Safeguarding Lead (Girls Academy)

The Safeguarding Department are committed to creating a safe environment for all who engage with our Club. We are committed to creating a culture where safeguarding is widely understood and embedded throughout the Club. We are responsible for providing effective leadership and management, ensuring compliance with Premier League rules and government legislation, whilst maintaining key stakeholder relationships internally and externally.

To strengthen our current provision and deliver our next exciting phase, we are now looking for a Safeguarding Lead who will lead on the provision for our girls Academy. You will have the opportunity to support a programme that ensures that our off-field support is structured and co-ordinated leading to creating the best possible experience and environment for our young players.

2. The Role

Working as Safeguarding Lead, you will be responsible for providing effective safeguarding and welfare leadership for the Girls Academy (including supporting U18 players involved with the First Team).

You will work closely with the Girls Academy management team and the Club's Head of Safeguarding to deliver the Club's Safeguarding strategy, vision, values, priorities, policies and aims to promote and protect the welfare of children and adults at risk (vulnerable groups).

The role will also actively support the implementation of policy, procedures and best practice in safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk across the Club.

We are looking for a personable and approachable individual who has the ability to form positive and proactive relationships at all levels in particular with parents and players and be able to communicate effectively and clearly.

You will need to be a safeguarding and/or a welfare professional with a relevant degree/professional qualification (or equivalent experience) and have worked or volunteers with children or young people, ideally within a high-performance setting.

You must have demonstrable experience of safeguarding, escalating concerns when necessary and using reporting software (such as My Concern). You will need to be organised, able to prioritise workload whilst being flexible and responding to dynamic situations displaying integrity and discretion as and when required.

The successful postholder must have operational and administration experience as well as the ability to support the implementation and co-ordination of strategies, projects and programmes such as Mental Health and Wellbeing and PREVENT.
Demonstrable experience of working at a Category 1 Academy within Player Care, Safeguarding, Education or Welfare is desirable.

Due to the nature of this role, you will need to hold a Full, UK Driving Licence with access to your own vehicle. You will also need to be available to work flexibly, including working matchdays, evenings and weekends.

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embrace equal opportunities for all. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and fully support The FAs Football Leadership Diversity Code.