Safeguarding Senior Officer

Company Description

WEST HAM UNITED

Safeguarding Senior Officer

Location: London Stadium, London E20

Salary: £32,000 - £35,000 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week onsite, including evenings and weekend matches

Department: Safeguarding

Join the Hammers

West Ham United is looking for an experienced Safeguarding Senior Officer to join our Safeguarding team.

This is a hands‑on operational role supporting safeguarding across men's and women's football, home fixtures, events and wider Club activity. You will help ensure effective arrangements are in place for children, young people and adults at risk, while providing advice, professional challenge and practical support to colleagues across the Club.

We are particularly interested in safeguarding professionals from professional or grassroots football, schools, education, youth services or other established safeguarding environments. Previous professional‑football experience is not essential - strong safeguarding knowledge, professional judgement, operational ability and the confidence to take ownership are what matter.

Position

The Role

Working under the Matchday & Events Head of Safeguarding, you will coordinate Matchday Safeguarding Officers and oversee safeguarding activity before, during and after fixtures and events.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinate safeguarding arrangements across men's and women's first team matches, home and away fixtures and Club events.
• Brief, deploy and support Matchday Safeguarding Officers and ensure concerns are responded to and reported appropriately.
• Coordinate safeguarding for children, young people and adults at risk, including mascots, ball assistants and other Club activities.
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding information, staffing, resources, risk assessments and safe‑working arrangements are in place.
• Oversee designated stadium areas and respond to safeguarding and welfare matters, working with Event Control and operational colleagues.
• Attend pre‑match meetings and respond effectively to changing, urgent or time‑sensitive situations.
• Ensure incidents, decisions, actions, handovers and follow‑up are accurately recorded and completed.
• Respond to safeguarding concerns, incidents and allegations, seeking advice and escalating appropriately.
• Maintain accurate records on MyConcern and ensure sensitive information is managed securely and in line with data‑protection requirements.
• Support appropriate referrals and information sharing with football authorities, statutory agencies and relevant organisations.
• Support safeguarding education, e‑learning, induction, awareness and safer recruitment, including DBS checks.
• Contribute to safeguarding communications, website information, guidance and internal messaging.
• Support audits, reviews, assurance activity, training compliance and action tracking.
• Identify and support improvements to safeguarding processes, communications and practice.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

You will bring:

• Experience working in safeguarding, welfare, pastoral care or an established safeguarding framework.
• A strong working knowledge of safeguarding standards, procedures and professional practice.
• Experience responding to safeguarding, welfare or pastoral concerns and identifying appropriate actions.
• Experience contributing to safe‑working arrangements, compliance, audit, quality assurance, training, communications, recording or improvement.
• Excellent written communication and professional recording skills.
• Strong organisation, planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing and time‑critical demands.
• The ability to take ownership, work with appropriate autonomy and follow tasks through to completion.
• Adaptability, practical problem‑solving and confidence escalating emerging risks or issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to follow up actions and constructively challenge where necessary.
• An inclusive approach and confidence working with people from different backgrounds and with different needs.
• Confidence using digital systems and learning new processes quickly.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of others.

Working Pattern

This is a 37.5‑hour‑per‑week role shaped by the football fixture and events calendar rather than a conventional fixed weekly schedule.

Regular evening and weekend working is essential, including attendance at men's and women's home fixtures. Working patterns and recovery time will be planned with line management around the demands of matchdays and events, supporting sustainable working practices throughout the season.

Who Should Apply?

We welcome applications from those with an established background in safeguarding and welfare, who can demonstrate:

Experience of working within a recognised safeguarding framework • Sound, defensible professional judgement• Operational accountability • Ability to maintain safeguarding systems, monitor compliance and keep accurate records • Professional adaptability • A proactive approach to promoting safety, wellbeing and preventing harm.

What matters is your ability to understand safeguarding standards, work within established procedures, make sound professional judgements, take ownership, adapt to changing circumstances, and contribute positively to a strong safeguarding culture.

Play Your Part in Safeguarding at West Ham United

Bring your safeguarding experience to one of football's most recognisable environments and help ensure that safeguarding remains at the heart of every fixture, every event and every interaction.

Other information

Benefits on offer

• 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off
• Pension and life insurance
• Healthcare cash scheme
• Travel season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Priority access to apply for match tickets
• Discounted season tickets
• Staff discounts in the club store, café and our official partners products and services
• Discounted gym membership and onsite fitness room facilities
• Family friendly leave policies
• Company Social events

EDI Statement

• The successful candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aligning with the organisation's business and tactical approach to eliminating barriers and addressing inequity. You agree to actively contribute to creating a discrimination‑free and inclusive environment, ensuring equitable access to opportunities and benefits, while fostering a culture of dignity and respect that enables everyone to perform and achieve their potential.

• Candidates must demonstrate their capability and willingness to uphold best practices and procedures, promoting lasting positive change while eliminating biases and barriers to attracting, achieving, and supporting talent from all communities, regardless of background, circumstances, or protected characteristics.

Safeguarding

• The successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to the safety and welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk of harm across all stakeholders. Everyone, including third parties who work with the Club or the West Ham Foundation, is responsible for ensuring the safety and well‑being of vulnerable individuals. Successful candidates must undergo essential background checks before starting their employment, which may include screening of social media. The type of DBS check required will depend on the responsibilities of the position and may be basic, standard, or enhanced.

• The successful candidate agrees to proactively identify and respond appropriately to any concerns, and follow the Club's Safeguarding reporting procedures to report allegations of abuse, poor practice, or anything that may impact the welfare of a child, young person, or adult at risk without delay, within 24 hours, or as otherwise directed by the Club's or the West Ham Foundation Safeguarding Team.