Lead safeguarding officer – role description

This is a sample role description (PDF) for a national lead safeguarding officer (or lead child protection officer) role in the context of protecting children in sport.

It gives you a summary of what a lead safeguarding officer does and you can using if you need to create your own lead safeguarding officer job description.

A lead safeguarding officer is the designated person within a sports organisation with primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about children. They also put into place procedures to safeguard children in the organisation, including supporting club, county and regional welfare officers, where relevant.

Lead safeguarding officer

Alternative titles: national lead safeguarding officer; national lead child protection officer 

About the role

This role within a sports organisation or activity has primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about children and young people as well as for putting into place procedures to safeguard children in the organisation, supporting regional welfare officers and club, welfare officers, where relevant. This role is also responsible for embedding a safeguarding culture throughout the organisation, using their influence to create safe and positive environments for children to participate in sport and physical activity. 

Duties and responsibilities

• working with others within the organisation to create a positive, child-centred environment within the sport
• have a lead role in developing and establishing the organisation’s approach to safeguarding children and young people, and embedding best practice within all areas of the organisation
• manage cases of poor practice and abuse reported to the organisation 
• manage referrals to children’s social care services and the police
• central point of contact for internal and external individuals and agencies
• represent the organisation at external meetings related to safeguarding 
• coordinate the dissemination of policy, procedures, and resources throughout the organisation
• provide advice and support to regional welfare officers and play a lead role in their recruitment, selection, and training
• advise on the organisation’s training needs and the development of its training strategy, providing training where appropriate 
• play a lead role in maintaining and reviewing the organisation’s implementation plan for safeguarding and protecting children and young people
• ensure safeguarding standards are consistently met, maintained, and improved
• keep own knowledge and skills up to date
• promote inclusive and anti-discriminatory practice  

Required skills and abilities

• child-centred approach
• administration and systems (records) management skills
• ability to provide advice and support at all levels within the organisation
• communication skills
• ability to develop and produce national level guidance and resources 
• influencing skills and ability to facilitate systemic change
• ability to handle emotionally distressing matters

Recommended: ability to deliver core training through different levels within the organisation  

Required knowledge

• role and responsibilities of statutory agencies, including Local Safeguarding Children Boards
• planning processes for safeguarding and child-protection enquiries and investigations
• ability to recognise and define poor practice and abuse, including thresholds of abuse 
• own organisation’s role and responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
• organisation’s policy and procedures related to safeguarding and protecting children 
• core values and principles that underpin good safeguarding practice 
• awareness of contextual safeguarding and current affairs that impact the welfare of children and young people, and ability to quickly recognise and respond to emerging issues 
• safer recruitment, and an understanding of its importance in preventing abuse within sport 
• legislation, government guidance and national framework for safeguarding children
• how to recognise and respond to allegations of abuse