Chaperone – role description

This is a sample role description (PDF) for a chaperone role in the context of protecting and looking after children in sport. 

A chaperone should act as a young person's champion at a sport event, training or competition. They are responsible for supervising the child, advocating for their health and wellbeing, and identifying and reporting any concerns. 

This gives you a summary of what a chaperone in sport does and you can using if you need to create your own chaperone job description.

Chaperoning children and young people role description

About the role

Being a chaperone to children and young people at sport and physical activity events is an important and rewarding safeguarding role. The role supplements additional personnel, such as the designated safeguarding lead, managers and coaches. This role is often a key trusted contact for the young person, who may have questions or concerns. The roles and responsibilities of a chaperone may vary, depending on the child being supervised and the training or event that they are taking part in. This template is designed to be used as a guide to the role  

Note: The terms ‘child’ and ‘young person’ describe any person under the age of 18.

Duties and responsibilities

A chaperone should act as a child’s champion by making sure their health, wellbeing, and education remain a priority.

The following responsibilities should be fulfilled:

• protect children from vulnerable situations (such as being exposed to adult content)
• challenge any concerning behaviour from adults or children and escalate concerns to the appropriate person when needed – be familiar with the safeguarding policies and procedures  
• be alert to all possible risks to the child – the safeguarding lead should have completed a risk assessment which should be shared with chaperones, but the chaperone should continue to consider and challenge any concerns
• check the child feels safe, looked after and able to enjoy the event - the chaperone should provide guidance, protection, clarification and support
• ensure children are only ever in the care of the responsible adults for the trip or event (such as coach, chaperone, team manager)
• hold contact details for all key personnel to ensure they can be contacted if and when necessary. This may include parents or carers, children’s emergency contacts, welfare officer or coach.

Skills and abilities

• good listener and communicator
• approachable
• empathetic
• remains calm in a crisis
• confident to raise concerns and challenge inappropriate behaviour
• decision-maker who takes initiative
• problem solver
• works well as part of a team
• discrete approach to dealing with situations, understanding confidentiality
• organised

 Knowledge, training and documentation

• relevant safeguarding training (a minimum of basic level) and an understanding of the core safeguarding principles (for example, Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop and Time to Listen training)
• holds a current DBS check for working with children and young people

Additional considerations

Chaperoning elite and talent pathway athletes

When chaperoning in the elite and talent pathway environment there may be additional things for a chaperone to consider. These could include:

• providing additional support to elite and talent pathway athletes who are vulnerable due to the pressurised environment
• acting as a trusted individual and voice for the young person in this adult environment
• considering any additional risks to the athlete’s health, wellbeing or education.

Chaperoning in disability sport 

Chaperoning deaf and disabled young athletes may require some additional considerations, duties, and responsibilities. The sports organisation should approach this on a case-by-case basis and take the child’s voice into consideration. They may set up a meeting between a chaperone, the child, parents and carers and other relevant people.