Middlesex County Cricket Club – County Safeguarding Officer

Middlesex County Cricket Club is seeking an experienced and passionate County Safeguarding Officer to transform the approach to the safeguarding culture, lead and embed a positive safeguarding culture across the Club. Based at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, this is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact across the organisation, including professional cricket, pathway programmes and wider county operations. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring participants, staff and volunteers operate within a safe, supportive and well governed environment.

Role Overview

This role provides an exciting opportunity to work with a leading first-class county based in the centre of London. Middlesex County Cricket Club (MCCC) have the vision of embedding a positive safeguarding culture across Middlesex. Our work is being expanded and requires more resource to adequately cover professional cricket. Our challenge is to excel in both the proactive and reactive safeguarding, health and well-being space, focusing not only on our case management but on ensuring professional and pathway cricket is a safe environment for all participants.

• First point of contact for all pro game safeguarding incidents and reports across Middlesex, leading investigations and offering support where required – assessing, recording and reporting all cases including low level concerns using ECB systems.
• Embed a culture of positive safety, well-being and listening culture, across both the professional game, in line with MCCC safeguarding and well-being policies.
• Comply with MCCC confidentiality code, code of conduct, and data protection policies, maintaining confidence as is professionally appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with the County Partnership Agreement (CPA) minimum standards as well as strive for “leading organisation” status within the CPA standards for safeguarding – as part of this, regularly update the ECB reporting system Smartsheet.
• Liaison with The Cricket Regulator (including appointed County Safeguarding Advisor), statutory agencies and relevant support agencies as required to ensure internal or external concerns are investigated swiftly and appropriately.
• Responsibility for monitoring and evaluation of selected Policies, Procedures and Practices, updating in line with legislation, statutory guidance and ECB direction.
• Monitor compliance/mandatory safeguarding qualifications for the MCCC workforce (whether paid or voluntary), including DBS, and inform stakeholders of the requirement to update these qualifications, as necessary; maintain and update the single central register for club/CCB volunteers and staff.
• Provide regular training within the professional game, pathways through briefings, workshops, cluster groups, drop‑in clinics and individual calls.
• Facilitate annual safeguarding training for MCCC Board Members, staff and relevant workforce, as well as deliver company induction.
• Drive compliance with safer recruitment practices throughout the county and cascade safer recruitment messaging and practices within MCCC.
• Maintain oversight of the risk assessment process for MCCC.
• Undertake County Event Safeguarding Officer (ESO) duties where applicable, contributing to Event Safety Plans and acting as ESO where required.
• Partner with the Board Safeguarding Lead to develop and deliver comprehensive safeguarding reports to the MCCC Board, ensuring robust oversight, effective challenge, strategic discussion, and appropriate escalation of safeguarding risks and concerns.
• Create clear referral pathway for sharing, reporting and recording concerns, in line with ECB policies, and adhered to by all staff.
• Undertake any additional responsibilities as dictated by MCCC.
• Lead and promote a visible, high quality safeguarding culture across MCCC, strengthening engagement and confidence amongst players, parents, staff, volunteers, partners, and governing bodies.

What We’re Looking For

• A minimum of 3 years’ professional safeguarding experience gained within sport, education, social care, emergency services, charity or a comparable environment, with a strong understanding of current safeguarding legislation, best practice and national child protection frameworks.
• Sound understanding of the role and responsibilities of The Cricket Regulator in safeguarding participants, together with knowledge of relevant England and Wales Cricket Board safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Strong knowledge of local safeguarding arrangements, referral pathways and statutory reporting processes, with proven ability to assess, record, investigate and manage concerns appropriately.
• Demonstrable experience building effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external, while handling sensitive matters with discretion and confidentiality.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Confidence and credibility to challenge poor practice constructively and influence positive behavioural and cultural change within a sporting environment.
• Ability to balance proactive safeguarding education, prevention and engagement activity with reactive case management and investigations.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and maintaining up to date safeguarding knowledge and practice.
• Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List clearance (or willingness to obtain prior to appointment).
• Experience working within cricket or another professional sporting environment.
• Experience delivering safeguarding training, workshops or awareness sessions.
• Experience preparing reports or presenting updates to senior leadership, committees or Boards.

Why Join Us

In addition to the opportunity to play a key role in safeguarding at one of cricket’s most historic organisations, we offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• 22 days annual leave, plus office closure over Christmas and New Year
• Annual leave increases with service, up to 25 days
• An additional day off during your birthday week
• Hybrid working, with up to 2 days per week working from home (subject to business needs)
• Pension scheme (subject to scheme rules)
• Enhanced family friendly policies, including maternity, paternity and shared parental leave provisions
• Access to WeCare wellbeing support, including medical, legal and financial guidance
• Complimentary passes to Middlesex home fixtures
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities, including safeguarding CPD programmes.
• Lime Culture Safeguarding Lead Programme after completing the required length of service.