The Roles and Responsibilities of a Club Welfare Officer
Whilst everyone is responsible for safeguarding, the Club Welfare Officer is the person within a Golf Club with primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about children or adults at risk and for putting into place safeguarding procedures.
Whilst not mutually exclusive, the roles and responsibilities include:
Policy and Procedures
To assist the club to put Safeguarding Policy and Procedures in place.
To assist the club to put implementation plans in place for child safeguarding.
To promote awareness of the Codes of Conduct for staff, volunteers, coaches, members (juniors and adults) and parents.
To ensure that safe recruitment procedures for staff and volunteers are followed.
To ensure that all appropriate existing staff or volunteers have an up-to-date DBS Enhanced Disclosure. These should be updated every 3 years.
Referrals
To be the first point of contact for club staff, volunteers, young people and parents for any issues concerning child welfare / adults at risk, poor practice and potential or alleged abuse.
To ensure that all incidents are reported correctly and referred, in accordance with Policy guidelines.
To act independently and in the best interests of a child at the club, putting their
needs above that of others and the club itself.
To ensure confidentiality is maintained and information is only shared on a ‘need to know’ basis.
Maintain contact details for the local children’s social care department, the police
and Local Safeguarding Children Board.
Be the first point of contact with the England Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer.
Education and Training
To advise the club on appropriate training for coaches and volunteers based on the England Golf recommended training requirements.
To signpost those with roles and responsibilities for children and young people to
appropriate safeguarding training opportunities.
General
Work with others in the club to ensure a positive child-centred environment.
Assist England Golf to fulfil its responsibilities to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk at club level.
To sit on the club management committee to advise on safeguarding issues
and / or be in attendance as necessary.
Knowledge
An awareness of core legislation, government guidance and national framework
for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
An awareness of the roles and responsibilities of statutory agencies (Children’s
Social Care, the Police and the NSPCC) and the Local Safeguarding Children
Board.
An awareness of equality issues, child protection and safeguarding adults at risk.
An understanding of poor practice and abuse – behaviour that is harmful to
children or adults at risk.
An understanding of England Golf’s recommended procedures relating to
safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk.
The TGC Safeguarding Children / Young People and the Safeguarding Adults policies and procedures can be found on the club’s website.
References to the policies and procedures, and a poster advising members of the Welfare Officer are also on display on the club notice board.
The club’s current Welfare Offices are Colin Walke and Jenny Whinney.
Colin can be contacted via email – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 07734 449468.
Jenny can be contacted via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07962 001996