The Role:
As a Match Day Safeguarding Officer, you will play a vital role in helping to create a safe, positive and welcoming environment for children and adults at risk attending Manchester United match days. Working closely with Stadium Safety and other key stakeholders, you will maintain a visible and proactive safeguarding presence throughout match day operations, responding to concerns and ensuring the welfare of visitors, young workers and vulnerable individuals.
You will attend match day safety briefings and apply relevant information throughout the event, acting as a key point of contact for safeguarding matters. The role requires the ability to respond appropriately to a range of safeguarding concerns, from supporting separated children to assisting adults at risk, while maintaining professionalism, empathy and confidentiality at all times.
Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting Stadium Safety in responding to incidents involving safeguarding concerns relating to children and adults at risk.
- Attending and contributing to match day safety briefings, applying operational information effectively throughout the event.
- Maintaining a vigilant and proactive safeguarding presence across match day operations.
- Acting as the main point of contact for staff and visitors regarding safeguarding matters and responding in a timely manner.
- Building positive relationships with match day stakeholders to promote a strong safeguarding culture across the Club.
- Recording safeguarding concerns accurately and professionally on the Club’s digital case management system.
- Contributing to team meetings, debriefs and ongoing professional development opportunities.
- Maintaining strict confidentiality and handling sensitive information appropriately.
The Person:
We are looking for an approachable, empathetic and resilient individual with a strong commitment to safeguarding and welfare. You will be confident engaging with a wide range of people, capable of handling sensitive situations calmly and professionally, and able to make sound decisions in a busy match day environment.
To be successful in this role, you will have:
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and adults at risk across a range of settings and diverse communities.
- Experience working with children and/or adults at risk in demanding, customer-facing environments.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders.
- Excellent verbal communication skills, active listening ability and a high level of attention to detail.
- Experience recording case information accurately and maintaining clear, professional records.
- The ability to manage sensitive situations with a non-judgemental, child-centred and person-centred approach.
- Understanding of safeguarding legislation, guidance and best practice.
- Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion principles, with the confidence to challenge discriminatory behaviour where appropriate.
- Strong conflict resolution and de-escalation skills, remaining calm under pressure in busy and sometimes challenging environments.
- A willingness to continuously learn and develop your safeguarding knowledge and skills.
- The ability to work independently while contributing positively as part of a wider safeguarding and match day team.
