Head of Safeguarding and Inclusion

Organisation: The Welsh Netball Association
Salary: £40,000- £45,000
Location: Cardiff
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 6 December 2026
Interview date: 16 December 2026
Job Description: Role Summary:
Wales Netball is looking for an exceptional Head of Safeguarding and Inclusion. The Head of Safeguarding and Inclusion is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, inclusive and positive culture across Wales Netball and our netball community.

The role will champion a culture of welfare, respect and inclusion across all levels of the organisation and its community, with a particular focus on safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk participating in netball.

We aim to achieve this through strong compliance activity, governed by our policies, procedures and best practice, ensuring that community safeguarding leads, players, coaches, officials, volunteers and staff are educated appropriately to protect and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all involved, and that all safeguarding concerns are managed appropriately and effectively.

On inclusion, the role will lead and coordinate Wales Netball’s organisation-wide Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) plan. Delivery is shared: the Heads of Performance, Participation and Business Operations own the EDI actions in their own areas, and this role brings that work together, tracks progress and provides expert support.

The successful candidate will be:
• Passionate about creating safe and inclusive spaces for everyone to enjoy netball. They will have expertise in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
• Approachable, collaborative and solutions-focused, with the ability to resolve complex situations.
• Able to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Committed to continuous professional development.

Key Responsibilities:
Safeguarding:
• Oversee the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Safeguarding Implementation Plan and wider organisational safeguarding action plan.
• Act as the organisation’s Safeguarding Lead and primary point of contact for all safeguarding concerns and disclosures, working closely with the Board Safeguarding NED.
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with Sport Wales, securing and maintaining the NSPCC Level 2 safeguarding standard and leading progress towards Level 3.
• Act as safeguarding lead across Wales Netball and Welsh Dragons, including the Performance pathway, with safeguarding planning for events, competitions, travel and overnight stays.
• Oversee safer recruitment and DBS compliance for staff, volunteers and contractors in regulated roles.
• Build strong relationships with safeguarding and EDI leads in netball and other sporting organisations across the UK and attend safeguarding & EDI meetings and forums as required.
• Establish effective relationships with governing bodies, safeguarding agencies and external partners (including WSA, NSPCC Sport, Ann Craft Trust and Sport Wales), working effectively and collaboratively to further enhance safeguarding & EDI support and provision across Wales Netball.
• Champion accessibility, inclusion and equality within safeguarding practice, ensuring safeguarding arrangements are responsive to the needs of under-represented and vulnerable groups.
• Share updates, coordinate multi-agency information and keep the organisation aligned with evolving sector best practice.

Safeguarding Case Management:
• Lead the management of safeguarding cases from first report to outcome, including risk assessments and interim measures.
• Maintain accurate, secure and restricted-access safeguarding records and retention processes, in line with data protection legislation, sector standards and policy requirements.
• Liaise with statutory agencies including social services, police and child protection services where necessary.
• Make referrals to external agencies where appropriate.
• Work closely with safeguarding leads at affiliated clubs and leagues, monitoring and driving consistency of concerns management and outcomes in line with statutory guidance.
• Manage and develop the safeguarding digital systems and auditing capability.
• Assemble the safeguarding panel as required to resolve cases, ensuring panel members are appropriately trained and competent.
• Provide regular safeguarding reports, including a safeguarding risk register, to senior leadership, the Board and its committees, and coordinate Board requirements ahead of any reviews or panels.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
• Lead the development of Wales Netball’s EDI action plan, aligned with Ymladd 2030 and the safeguarding action plan, and coordinate its delivery across the organisation.
• Work with the Heads of Performance, Participation and Business Operations, and with colleagues already leading EDI work in those areas, so that each department owns and delivers its EDI actions.
• Act as the organisation’s EDI Lead and main point of contact for EDI, working closely with the Board Inclusion and Belonging NED.
• Monitor and report progress on the EDI action plan, including participation and workforce diversity data, to senior leadership and the Board.
• Champion programmes that widen access to netball for under-represented groups, supporting the departments that deliver them.

Policy and Compliance:
• Develop, review and implement safeguarding, EDI and welfare policies, procedures and supporting educational materials that are easy to use, consulting key stakeholders so their views and experiences are reflected in practice.
• Ensure policies, procedures and incident reporting systems remain effective, legally compliant and current with governing body requirements and best practice standards.
• Assess risks and determine appropriate actions in line with safeguarding & EDI procedures.
• Conduct regular audits of safeguarding and EDI compliance across programmes and activities to ensure adherence to legislation, statutory guidance, organisational policies and sector standards.
• Support regions, leagues and clubs to adopt Wales Netball policies and meet minimum safeguarding standards.

Training, Education and Partnership Working:
• Raise awareness of safeguarding and EDI across the organisation and netball community, designing and delivering person-centred training sessions, briefings and updates for coaches, volunteers and club officials.
• Cultivate a culture of consistent practice, shared learning, and continuous improvement across the entire sport footprint.
• Deliver and/or coordinate safeguarding and EDI training for employees, volunteers, coaches, officials and committee members, ensuring they have the appropriate knowledge, resources and support to fulfil their roles effectively.
• Ensure staff and volunteers complete mandatory safeguarding and EDI training and maintain current certifications where required.
• Develop educational resources to support safe sporting environments.
• Work collaboratively with Heads of Departments to bring non-affiliated clubs to Wales Netball affiliation, by demonstrating the benefits of what Wales Netball provides with regard to safeguarding.
• Prepare and manage submissions and assessments relating to safeguarding and EDI standards, including those required by NSPCC Sport, Ann Craft Trust and Sport Wales.
• Provide day-to-day advice to clubs, leagues and the wider netball community on safeguarding and EDI.

Participant and Workforce Welfare:
• Support the welfare of everyone involved in netball in Wales (players, coaches, officials, volunteers and staff), particularly children, young people and adults at risk.
• Ensure concerns relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, abuse or misconduct are addressed appropriately.
• Promote wellbeing and signpost to mental health support where required.
• Work closely with coaches and support staff to identify and mitigate welfare risks.

Additional:
• Carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the CEO.
• Proactively comply with and promote all organisation policies, particularly those relating to Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity, Mental Health and Data Protection.

More information can be found in our job pack here - https://walesnetball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Head-of-Safeguarding-and-Inclusion-Recruitment-Pack26.pdf
How to apply: Please send your CV and either a Cover Letter or Application Video outlining your suitability for the role, and how you meet the essential and desirable aspects of the job description to recruitment@walesnetball.com.

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Head of Safeguarding and Inclusion