Head of Safeguarding

Department: Academy
Location: Poolfoot Farm Training Complex
Reports To: Senior Safeguarding Manager

Works Closely With: Academy Manager, Senior Leadership Team, HR Manager, Designated Safeguarding Officers and relevant Club departments
Working Hours: 40 Hours per week. Flexible, depending on the requirements of the Academy Manager and Senior Safeguarding Manager

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience 

Length: Permanent

Role Overview

Fleetwood Town Football Club is offering an exciting opportunity for a Head of Safeguarding to lead on the strategic planning and promotion of safeguarding young people and adults at risk, ensuring all staff, volunteers, parents and children understand their role in the safeguarding and welfare of young children at Fleetwood Town.

Essential

• Relevant professional safeguarding qualification and/or significant equivalent safeguarding experience.
• Significant experience of working within a safeguarding environment involving children, young people and/or adults at risk.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, policy and best practice.
• Experience of managing complex safeguarding concerns, allegations and disclosures.
• Experience of working with statutory agencies and external safeguarding partners.
• Experience of developing, implementing and reviewing safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Experience of delivering safeguarding training and promoting safeguarding awareness.
• Experience of maintaining confidential safeguarding records and managing safeguarding casework.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgement and make appropriate safeguarding decisions.
• Confidence to appropriately challenge and escalate concerns where required.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage highly sensitive information.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Desirable

• Previous experience working within professional football or elite sport.
• Knowledge and understanding of EFL and FA safeguarding requirements.
• Experience of safeguarding within residential, accommodation or host family settings.
• Experience of safeguarding audits and organisational risk management.
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary professional environment.
• Knowledge of safeguarding considerations within youth development and elite player pathways.

Safeguarding Leadership and Strategy

• Lead the development, implementation and review of the Club's safeguarding strategy, ensuring it reflects current legislation, statutory guidance, EFL and FA requirements and recognised best practice.
• Provide expert safeguarding advice and guidance to senior leaders, managers, coaches, staff and volunteers across the Club.
• Act as a key source of professional safeguarding advice and provide appropriate challenge where safeguarding standards, practice or decision-making require improvement.
• Identify, assess and monitor safeguarding risks across the organisation, developing appropriate action plans and preventative measures.
• Provide regular safeguarding reports, analysis and assurance to the relevant senior management and governance structures.
• Promote a culture in which safeguarding is understood as everyone's responsibility and embedded within the Club's values, behaviours and decision-making.

Safeguarding Case Management

• Lead and oversee the recording, assessment and management of safeguarding concerns, allegations, disclosures and welfare issues.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are appropriately risk assessed and managed in a timely, proportionate and professional manner.
• Ensure concerns are referred promptly to statutory agencies, the EFL, FA or other relevant bodies where required.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and contemporaneous records of safeguarding concerns and actions taken.
• Manage the Club's electronic safeguarding case management system and ensure appropriate oversight of safeguarding caseloads.
• Ensure safeguarding information is shared appropriately, proportionately and in accordance with legislation, policy and professional guidance.
• Support and advise staff managing safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate escalation where required.
• Work collaboratively with external agencies, including Children's Social Care, Police, Local Authority Designated Officers and other relevant safeguarding partners.

Academy Safeguarding and Player Welfare

• Provide safeguarding leadership and support across the Fleetwood Town Category 2 Academy.
• Work closely with the Academy Manager and Academy Leadership Team to ensure safeguarding is embedded throughout the Academy programme.
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place across the Academy pathway, including players, parents/carers, staff, trialists and visitors.
• Provide safeguarding oversight in relation to player care, accommodation, host family arrangements, education, transport, tours, tournaments and other Academy activities.
• Work closely with Academy staff to ensure the welfare of players is appropriately considered alongside their football development.
• Support the Academy in maintaining a culture where young players feel safe, listened to, respected and able to raise concerns.
• Provide safeguarding guidance in relation to recruitment, trialling, onboarding and the ongoing welfare of Academy players.
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are considered when players travel domestically or internationally.

Policy, Procedures and Compliance

• Develop, implement and regularly review safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance across the Club.
• Ensure safeguarding policies are reviewed annually and appropriately approved before dissemination.
• Ensure policies and procedures are communicated effectively and understood by relevant staff.
• Monitor compliance with safeguarding policies, EFL safeguarding standards, FA requirements, relevant legislation and recognised best practice.
• Lead or support safeguarding audits and ensure identified actions are appropriately addressed.
• Maintain accurate safeguarding records and documentation, including the Single Central Record.
• Oversee safeguarding-related risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls are implemented.

Safer Recruitment and Training

• Oversee the Club's safeguarding elements of safer recruitment processes.
• Ensure appropriate DBS checks, references, risk assessments and other relevant pre-employment checks are completed.
• Oversee appropriate barring referrals where required.
• Work closely with the Human Resources Manager to ensure safeguarding considerations are embedded throughout recruitment and induction processes.
• Develop and deliver safeguarding inductions and training for staff and volunteers, working alongside Designated Safeguarding Officers.
• Maintain appropriate records of safeguarding training and ensure mandatory training requirements are monitored and completed.
• Promote continued safeguarding awareness and professional development across the Club.

Designated Safeguarding Officers and Staff Support

• Provide leadership, guidance and support to Designated Safeguarding Officers across the organisation.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities and reporting arrangements for safeguarding across the Club.
• Ensure DSOs have appropriate support, knowledge and resources to fulfil their responsibilities.
• Develop effective communication and escalation processes between the safeguarding function, Academy and wider Club departments.
• Encourage a consistent approach to safeguarding across all areas of the organisation.

External Partnerships and Multi-Agency Working

• Represent Fleetwood Town Football Club at relevant external safeguarding meetings and forums.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with statutory agencies, local safeguarding partnerships, football authorities and relevant voluntary organisations.
• Work collaboratively with external partners to ensure appropriate information sharing, referrals and safeguarding responses.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding developments, legislation, guidance and best practice relevant to professional football.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Support the Club's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies and safeguarding commitments.
• Promote an inclusive environment where all children, young people, adults at risk, staff and stakeholders are treated with dignity and respect.
• Consider equality, diversity and individual circumstances when assessing and managing safeguarding concerns.

Confidentiality and Professional Standards

• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism and integrity when handling sensitive safeguarding information.
• Ensure information is managed in accordance with relevant legislation, Club policies and data protection requirements.
• Demonstrate sound professional judgement when managing complex, sensitive or high-risk safeguarding matters.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and ensure safeguarding decisions are made in the best interests of children, young people and adults at risk.

Fleetwood Town Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. We expect all staff, volunteers, and applicants to share this commitment and uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour. The post is subject to relevant DBS checks as part of our safer recruitment process.

Application Details

Please apply through the iRecruit platform.

Closing Date: 4^th September 2026
Interview Date: WC 7^th September 2026