Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) Safeguarding Officer

Blackburn Rovers Football & Athletic Ltd

Organisation: Blackburn Rovers Football & Athletic Ltd
Salary: £17.51 per hour
Location: Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, Our Lady & St John’s School, Accrington Stanley Community Trust & UCLAN Sports Arena. Flexibility regarding location is required.
Contract type: Permanent (Part time)
Closing date: 15 August 2025
Job Description: Job title: Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) Safeguarding Officer

Department: Blackburn Rovers Women Football Club Ltd.

Based at: Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, Our Lady & St John’s School, Accrington Stanley Community Trust & UCLAN Sports Arena. Flexibility regarding location is required.

Reports to: ETC Manager

Responsible for: N/A

Hours of work: 3 hours per week.

Contractual status: Permanent

Job purpose: To ensure that club safeguarding protocols are upheld within the ETC at Blackburn Rovers Women’s FC.

Duties and responsibilities:
• To be committed to ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of all ETC players, promoting their well-being whilst maintaining professional boundaries;
• To be the initial point of contact for players, parents, and staff to report safeguarding/welfare concerns. To respond appropriately and within a timely manner;
• To develop and maintain positive and professional relationships with the following stakeholders:
• Children and Young People: Be a recognisable person at the club who children and young people are confident to approach and is their source of support
• Coaches, Medical and Performance staff: to ensure participants are thriving and safe
• Designated Safeguarding Officers; to collaborate and support
• Human Resources
• The FA: As the governing body of the sport, and provider of resources
• Auditing organisations (e.g., Barnardo’s): As a source of feedback and guidance regarding making improvements to provision
• Safeguarding leads in other clubs and across sports: As a source of support, information, and learning. It may also be appropriate to pass on a player’s records if they move to another PGA or club
• Outside agencies: For case management and referrals: Local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH), Police Child Protection Unit, Health Service, Education, Social Care, Local Authority Designated Officer, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and Schools;
• Arrange and deliver briefing workshops in relation to safeguarding topics such as anti-bullying, appropriate use of social media, code of conducts, to staff and players;
• Act as the main point of contact and host audits conducted by outside parties;
• Effectively Implement the club safeguarding policy and procedures;
• Promote Player and Parent Voice;
• Support staff to following risk management procedures (e.g., trips, activities, commercial events involving young people);
• To promote an environment where players parents, and staff feel comfortable to report concerns and challenge poor practice.
• Share training materials or source from FA, Premier League, EFL or other external providers;
• Deliver - or manage delivery of – training (and periodic update training) to key groups, including coaches, performance staff, players, parents/carers, other club staff;
• Produce and update communications, and deliver events which champion, educate and encourage dialogue regarding safeguarding to stakeholder groups
• Manage, or delegate, cases and ensure they are managed in accordance with club procedure, making a proportionate response (using guidance from FA resource where appropriate);
• Refer serious cases to the appropriate agency when required, in accordance with internal procedures;
• Report cases to FA in accordance with current procedures;
• In the case of non-referred cases, manage them as part of a multidisciplinary team within the club in a person-centred manner, and ensure the appropriate expertise is consulted;
• In response to incidents, review lessons learned and respond accordingly (e.g., through amending policy/ procedures, managing individual performance or initiating training / education activities);
• Use case management software to record information, decisions and to be able to demonstrate decision criteria in the event of case review;
• Be abreast of current safeguarding issues, legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice; and
• Participate in internal and external professional development activities and demonstrate a commitment to undertake on-going formal education programmes.

Skills required:
• Be ‘on the ground’, visible, approachable, and willing to engage in conversation with ETC staff, players and parents;
• Excellent time management skills and able to work using their own initiative;
• Ability to develop rapport with players, parents and staff to create trusting professional relationships; and
• Has a learning mindset; is keen to continue their self-development and keep up to date with best practice and learning opportunities.

Knowledge required:
• Experience of front-line safeguarding;
• Experience of child and / or adult protection;
• Experience in football and sport, in order to help navigate structures and governance;
• Investigation and case management skills; and
• Understanding of the FA, EFL and NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit’s standards.

Qualifications required:
• FA Safeguarding Children’s Training
• FA Welfare Officer Course

DBS check required: Yes (enhanced)
How to apply: Due to high-levels of interest, this post may close early so early application is advised, otherwise the closing date for this role is 12 noon on Friday 15th August 2025. To apply, please email your application form and covering letter to recruitment@rovers.co.uk CV’s will not be accepted.