Club Welfare Officers
Club Welfare Officers are responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment within the club. They oversee safeguarding practices, support members with any welfare concerns, and ensure that policies and procedures are followed. CWOs act as a confidential point of contact, promote good practice among coaches and volunteers, and work with the club committee to make sure everyone and vulnerable individuals—feels protected and supported.
The Club Welfare Officer's (CWOs) with the support of the club committee has the responsibility to:
- Implement effective Adult Safeguarding Policy and Adult Safeguarding Procedures and keep them up to date.
- Promote safeguarding at the club and encourage good practice.
- Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
- Regularly report to the club’s organising committee on safeguarding matters.
- Ensure that members of the club/volunteers/staff who are working with children and/or adults at risk are recruited safely and in line with legal requirements.
- Maintain records of safeguarding training attended by club members.
- Maintain records of club coaches and officials’ licences and criminal record checks.
- Make sure members are aware of how to contact the CWO.
- The codes of conduct for working with adults at risk.
- How to respond to safeguarding concerns.
- Deal effectively with breaches of the codes of conduct, poor practice, or allegations of abuse.
- Keep up to date with developments in safeguarding.
- Attend the relevant safeguarding courses for the role of CWO.
- Complete a criminal record check through the relevant Home Country procedures.
- Maintain confidential records of reported safeguarding concerns and action taken.
- Liaise with the HCAF Welfare Officer and/or statutory agencies if/when required.
Person Specification
It is desirable for a Club Welfare Officer to:
- Have an interest in safeguarding and welfare matters
- Be friendly and approachable with the ability to communicate well with adults and children.
- Be willing to challenge opinion, where necessary, and to drive the safeguarding agenda.
- Have strong listening skills and the ability to deal with sensitive situations with empathy and integrity.
- Understand the importance of confidentiality and when information may need to be shared to protect the best interests an adult at risk.
- Have the confidence and ability to manage situations relating to the poor conduct/behaviour of others towards an adult at risk and know when to ask for support.
welfare officers
