Working as an extension to the team that leads the safeguarding strategy and preventative interventions, the role supports the Senior Safeguarding Manager, Safeguarding Adults and Para Manager and Safeguarding & Welfare Oversight Lead, to embed safeguarding practice and culture, primarily across England Women's Development Teams, supporting with England Men's and Para Teams, as directed.
Please submit a cover letter with your application, outlining your interest in the opportunity and how you meet the criteria.
This casual role will work flexibly for up to 80 days per season, based primarily at St. Georges Park (near Burton Upon Trent). The contract will run until 31st July 2026.
Travel within and outside of the UK expected.
What Will You Be Doing?
1. Provide cover as required e.g., in the absence of the Safeguarding & Welfare Oversight Lead, as a Player Chaperone for Travel, as a Tournament Safeguarding Lead, and as a Designated Safeguarding and Welfare Lead for camps and events, sometimes at short notice.
2. Support the safeguarding plan and risk assessment process across England Team camps and events and where necessary, provide support to the pre-event recce processes.
3. Provide safeguarding advice and guidance to England Teams, in line with England Safeguarding Policies and Safer Working Practice Guidance, and where directed, support with the development of guidance and resources.
4. Deliver safeguarding briefings and training (in person and virtual), as required across England Men's, Women's and Para Teams, maintaining currency and relevance of contextualised resources to support learning.
5. Attend relevant pre-event planning and Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings where required, providing safeguarding input to these processes.
6. Ensure that all safeguarding/welfare concerns and incidents are responded to, reported and recorded using FA processes and systems. Supporting and advising colleagues on safeguarding matters and incidents.
7. Support colleagues to understand their safeguarding responsibilities, ensuring matters are raised and addressed as appropriate. Escalate and report serious concerns in a timely manner in line with FA Policy.
8. Input into the development of player welfare plans and feedback to parents/carers and clubs as agreed with the Safeguarding and Welfare Oversight Lead.
9. Contribute to the wider work of this Safeguarding Team, undertaking tasks as required.
10. Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
11. Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing can be maintained.
12. As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
What Will You Need?
Essential for the role:
Knowledge
13. A professional safeguarding qualification and/or significant relevant experience in a safeguarding / welfare role in education, youth work or similar environment.
14. Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding legislation, policy and implementation.
15. Understanding of current issues that impact on the development of elite young players/athletes, particularly females in these environments.
16. Sound working knowledge of data protection, information sharing and confidentiality, principles and practice.
17. Sound knowledge of equality legislation and inclusive practices as they relate to safeguarding and additional vulnerability.
Experience
18. Experience of implementing safeguarding policy and safer working practice guidance.
19. Experience of making referrals to statutory organisations.
20. Experience of risk and crisis management.
21. Experience in collaborating effectively within a multi-disciplinary setting.
Technical Skills
22. Ability to deliver engaging safeguarding briefings, training and workshops to a wide range of staff and players in a way that is accessible and age appropriate.
23. Proficient project management skills.
24. Proficient reporting writing skills.
25. Proficient Microsoft Office skills.
26. Excellent communication, management, presentation, and facilitation skills.
27. Willingness to work flexibly, sometimes with extensive travel with national teams for extended durations.
Beneficial to have:
Knowledge
28. An understanding of case management processes and the role of a Designated Safeguarding Lead in these processes.
29. Understanding of men's and women's football, professional game academies, and player pathway, and international travel involving elite teams.
30. Understanding of Para Sport, the complexities of working in this area and across elite teams and pathways.
Experience
31. Experience of running residential activities with young people and/or adults with disabilities.
32. Experience of working in a safeguarding role or player wellbeing role in an elite sport pathway or environment, with a multi-disciplinary team.
33. Experience of differentiating learning materials and using a blended approach to learning.
34. Experience of delivering safeguarding awareness learning opportunities with young people.
35. Experience of delivering safeguarding training and CPD in sport environments.
Technical Skills
36. Completion of the FA Safeguarding Children Course or similar sports-related training.
What's in it for you?
We pride ourselves in offering a competitive rate of pay as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role.
We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, and by doing this, we offer top-of-the-range facilities across two core business locations. We have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English football. We are also delighted to have a world-class Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.
We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.
We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.
As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance