Job Title First Team Designated Safeguarding and Welfare Officer Department Safeguarding Direct Reports None Reports to Head of People and Culture Location Cobdown Park, Station Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 6AU FT/PT & Salary Range Full Time, salary depending on experience Level of DBS Enhanced Child Barred List About Us: The London City Lionesses are part of the Kynisca group, setting a vision and building an infrastructure in which all the players and staff can thrive. Owned by Michele Kang, our vision for Kynisca is to: 1. Become the most pre-eminent sports organisation in the world; 2. Have a high-performance culture of winning on and off the pitch; 3. Train women as women; and 4. Motivate and inspire the next generation of girls and women. Role Purpose: The role of the First Team Designated Safeguarding and Welfare Officer (DS&WO) is to provide the Club with a credible and expert source of safeguarding support, advice and guidance. The DS&WO will be visible, ensuring all staff, players, parents, and carers understand their responsibilities and have a trusted point of contact for safeguarding concerns. The role includes promoting player welfare both on and offline, proactively developing safeguarding strategies, and ensuring club activities protect children, young people, and adults at risk. The ideal candidate will be able to work collaboratively with the FA, Barclays Women’s Super League/Championship, and relevant agencies to manage concerns effectively and champion a culture of safety, respect, and high performance. Join us as a key advocate for the women’s and girls' game and make a meaningful impact on the future of football. This is a new position within the business, so the responsibilities are not set in stone. We need someone who can jump in, get things done and work with the senior leadership team to shape the future of the club. Main Duties/ Responsibilities 1. Policies and Procedures · Develop and review the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures · Maintain accurate, confidential, and up to date records, via MyConcern o Ensure safeguarding plans and risk assessments for club activities are in place where children and adults at risk may be involved, e.g. matchday, events, trips, tours, overnight stays · Be familiar with BWSL / BWC licence requirements and rules in relation to safeguarding and ensure continued compliance o Provide compliance data and reports to the league and The FA as required each season, ensuring club senior management team are aware of effectiveness of and compliance with safeguarding policies and procedures, highlighting any risk that need to be on the club risk resister · Undertake safeguarding spot checks and audits across club activity throughout the season 2. Developing safeguarding capability · Colleagues are supported to develop and maintain the necessary skills and knowledge to safeguard in their role through training, briefings, and workshops to identify and deal with safeguarding and player welfare concerns · Staff in contact with children and adults at risk of harm are trained to an appropriate level · Staff have clarity on what constitutes a low-level concern and abuse and understand how to report those concerns Embed safeguarding values into wider club education, policy, and procedures to support the development of a safeguarding culture 3. Safeguarding delivery · Support with developing robust safer recruitment policy and practice and ensure compliance o Respond to safeguarding concerns in a timely manner, referring to external agencies where appropriate o Take part in multi-agency case management meetings as and when required / appropriate o Report cases to FA / BWSL / BWC in accordance with current policy, rules, and regulation o Ensure that sensitive information and referrals are recorded via MyConcern Develop and maintain relationships with relevant providers. E.g., Local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH), Police Child Protection Unit, Health Service, Education, Social Care, Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), Child, and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Schools, Private Fostering Agencies 4. Self-development · Keep up to date with current research, legislation, and evidence-based practice in Safeguarding including formal CPD · Participate in internal and external professional development activities and demonstrate a commitment to undertake on-going formal education programmes · Work with an advisor or mentor from outside the club 5. Other ad-hoc duties as assigned from time-to-time by management Club Accountabilities 1. To comply with all Club policies, procedures and practices and carry out your role diligently and in the best interests of the Club 2. To lead with a proactive, high-performance mindset and actively contribute to a winning culture on and off the pitch 3. To behave in a manner consistent with Club values and policies What we are looking for Qualifications and Training Any specific qualifications or technical requirements listed here will be mandated by league and/or governing body rules Essential · Developed experience of safeguarding in a professional role · Evidence of CPD Desirable · A Professional safeguarding qualification (e.g., social work) · Formal training in emerging safeguarding themes such as Prevent, domestic abuse, exploitation, online risks Knowledge, Skills and Experience Essential · A professional background in child-related work and/or front-line safeguarding, which may have been acquired in a sports club, governing body, social work, education, voluntary sector, health care or police (child protection) · Knowledge and practical experience of safeguarding children and adults at risk legislation and statutory guidance and updating and implementing policies and procedures · Experience of writing policies, reports, compiling case file information and collating evidence for audit and compliance purposes · Understanding of the specifics of safeguarding in sport · Knowledge and understanding of the culture and structure of women's football Desirable · Exposure to a similar role within women’s football · Understanding of the role of statutory agencies and sport's governing bodies in safeguarding and managing concerns Characteristics · Has a core motivation to keep people, including vulnerable people, safe and protect their rights · Has a passion for safeguarding and is enthusiastic about working in the Women’s Game. · Is comfortable being the authority for all matters related to safeguarding and works hard to overcome roadblocks and obstacles to achieve a safer working environment · Committed to providing equal opportunities to people of different backgrounds, experience, and perspective · Ability to deal constructively with own and other people’s emotions (e.g., upset, distress, conflict, animosity) · Works effectively even when dealing with emotive situations and with upsetting subject matter and remains focused. · Excellent communication skills with the ability to build meaningful, strong relationships with staff, players and parents/carers and external partners · Is empathetic, sensitive, and skilled at developing trust and connecting with people · Demonstrates integrity and authority to professionally challenge anyone, including senior staff, to maintain a safer working environment and safeguarding culture · Is an active listener who takes the time to understand a problem from a range of perspectives, as appropriate · Capacity to handle confidential data/information sensitively · Finds creative ways to deliver meaningful and memorable messages to adults and children · Decisive and able to make decisions in situations where the right answer is not obvious · Can analyse and interpret information logically and identify trends · Is diligent about recording information and keeping records · Identifies the need for, and actions change in direction, practice, policy, or procedure · Passionate about women’s football and broader women’s sport culture. · Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to deal with matrix stakeholders & ambiguity. · High standards of personal integrity and EQ. · Comfortable and able to work on own initiative · Has a learning mindset; is keen to continue their self-development and keep up to date with best practice and learning opportunities · Continually seeks to improve efficiency and performance · Seeks out and embraces new ways of thinking and working – not afraid to fail. London City Lionesses is committed to safeguarding, health and safety, and equality, diversity, and inclusion. We prioritise the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, the well-being of all staff and visitors, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. These responsibilities are shared by all staff and volunteers, with safeguarding, safety, and inclusivity being collective priorities. All staff are required to adhere to the Club’s policies, complete relevant training, and actively contribute to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment. This includes timely reporting of concerns, compliance with health and safety regulations, and upholding the Club’s zero-tolerance approach to discrimination. For certain roles, additional checks, such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks or health assessments, may be required. Applications must include a fully completed application form; CVs alone will not be accepted. All candidates will be assessed on merit and their alignment with the Club’s values.