JOIN THE TEAM AND CHAMPION THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT THE CLUB

Safeguarding describes measures that help keep children and adults at risk, free from abuse or harm in the game. Whilst safeguarding in rugby is everyone’s responsibility, the Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO) is responsible for championing safeguarding at Sevenoaks Rugby Club.

The CSO is responsible for championing the safety and welfare of all children and adults at risk at the Club, and with several hundred children and adult members playing, coaching and supporting rugby at Sevenoaks, this is a critical role.

Find out more about what we’re looking for below and reach out to a committee member directly or by using the form here

CSO ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Being the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns relating to children and adults at risk

  • Encouraging an environment where the voice of the child or adult at risk is central to influencing club policy and procedure, and that their feedback is actively sought out and acted upon where possible

  • Ensuring that all safeguarding concerns are reported appropriately to the Constituent Body Safeguarding Manager (CBSM), the RFU Safeguarding team and/or the appropriate statutory agencies in a timely fashion, in line with the appropriate RFU procedures

  • Ensuring that everyone at the club is aware of the appropriate reporting structures regarding safeguarding concerns and championing an environment where this is common knowledge

  • Leading on the annual club safeguarding audit, with support from the Club Committee, its Chair and all its volunteers and staff as and where appropriate

  • Working in partnership with the Rugby Management Team, to ensure safer recruitment procedures are followed, in line with the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy and Regulation 21.

  • Ensuring the club is proactive in making sure its staff and volunteers who are required to carry out safeguarding training carry it out in the appropriate timeframe, including refresher training

  • Supporting all safeguarding concerns or queries volunteers, staff or members have.

  • Ensuring the club’s safeguarding policy is openly accessible to everyone and is kept updated, and ensuring safeguarding information and contacts is readily available on the club website

  • Ensuring that safeguarding is a mandatory standing item on the committee meeting agenda

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

  • Have a child or adult at risk centred approach to their work, and have the knowledge and ability to ensure the child or adult at risk’s voice is central in their approach to the role

  • Be aware of, and understand how to apply the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy, Regulation 21, as well as Regulation 9 and 15 and the RFU Safeguarding toolkit to their role

  • Have the ability to provide support to the Club Discipline Officer with Age-Grade discipline matters, as well as supporting other volunteers, in creating a safe environment for children and adults at risk

  • Have an understanding of Statutory agencies, such as police, social care or the local authority designated officer (LADO) and their role in child protection and safeguarding

  • Know the different forms of abuse that can occur within and outside of rugby which is harmful to children and adults at risk and have the ability to recognise signs and indicators of them

  • Be able to converse with children and adults at risk in a meaningful and caring way, helping to build effective relationships with them and earn their trust

  • Be able to remain calm and professional when having sensitive and possibly upsetting information disclosed to you

  • Understand the requirements of collating and administering paperwork and information received in a confidential and secure manner

  • Be confident in assessing when there is immediate harm, where police or social care need to be informed as a matter of urgency, and in these situations, be confident in sharing information with those agencies and ensuring this is followed by a referral to the RFU Safeguarding Team

REQUIREMENTS

The CSO must:

  • Be a member of the club and attend the appropriate committee meetings

  • Attend an ‘In-Touch’ training course within three months of taking up the post - funded by the Club

  • Be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, with an enhanced check of the barred lists

  • Ideally, not hold a role in the club where they’re in a position of trust or influence over children or adults at risk. There must be a clear line of reporting concerns open to children and adults at risk. Therefore, if the CSO is in a position of trust or influence at the club, there must be an assistant in place.

  • This is a voluntary position