Job Opportunity:
Safety and Welfare Manager

Background
Skateboard GB is the UK-wide governing body for skateboarding with responsibility for Olympic and the world class performance program, in addition to grassroots skateboarding and talent within England.

The organisation is a small and growing team, and there has never been a more opportune time to join our sport. We’re excited about our plans to support the community and to develop the infrastructure of our talent and world class performance programmes with the continued inclusion of skateboarding as an Olympic sport until at least Los Angeles 2028.

Through trust and respect, Skateboard GB's role is to add value to the British skateboarding community.

Our team vision champions learning and collaboration, facilitating skateboarding to grow and thrive. We enable skateboarders the opportunity to "Skate More, Skate Better".

We do this by encouraging the development of improved skateable spaces and best practice support to skateboarders. Ensuring skateboarder development takes place in fun, safe and caring environments. We are skateboarder and people focused in everything we do.

Taking our responsibilities for safeguarding seriously, we are thus creating an exciting new role. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with
safeguarding experience who is in, or wants to move into, a lead safeguarding role at a national body of sport; or someone near the beginning of their safeguarding career who is seriously looking to develop into a lead safeguarding role.

There are several rapidly changing contexts for safeguarding in British skateboarding, including; SBGB’s duty of care towards our team who are supported to compete internationally, the wider emerging talent pathway, members which includes skateparks, skate schools, coaches, judges and skaters, in addition to a fast evolving structure of domestic competitions.

SBGB has made significant progress raising the profile of safeguarding, particularly through our coach development programmes, but we are at an earlier stage within a fast moving landscape in many other aspects of our activities.  This creates exciting and challenging opportunities for the post holder to develop policies and processes from an early stage, including tailoring and adapting best practice from other sports and relevant sectors to the unique context of skateboarding.

Job Outline
To be responsible for all safeguarding issues within Skateboard GB and to build and deliver a co-ordinated approach to safeguarding policies and procedures. To ensure that all safeguarding matters are managed appropriately; that all reasonable and appropriate support is provided for the organisation and its membership, including grassroots and talented skaters. This will include building processes and identifying mechanisms to ensure that skaters under the age of 18 years within the SBGB Team are supported at Olympic qualification and other specified events.

Strong project management and coordination skills are required, alongside an ability to build and foster effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

The Safety & Welfare Manager is a national role that will be home-based. The nature of this role may require travel throughout the UK, possibly requiring time away from home at weekends and evenings when required.

 

Skills & Person Specification

Essential Person Specifications

  • Demonstrate experience of safeguarding in sport, and / or health, education or social care and / or a similar body

  • Knowledge of legislation, government guidance and national framework for safeguarding children, including the role and responsibilities of statutory agencies, including Local Safeguarding Children Boards

  • Demonstrate experience of effective case management and investigating safeguarding concerns, disclosures, allegations and incidents

  • Demonstrate understanding and experience of DBS management systems and referral process

  • Experience of developing and implementing safeguarding policies, guidance and procedures

  • Demonstrate experience of developing safeguarding networks and sharing good practice through training and resource development

  • Demonstrate a high level of integrity with the ability to deal with sensitive and confidential matters and have a positive solution focused attitude

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills including a person-centred approach, understanding the rights, needs and best interests of children and vulnerable adults

  • The ability to identify, address and resolve problems, working under own initiative or as a team to meet deadlines

  • Current and relevant safeguarding training

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • Prepared to work unsociable hours such as evenings and weekends and undertake domestic and international travel

  • Provide high levels of customer service to colleagues and external stakeholders

  • Strong project management and coordination skills

  • Understanding of and passion for skateboarding

Desirable Person Specifications

  • Demonstrate prior experience as a Lead Safeguarding Officer or Deputy Lead Safeguarding Officer

  • An understanding of the functions of a membership organisation / representative / governing body of sport

  • An understanding of sports organisations and the challenges they face

  • Knowledge of high-performance youth sport

  • Experience of working with volunteers and committees

Role Information
Duration: To end March 2027.
Remuneration: £20,000 pa
Hours of work: Part Time – 2 days a week
Location:  Home based, with some national travel
The post holder will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Application Process
Should you wish to be considered for this role, please send your application to james@skateboardgb.org by 12.00 Friday 18 November 2022 and include the following;

  • An up-to-date CV, including details of 2 professional references (these will not be contacted until after the interview process is complete and an offer made)

  • A covering letter detailing why you are interested in this role and how you meet the selection criteria.

SBGB is fully committed to equality of opportunity for all and aims to select people based on their skills, abilities, experience, knowledge and, where appropriate, qualifications and training.

Application & Interview Timeline
Please see the below timeline for this application and interview process:
Applications Open 27 October 2022
Applications Close 18 November 2022
Interviews planned December 2022