Job Description

Full Job Description

Exciting opportunity to join Scottish Gymnastics as safeguarding manager. Scottish Gymnastics is the governing body responsible for all levels of gymnastics activity throughout Scotland. We are a close-knit team on a journey to becoming a world-class governing body for our members and partners and we are looking for like-minded people who will help us on the way.

We believe safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility with Scottish Gymnastics taking the lead in ensuring the wellbeing of all our members. We are committed to making sure everyone can learn and enjoy gymnastics in a positive, safe, and healthy environment and the safety of the children and young people in our clubs is at the centre of all that we do.

Scottish Gymnastics is looking for a highly motivated and experienced individual to join our safeguarding team. The successful candidate will have their own safeguarding case load, carry out investigations, offer guidance and support to clubs and undertake club safeguarding support visits. They will also play a key role in developing policies, procedures, education, and training in the areas of safeguarding, conduct and child wellbeing.

The post holder will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, be able to influence and develop strong, effective working relationships and have the ability to work proactively with volunteer safeguarding officers, clubs, coaches, officials and key partners. With the ability to work as part of a team as well as being able to work on their own initiative, coupled with a sound knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, procedure, and best practice guidance.

Status of role: Part time, 22.5 hours per week with some flexibility on working days ideally working either a Monday or a Wednesday to overlap with other team members e.g. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

Hybrid working eligible: Minimum of one day in the office per week, two days remote if home office set up is suitable for regular home working

Role Summary

The safeguarding manager is the first point of contact for dealing with wellbeing and protection cases. Supporting the delivery of the safeguarding strategic plan and maintaining Scottish Gymnastics compliance with the standards for child wellbeing and protection in sport. Working closely with other members of the safeguarding team and colleagues across the organisation to ensure the wellbeing and the safety of children and young people in our clubs is at the centre of all that we do and to ensure best practice and compliance is built in throughout our sport.

The role involves working proactively with colleagues, volunteer safeguarding officers, clubs, coaches, officials, and key partners. Ensuring Scottish Gymnastics policies and procedures are implemented and promoted, as well as upholding best safeguarding practice across the gymnastics community.

If you think you are right for this opportunity and this role excites you, please send a letter of application outlining your experience, along with a copy of your CV.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Operational

  • Develop, communicate, and implement polices & procedures to include Safeguarding, Safe Recruitment, Code of Practice for Coaches & Officials, Conduct in Sport, Behaviours and Complaints procedures
  • Ensure Scottish Gymnastics is compliant with legislation surrounding the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and the sportscotland Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport
  • Contribute to the development of Safeguarding training courses and CPD
  • Work with colleagues across all departments to make sure a child centered approach to safeguarding, its aims and objectives are embedded
  • Ensure as a budget holder, the effective use of available resources and control of department related finance within your area of work
  • Work closely with and support club safeguarding officers to ensure Scottish Gymnastics clubs and members understand and comply with the code of practice for coaches and officials, safeguarding and recruitment policies and procedures
  • Undertake club visits as identified to ensure safeguarding and child protection requirements are understood and are in operation

Case Management

  • Act as the first point of contact for the reporting of and responding to safeguarding, wellbeing, and protection cases.
  • Investigate safeguarding complaints and issues, creating recommendations for resolution or action in line with Scottish Gymnastics procedures
  • Provide support and advice to club safeguarding officers in relation to club level cases
  • Work closely with and support the safeguarding coordinator around PVG recruitment concerns and low-level complaints
  • Participate in safeguarding team case management and supervision meetings
  • Manage own case load, ensuring the recording of casefiles on the case management system.
  • Liaise with statutory agencies on individual cases or support club safeguarding officers in their engagement with the statutory authorities in relation to case management
  • Support the presentation of cases at Conduct in Sport Hearings and Appeal hearings and support conduct in sport hearings and other related processes as required
  • Develop updates to the case management process, the wellbeing and protection policies, procedures, and guidance documents and ensure integration into the wider working practices of the organisation and overlap with other polices as appropriate.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field of child protection by liaising with the Safeguarding in Sport service, Children 1st, attending relevant training or events and subscribing to the Safeguarding in Sport newsletter

Communication

  • Communicate and interface regularly with:
  • Chief executive officer, Scottish Gymnastics staff, the board of directors and Scottish Gymnastics club safeguarding officers
  • Scottish Gymnastics clubs and coaches
  • Disclosure Scotland
  • British Gymnastics safeguarding and compliance team
  • Develop and maintain strong effective partnerships and relationships with key agencies including sportscotland, other Scottish governing bodies, Children 1st, professional bodies, and local authorities to develop awareness of a child centred approach to safeguarding in sport, Volunteer development Scotland Disclosure Services and other external agencies
  • Attend and present at Scottish Gymnastics staff meetings and leadership meetings as appropriate
  • Represent Scottish Gymnastics at relevant Scottish, UK and regional forums and events

Monitoring and Evaluating

  • Provide regular monitoring and evaluation reports to an agreed format for the senior leadership team, the board, and any other relevant body

Person Specification – criteria/attributes

Qualifications

  • Relevant qualification in Child Wellbeing and Protection or previous experience

Skills and Abilities

  • Proven leadership ability
  • Ability to motivate, provide direction and influence people
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills with the ability to relate well to staff at all levels and to Scottish Gymnastics board members
  • Effective advocate and negotiator
  • Well-developed analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
  • Ability to develop strong, effective working relationships with Scottish Gymnastics clubs, members, and key partners
  • Ability to follow procedures and the confidence to know when to seek advice
  • Ability to prioritise workload and manage time effectively
  • Competent IT skills
  • Ability to be proactive and work with minimal supervision
  • An ability to influence in the areas of child wellbeing and safeguarding
  • Ability to manage conflict between groups and individuals
  • To act with integrity and appreciate the need for confidentiality
  • Highly developed managerial and administration skills
  • The ability to build relationships with members, clubs, parents/carers, children, and adults working/volunteering with children within the organisation.

Knowledge

  • Knowledge of the Protection of Vulnerable groups (Scotland) Act 2007 in relation to regulated work roles and the referrals process
  • Knowledge of child wellbeing ideally within the sports industry

Experience

  • Experience of complex case management and investigations relevant to safeguarding
  • Experience of working with volunteers ideally within a safeguarding context
  • Experience of managing projects

Personal qualities

  • Willingness to challenge opinion, where necessary, and to drive the child protection agenda.
  • Strong listening skills and the ability to deal with sensitive situations with integrity.
  • The confidence and good judgment to manage situations relating to the poor conduct/behaviour of others towards a child
  • Commitment to a child centred approach to safeguarding
  • Commitment to equality and diversity

Other requirements

  • Commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Hold a valid driving licence

Job Type: Part-time
Part-time hours: 22.5 per week

Salary: £34,000.00-£38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

  • Company pension
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Life insurance
  • On-site parking
  • Wellness programmes
  • Work from home

Schedule:

  • Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
Regular office cleaning, well ventilated office space. Risk assessments in place.

Application deadline: 20/06/2022
Reference ID: Safeguarding Manager – 2022

For more information and to apply: https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?cmp=Scottish-Gymnastics-Association&t=Safeguarding+Manager&jk=18e30de47f408757&q=Safeguarding&vjs=3