This is a sample role description (PDF) for a club welfare officer (sometimes referred to as a club safeguarding officer or child welfare officer) role in the context of protecting children in sport.
It gives you a summary of what a club welfare officer does and you can using if you need to create your own club welfare officer job description.
What does a welfare officer do?
A club welfare officer (CWO) is the person within a sports club with primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about children, and for putting into place procedures to safeguard children in the club.
Club Welfare Officer
Alternative titles: Club Safeguarding Officer
About the role
The person within a sports club with primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns to regional and/or national safeguard leads about children and young people, and for putting safeguarding procedures in place within the club.
Duties and responsibilities
- work with others in the club to ensure a positive child-centred environment
- assist the organisation in fulfilling its responsibilities to safeguard children at club level
- assist the organisation in implementing its safeguarding children plan at club level
- act as the first point of contact for staff, volunteers, parents and carers, children and young people where concerns about children’s welfare, poor practice or abuse are identified
- work closely with the Lead Safeguarding Officer to ensure best safeguarding practice
- implement the organisation’s reporting and recording procedures
- maintain contact details for the local children’s social care department, the police, Designated Officer (LADO), and the Local Safeguarding Children Board
- promote the organisation’s best-practice guidance and code of conduct within the club
- sit on the club’s management committee
- ensure adherence to the organisation’s safeguarding children training
- ensure appropriate confidentiality is maintained
- promote inclusive and anti-discriminatory practice
Required skills and abilities
- child-centred approach
- basic administration and computer skills
- ability to provide basic advice and support
- communication skills, including use of social media
- ability to maintain records
- ability to provide information about local resources
- ability to promote organisation’s policy, procedures and resources
Required knowledge
- how to recognise and respond to allegations of abuse
- own organisation’s role and responsibilities to safeguard the welfare of children and young people
- boundaries of the role of club welfare officer, and of other staff and volunteers at the club
- basic knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of statutory agencies such as children’s social care, the police, Designated Officer (LADO) the NSPCC, and the Local Safeguarding Children Board
- be familiar with the local arrangements for managing safeguarding concerns and reporting procedures
- ability to recognise and define poor practice and abuse
- be familiar with own organisation’s policy and procedures relating to safeguarding children and young people
- embody the core values and principles that underpin the club’s practice
- awareness of contextual safeguarding and current affairs that impact the welfare of children and young people
- basic knowledge of core legislation, government guidance and national framework for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
Training should be provided to support the person in this role with their safeguarding knowledge. Please note that this level of knowledge would be expected from a qualified social worker, police officer, etc. However, a volunteer would not be expected to have the same level of safeguarding knowledge.
Download the sample (PDF)Further information
For a comparison of the main child safeguarding roles at different levels of sport and in related organisations, see Key safeguarding roles and responsibilities.