Designated Safeguarding and Behaviour Improvement Officer
Location: Bedfordshire. Organisation: Bedfordshire FA.
Job purpose
* To support delivery of The FA's Strategy 24-28 and Bedfordshire Football Association Business Strategy.
* To manage the Bedfordshire Football Association safeguarding work, in line with legislation, FA safeguarding policy, procedures, regulations, standards and guidance.
* To manage safeguarding and child protection concerns in a timely manner and in line with FA requirements and guidance.
* To significantly contribute to implementing and maintaining The FA's Safeguarding Operating Standard for County FAs and driving safer practice in grassroots football.
* Lead on the implementation of The FA's Behaviour Improvement Programme by ensuring that we are tackling poor behaviour & raising standards in grassroots football across Bedfordshire.
* To support the adoption of FA technology systems across grassroots football.
* To comply with FA rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidance that are in place from time to time.
Key Responsibilities
* Operationally lead the implementation and delivery of safeguarding within Bedfordshire Football Association, being accountable for relevant areas of The FA's Safeguarding 365 operating standard for County FAs.
* Track and ensure ongoing compliance with The FA's Safeguarding 365 operating standard for County FAs measures, policies and procedures.
* Support the Senior Management Team and take a dynamic and strategic approach to safeguarding delivery within the Bedfordshire Football Association, raising awareness and providing organisational support and direction to colleagues.
* Work with the Chief Executive Officer to provide the Board with regular reports on safeguarding activity within the Bedfordshire Football Association (31/03/2026).
* Work with The FA Safeguarding Case Management Team (FA SCMT) to refer child abuse and adults at risk concerns to The FA, acting in line with the relevant FA safeguarding policy, regulations and guidance.
* Record all safeguarding concerns on The FA CLUE system and ensure all data is securely retained in accordance with FA regulations, policies and data protection legislation.
* Manage all safeguarding poor practice concerns and complaints referred to the Bedfordshire Football Association, with a focus on timeliness and outcomes and in line with FA policy, regulations and guidance.
* Update The FA's Behaviour Improvement Programme smartsheet and monitor patterns of poor behaviour to identify teams that require additional interventions.
* Co-ordinate safeguarding visits, spot checks/audits on clubs throughout the season to ensure they are compliant with the records they have submitted to the Bedfordshire Football Association and to check on the culture and safeguarding practice.
* Support the Football Services team to implement and deliver initiatives from The FA where appropriate.
* Provide training, support and guidance to clubs and leagues on how to manage safeguarding complaints and concerns effectively, with a focus on timeliness and outcomes in line with FA policy, regulations and guidance.
* Work in conjunction with The FA's National Safeguarding Team Shared Service & FAIT systems to monitor safeguarding compliance across the grassroots network to manage risk and assist in strategic planning.
* Utilise insight and data to inform all compliance activity and take appropriate action to address noncompliance.
* Ensure the Bedfordshire Football Association is compliant with safeguarding legislation e.g. Data Protection / GDPR 2018, Children's Act, Protection of Freedoms Act (Criminal Record Checks), the Government's 'Working Together guidance 2018' and any other legislation or statutory guidance that may be introduced.
* Identify, develop and maintain strong relationships with key local safeguarding stakeholders by liaising with the Local Authority Designated Officers, Local Safeguarding Partnerships, Local Safeguarding Adult Boards, Children's and Adults' Social Care Services and Police Child Protection Teams.
* Strategicallymanage the Club Welfare Officer network by supporting them to be compliant with safeguarding legislation, FA safeguarding policy, best-practice guidance and educationprogrammes.
* Co-ordinate and deliver CPD events for Club and League WelfareOfficers.
* Manage a diverse workload and prioritise work according to risk and timeframes, providing regular updates to the line manager on progress against the work programme and Performance Development Review.
* Maintain strong links with key FA staff and attend national & regional FA safeguarding events, alongside biweekly online catch‑up sessions and CPD courses so that knowledge and skills are current and up to date.
* Work with colleagues to promote fun and safe football environments, creating a culture that lives and celebrates safer working practice across Bedfordshire Football Association's activities and grassroots football.
* Work withFootball Development colleaguesto help support the club & league accreditationprocess.
* Work with colleagues to embed safeguarding and equality throughout grassroots football in Bedfordshire by supporting leagues and clubs with England Football Accreditation.
* Ensure that any individual helping with any Bedfordshire Football Association event involving children and adults at risk is suitably DBS-checked, trained and understand their responsibilities at the event.
* Act as League Welfare Officer for the Bedfordshire FA Girls Football League and as a Welfare Officer to the Bedfordshire FA Girls Emerging Talent Centre & Girls Development Centre.
* Provide the highest level of customer excellence to support volunteers across all FA Technology systems.
* Execute tasks as required in order to meet the Bedfordshire Football Association's changing priorities.
* To support the Football Education Programmes.
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