Safeguarding investigator – role description

This is a sample role description for a safeguarding investigator role in the context of safeguarding children in sport.

A safeguarding investigator’s role is to conduct an investigation, and gather available evidence and information. This should be following a decision made by a sport’s organisation that an internal investigation is required as part of its safeguarding and child protection case management process. 

Safeguarding investigator – role description

About the role

The purpose of this role is to conduct an investigation and produce a report to inform the decision-making process. The investigation should follow a documented, transparent procedure to gather and assess the evidence and information available.

A sports organisation may decide that an internal investigation is required as part of its safeguarding and child protection case management process, because:

• the concern doesn't meet the threshold for statutory services involvement
• statutory services have concluded their investigation or decided that no further action (NFA) by them is required

A decision of no further action from statutory services means that they believe they are not the best agency to be involved in the decision making process at this time. The level of risk must be determined by the sport.

Duties and responsibilities

A safeguarding investigator should: 

• gather evidence and information to complete a comprehensive investigation
• identify witnesses or those with relevant information and interview them to obtain facts and information
• clarify your professional opinion pertaining to the case
• exercise best practice in interviewing witnesses (particularly children) and taking and recording statements
• have a clear understanding of the need to ensure that all material (for example information, records, identity of potential witnesses) is collected and held according to data protection legislation and duty of confidentiality
• know what information and evidence an investigator can obtain
• consider factors that might impact on the investigation and the potential outcome (for example witness vulnerability, language, culture etc.) 
• identify support services available for witnesses and for the person or people accused, and signpost to these services when required (it is not the role of an investigator to be that support service)
• prepare a report of facts and clarify what is opinion, following the conclusion of the investigation 
• be familiar with sports organisations disciplinary processes
• understand the purpose and values behind the written standards of expected performance and conduct 
• be clear about the parameters and limits of investigation 

Skills and abilities

• to plan and conduct an investigation within appropriate timescales
• to assess and analyse a wide range of evidence and information in all formats
• to work independently within the context of organisational expectations 
• to record the decision-making process and any decisions made
• clear and concise report writing
• to communicate effectively with other professionals including the police and social workers, and establish positive working relationships
• to give evidence to disciplinary proceedings and appeals 
• to signpost to support for victims or witnesses, if a need is identified in conjunction with the sports organisation
• to recognise that an investigation may need to be referred on to the police
• skills in interviewing children, witnesses to incidents and those subject to allegations
• in some structures the investigator may need the ability to make proportionate, reasoned, and justifiable decisions and have confidence in making recommendations
• to remain calm and resilient whilst managing a challenging case load 

Required knowledge

• experience of conducting investigations and good knowledge of investigation processes
• knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation, guidance, policies, and procedures
• awareness of local arrangements for managing safeguarding and reporting procedures
• knowledge of your role and responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
• understanding of safer recruitment and its importance in preventing abuse within sport
• awareness of 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
• basic knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of statutory agencies such as children’s social care, the police, Designated Officer (formerly LADO) and the NSPCC, and the Local Safeguarding Children Boards
• knowledge of how statutory investigations are conducted and how sports investigations may link with them.