Exciting opportunity to join Scottish Gymnastics as safeguarding officer. Scottish Gymnastics is the governing body responsible for all levels of gymnastics activity in Scotland. We are a supportive team who believe safeguarding is everyone’s business whose purpose is to make our sport enjoyable, safe, and open to everyone. We are looking for people who share our values of inclusive, supportive, and aspirational to help us achieve our vision of an uplifting gymnastics experience for all.
The safeguarding officer is a key member of the safeguarding team. This role has significant and ongoing contact with our clubs and members. Providing safe sport club visits and club safeguarding officer inductions, acting as the first point of contact for members seeking support and assistance to deal with low level concerns at club level. As well as handling wellbeing advice and level one cases at Scottish Gymnastics level.
This role supports the delivery of the safeguarding strategic plan and assists with 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 rights, voice, wellbeing and the safety of children and young people in our sport and in our clubs is at the centre of all that we do; ensuring best practice and compliance is a core thread through all work.
You will be a great fit to our team if you demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and develop strong, effective working relationships. Have great attention to detail and organisational skills, the ability to work proactively with volunteer safeguarding officers, clubs, coaches, officials, and key partners. Being able to work as part of a team as well as being able to work on your own initiative is essential for this role. A sound knowledge of safeguarding, policy, procedure, and best practice guidance is also required.
Role Summary
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.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Operational
- Undertake safe sport club support visits to ensure clubs understand and meet the minimum standards for wellbeing and protection in sport
- Develop wellbeing and safe sport guidance resources for use by members, parents, gymnastics, club Safeguarding Officers, including the delivery of continuous professional development etc
- Support and work closely with club safeguarding officers, including the provision of safeguarding officer inductions
- Lead the planning, organisation and facilitation of club Safeguarding Officers Networking opportunities and bi-yearly network meetings
- Work with other members of the safeguarding team, safeguarding tutor group and other teams e.g. performance, education etc to plan and deliver a range of education workshops on wellbeing and safe sport across Gymnastics
- Contribute towards the implementation of recommendations from the Independent Safeguarding Review of Scottish Gymnastics Performance Programmes and the Wellbeing and Safe Sport Plan (launch June 2023 TBC)
- Support Scottish Gymnastics compliance with legislation surrounding the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and the sportscotland Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport
- 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
- Generate safeguarding news for Scottish Gymnastics Round Off and the of Scottish Gymnastics safeguarding officer newsletter, website etc
Case Management
- Act as the first point of contact for the reporting of and responding to advice and level one wellbeing & protection cases, and passing complex and serious cases (level two) to a safeguarding manager/head of wellbeing and protection
- Investigate low level wellbeing complaints and level one safeguarding concerns, creating recommendations for resolution or action in line with Scottish Gymnastics procedures
- Provide support and guidance to club safeguarding officers to support them to resolve low level concerns and where appropriate level 1 concerns at club level
- Participate in safeguarding team case management and supervision meetings
- Manage own case load, ensuring the recording of casefiles on the case management system
- Support the presenting cases at conduct in sport hearings and appeal hearings as required
- 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
Criteria/Attributes
Essential
Qualifications
- Educated to Highers or HND in relevant discipline or previous experience
- National 5 in English and Maths or equivalent
Skills and Abilities
- Highly developed interpersonal and customer service skills
- Ability to act with integrity and appreciate the need for confidentiality
- Well-developed analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
- Ability to follow procedures and the confidence to know when to seek advice
- Ability to develop strong, effective working relationships with Scottish Gymnastics clubs, members, and key partners
- Competent IT skills
- Ability to demonstrate a methodical, organised, and flexible approach to work
- Effective listening and verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work using own initiative within boundaries
- An ability to work and communicate with a diverse range of people, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
- Ability to plan, organise and prioritise workload effectively to meet deadlines
- Excellent attention to detail
- Advanced decision-making skills
- Have tact and diplomacy
- Willingness to undertake a broad range of duties
Knowledge
- Awareness and understanding of rights, wellbeing and protection, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Getting it Right for Every Child Policy Framework
- Knowledge of core legislation and guidance in relation to children, young people and adults at risk
- Sound knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook
Experience
- Effective customer care
- Competent in dealing with complaints
- Working as part of a team
- Confidence in presenting / delivering to audiences
- Experience of working with volunteers ideally within a safeguarding context
- Basic case management and low-level concern management
- Experience of working within a sporting environment
- Experience of leading projects
- Experience of using CRM systems
- Experience of budget management
Experience of case management and investigations relevant to Safeguarding
Personal qualities
- Commitment to a child centred approach to safeguarding
- Self-motivated
- Willing to work independently
- Growth Mindset
- Flexible approach to changing work tasks
- Commitment to equality and diversity
Other requirements
- Willingness to undertake appropriate training and continue personal development
- Able to work some evenings and weekends
- Hold a valid driving licence
- Satisfactory PVG Scheme Membership
Please send a copy of your CV and covering letter if you are interested in applying. More information can be found on our website.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £25,000.00-£28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid volunteer time
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
- Store discount
- Wellness programme
- Work from home
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Edinburgh
Application deadline: 10/04/2023
Reference ID: Safeguarding Officer
