Safeguarding Panel Chair

The Cricket Safeguarding Panel is convened under the ECB Safeguarding Regulations. Its function is to consider whether an individual poses a risk of harm to Children or Adults at Risk within cricket; to consider if any steps can be taken to manage that risk and if appropriate impose relevant control measures to either eliminate the assessed risk to Children or Adults at Risk in cricket, or to bring it within manageable levels. The panel acts to establish and uphold agreed standards within the game, and to ensure its integrity, independently of interests within the game and to the highest standards of regulatory practice.

You will effectively manage the running of the Cricket Safeguarding Panel hearing and use your safeguarding experience to support appropriate risk assessment and clear, defensible decision making in relation to those subject to safeguarding investigation. You will be expected to commit to attending a Safeguarding Panel hearing at least once per quarter. The hearings take place mostly online during the working week (10am-6pm).

Established in December 2023, the Cricket Regulator was set up to be the ring-fenced executive team, responsible for ensuring effective education programmes are in place; to operate best practice monitoring, intelligence, and compliance programmes; to investigate alleged breaches, and to prosecute cases where considered appropriate. The Cricket Regulator focuses on Anti-Corruption, Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Doping, Safeguarding, General Misconduct, and Agency activity in the professional game, as well as other designated levels of organised cricket. Safeguarding and Anti-Discrimination also involves working with other organisations across the recreational game. The Cricket Regulator also ensures cricket in England and Wales meets the regulatory requirements of the International Cricket Council and plays a lead role in combating global threats.

The roles and responsibilities of the Cricket Regulator were previously carried out by an ECB team. An objective in the creation of the Cricket Regulator was to provide greater assurance around the separation between regulatory functions and the remainder of the ECB activities.

OUR VALUES

• INTEGRITY: We will be honest and consistent, upholding the highest ethical and professional standards. We will act with openness and truthfulness, ensuring our independence and trust.
• COURAGE: We will act with courage, showing the moral strength to confront malpractice, discrimination and corruption wherever it manifests, and will persevere where it is right to do so, even when faced with opposition and resistance.
• FAIRNESS: We will treat people equitably and with respect, acting in a way that is right and reasonable. We will be proportionate and considerate in all our actions.
• SUPPORTIVE: We will be approachable and offer support to people, clubs and organisations to embed the highest standards. Where those standards have not been upheld, we will offer support and guidance to those who have suffered harm.
• REFLECTIVE: We will continually seek to improve our service, learning from stakeholders, individuals and through independent assessment of our work.

YOU’LL LOVE THIS JOB IF

You are legally qualified and have significant experience of chairing complex meetings/disciplinary or safeguarding panels/tribunals.

YOU'LL BE DOING

• Chair the Cricket Safeguarding Panel or Appeal hearings in line with the ECB Safeguarding Regulations.
• Undertake reading of the relevant case papers prior to the meeting.
• Effectively manage the Cricket Safeguarding Panel hearing and use your safeguarding experience to support appropriate risk assessment and clear, defensible decision making in relation to those subject to safeguarding investigation.
• Effectively manage the running of the Cricket Safeguarding Appeal Panels considering arguments brought by respondents regarding the decisions of first instance Cricket Safeguarding Panels and provide clear decisions.
• Ensure that all panel members can contribute effectively to the decision-making process and manage any differences of opinion within the Cricket Safeguarding Panel or Appeal Panel.
• Review the effectiveness of plans previously heard by the Cricket Safeguarding Panel.
• Effectively summarise the decision of the Cricket Safeguarding Panel or Appeal Panel and ensure that this accurately reflects the decision of the panel and can be understood by all stakeholders.
• Check the accuracy of decisions before they are published.
• Participate in, and lead on, relevant CPD with other Cricket Safeguarding Panel members.
• Assist in the ongoing review of the effectiveness of the work of Cricket Safeguarding Panel.
• Disclose any potential conflict of interest in relation to any matter being discussed.

YOU’LL HAVE

• Significant experience of chairing complex meetings/disciplinary or safeguarding panels/tribunals.
• Experience of working with disciplinary/safeguarding/judicial procedures.
• Ability to ensure the meaningful contribution of all panel members.
• Experience in the assessment and risk analysis of complex information/evidence.
• Significant experience of producing clear, defensible decisions and plans.
• Significant professional or vocational experience in Safeguarding Children and/or Adults.
• Knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation and guidance and how these should be applied during a safeguarding investigation.
• Experience of working in a confidential setting.
• Knowledge of the impact of abuse on children and adults.
• Knowledge of safer recruitment practices and assessing the suitability of individuals to work with children.
• Legal experience from either a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with 7 years plus post qualification experience or equivalent experience from a legal professional.
• Experience of safeguarding in a sports setting.
• Knowledge of the sport of cricket and its structures at national, county and club level.
• Experience of working with a volunteer workforce.

YOU’LL RECEIVE

£400 per full day of service (pro-rata if less) + reasonable expenses. Please note, general perks and benefits will not apply to this role.