Safeguarding Lead

Job Title: Safeguarding Lead

Hours: 37.5hrs per week

Location: Based at Elland Road Stadium, but required to visit programmes across Leeds and the local area on a regular basis

Responsible to: Head of Safeguarding & EDI

We are seeking an experienced safeguarding professional to support our growing programmes within the local community. The Safeguarding Lead will be an enthusiastic, self-motivated, child centred and dedicated individual who would like the opportunity to make a real difference to children and adults at risk. Are you ambitious and motivated? Do you have the drive, ideas, and high expectations to help maintain a safe and friendly organisation?

The Safeguarding Lead will:

• Support the Head of Safeguarding & EDI (HOS) and Foundation Heads of Department to deliver a high standard of safeguarding within the Leeds United Foundation.

• Work to ensure the Foundation complies and excels in delivering the Premier League CCOP Safeguarding Standards

• Embed a healthy safeguarding culture within the Foundation

About the Organisation: The Leeds United Foundation is a Community Charity, we march together to support health, wellbeing, education, and sports participation for all.

Our package inludes:

• Competitive salary

• 34 days holiday (including bank holidays)

• Pensions contribution

• Personal growth and development

• Staff training

• The opportunity to work with young people and change lives and inspire the young people

  in the local area.

• Access to discounted offers

• Access to internal events

• Access to external events

Main areas of responsibility:

You will work across all pastoral teams to undertake the responsibilities of managing the learning, progress and attainment of students requiring significant intervention, at risk of exclusion or as part of internal exclusion, alongside managing attendance at whole school level, these aspects will work in conjunction with the pastoral responsibilities of support, care, and guidance. Part of the role would also involve working to develop whole school initiatives that maintain and boost student achievement and attendance. You will be tasked with investigating cases of prolonged student absences and develop and implement intervention strategies to support identified individuals to progress back into education with the aim to improve attendance and behaviour.

Additionally, you will contribute to all aspects of students’ wellbeing and achievement, using the key outcomes of the “Every Child Matters” agenda as a basis for their work

• Be Healthy

• Be Safe

• Enjoy and Achieve

• Make a Positive Contribution

• Achieve Economic Wellbeing

This involves a primary focus on ensuring that every child achieves their learning potential by breaking down any barriers to learning and achievement.

Principal Actions and Accountability:

• Ensuring good practice is met by championing the safeguarding and Mental Health & Wellbeing policies and procedures within the Foundation.

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Officer for the Foundation and be one of the main points of contact within the Foundation for reporting and managing concerns and report to the HOS in managing cases reported to and by the Foundation staff using our online reporting application “MyConcern”.

• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date documentation on all safeguarding cases using My Concern, where required in line with GDPR regulations, undertaking further investigations when required.

• Co-ordinate the dissemination of safeguarding and wellbeing policy, procedures, communications and resources throughout the Foundation including but not limited to staff, beneficiaries, parents and guardians.

• Provide advice and support to all staff, volunteers and associates of the Foundation in relation to safeguarding concerns and queries.

• Help to ensure that CCOP safeguarding standards are met, maintained and exceeded within the Foundation.

• Support HR to manage the safer recruitment processes and manage the safer recruitment portal, including DBS requirements and ensuring safeguarding training is recorded accurately.

• Quality assurance of Foundation safeguarding practices

• Coordinating & delivering staff, participant and parent/guardian safeguarding training and

  workshops.

• Living the values of the Foundation and championing our culture to help deliver the safeguarding

  strategy for the Foundation

• Participating in all external CPD to ensure compliance with PL and NGB standards

• Engaging in the Foundation staff development programme and attending departmental CPD events

• Support the delivery of safeguarding EDI initiatives within the Foundation

• Undertaking any relevant training as required by line-manager or in line with expectations of the role.

• Attending and participating in meetings with Foundation staff, and other meetings as appropriate.

• Exhibiting and promoting company values & behaviours.

• Promoting and celebrating equality, diversity & inclusion.

• Carrying out any additional work and duties that meet the needs of the business

Key Relationships

• A member of the Leeds United Foundation safeguarding team, managed by the Head of Safeguarding and EDI and working closely with other Safeguarding Leads in the Club and Safeguarding champions in the Foundation.

• Working closely with the Foundation Management Team and Foundation staff and beneficiaries to ensure excellence in delivery of safeguarding support to the organisation

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list check

• Safeguarding Level 3 qualification or equivalent

• FA Safeguarding children certificate

Desirable

• Academic qualifications relating to sport, teaching or child development

• FA Welfare Officer Certificate

• Mental Health First Aid

Experience

Essential

• Demonstratable experience in Safeguarding in a sports, social care or education environment

Desirable

• Experience working in a community setting

Knowledge

Essential

• Possesses a demonstrable knowledge of safeguarding policy and best practice

• Possesses a strong awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion

• IT literate

• Able to deliver safeguarding quality audits and develop improvement plans where required

• Experience of working to deliver safeguarding strategy

Desirable

• Understands the charitable sector

• Use of My Concern or similar safeguarding management system

Skills

Essential

• Communicates using a variety of methods and using an age-appropriate vocabulary

• Builds positive relationships with the participants, staff and all stakeholders

• Demonstrates outstanding listening, verbal and written communication skills

• Able to work to tight deadlines

• Competent with modern technologies that support the performance of their duties

• Able to assess and quality assure safeguarding practices

• Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate

• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of

  individuals, families and carers as appropriate

• Ability to work and engage with children and young people and adults at risk

Desirable

• Able to write complex reports

• Ability to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person-centred approach

Characteristics

• Inspires others and is a positive role model

• Is personable and able to connect and build relationships with others easily

• Demands high standards and has an attention to detail

• Is open minded, innovative and willing to explore new ideas/concepts

Essential

• Enjoys facing challenges and have the resilience and resourcefulness to see complex tasks through

• Is proactive and able to identify and mitigate risks

• Is a collaborator and relishes the opportunity to work alongside others to overcome challenges and

  achieve goals

• Willing to share knowledge experience as part of a community of best practice and continuous

  improvement

• Able to work with participants, staff and other stakeholders of varying ages, experience, backgrounds

  and cultures

• Committed to personal development and continuous improvement

• Possesses a strong work ethic and are motivated to be the best they can be

• Able to promote the positive image of the Foundation and the Club

• Works well under pressure

General – Equalities, Health & Safety, Child Protection, Confidentiality/Data Protection, CPD, Safeguarding Qualification, First Aid

• Awareness of and promotion of equality.

• Good understanding of Health & Safety.

• Good understanding and effective implementation of child protection procedures

• Understand and comply with procedures and legislation relating to confidentiality.

• Demonstrate a clear commitment to develop and learn in the role.

• Ability to effectively evaluate own performance.