendance at Allianz Stadium.

Accountable to: Chair of the Safeguarding Case Management Group.

Nature and scope: Everyone involved in rugby is important and we take our responsibility for their welfare and wellbeing seriously. We want the rugby environment to be a safe and happy one. The SCMG is a cross departmental group charged by the RFU with assessing the risk that individuals may pose to children and adults at risk. The SCMG consider concerns or referrals presented by the RFU Safeguarding Team and decide on the appropriate outcome following any investigation, including those by police, social care or any other regulatory agency. Information is considered on a paper-based basis and decisions made using a risk-based approach and the balance of probabilities standard. The SCMG also consider information disclosed on a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and assess whether the applicant is potentially suitable or is deemed a risk to children or adults at risk. SCMG members are expected to balance the rights of individuals against the RFU's responsibility to safeguard children and adults at risk, ensuring decisions are fair, proportionate, evidence-based and focused on welfare and safety.

It is essential that the SCMG brings together a wide range of perspectives from both within our sport and outside of it. We're looking to extend our current complement of expertise and invite applications from individuals who wish to volunteer to use their personal and professional skills, experience and judgement to ensure that Rugby Union in England is safe for children and adults at risk. We would be particularly interested to hear from those with a statutory safeguarding or Human Resources backgrounds, or those with experience of safeguarding in sport, including those who have skills in supporting victims of abuse and knowledge of trauma informed practice.

Accountabilities:

• To act with integrity and independence to ensure the decision making process of the SCMG is fair and considered with the primary focus of the safeguarding of children or adults at risk.
• To have an understanding, or a willingness to understand, the RFU Safeguarding Policies, RFU Regulations and the statutory legislation underpinning safeguarding.
• Be guided by the principle that all children and adults at risk have the right to protection from abuse regardless of their age, ability, race, ethnic origin, gender, disability, social status, size, religion or sexual orientation.
• Understanding of safeguarding practice within diverse communities and ability to identify how culture, disability, protected characteristics, vulnerability and lived experience may influence risk and safeguarding outcomes.
• Have an awareness of and commitment to managing information in the strictest confidence.
• To declare any conflict of interest or connection with a particular case.

Person Specification:

• The ability to make proportionate, reasoned and justifiable decisions in safeguarding cases, demonstrating confidence participating in multi-disciplinary decision making.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice relating to children and adults at risk.
• Ability to access and analyse a variety of evidence in written and other forms.
• A professional background in safeguarding or experience of safeguarding in sport.
• Knowledge of the sport of rugby.
• Knowledge of human resources and disciplinary proceedings.

Additional Information:

This post holder must maintain an appropriate standard of confidentiality. Any disclosures of confidential information (including personal information kept on computer or other media) made unlawfully outside the proper course of duty will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence. Successful applicants will be expected to undertake induction and any safeguarding training identified by the RFU alongside maintenance of their safeguarding knowledge through ongoing development. The SCMG meet via Teams on a monthly basis. Meetings are generally held on the second Thursday of each month and take place between 10:00 and 12:30. In preparation for this meeting, packs are distributed one week prior to meetings with papers and reports that will require thorough reading. In addition, particularly when the Safeguarding Team are considering the need for an immediate suspension, SCMG members are asked to respond within 24 hours to requests for views regarding risk.