The FA and the Surrey County FA firmly believe that all children and young people have a right to be protected, and enjoy football without the risk of being abused. Through the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme, the Government makes it very clear that sport has to put safeguards in place. Football, along with other sports such as cricket, rugby and swimming, to name but a few, believe the best way to do this is to appoint a Welfare Officer. The two key elements to the role of a CWO are:
- Be informed and aware of the club’s responsibilities when running football activities for children and young people. For example:
* ensuring these responsibilities are well understood by others
* developing best practice processes
- Helping club personnel understand their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people. For example:
* ensuring all relevant people complete The FA’s Safeguarding Children’ Education programme
* helping to make sure events/trips away are organised properly
* managing the FA CRB disclosure process
The CWO will be expected to deal with poor practice in line with their clubs own disciplinary process, whilst also taking responsibility to report more serious offences to the Surrey County Welfare Officer. CWO’s should not be viewed as experts. It is not their responsibility to judge whether or not a child is being abused, but it is their responsibility to act if they have any concerns.
The Surrey County FA recommend that club’s select their Club Welfare Officers based on the following qualities:
They should be:
• A good communicator
• Calm and reassuring
• Friendly and approachable
• Honest
• Experienced in working with children
The CWO must have achieved/be willing to achieve The FA’s mandatory Safeguarding criteria as follows:
• Completed a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit
• Attended an FA Safeguarding Children Workshop
• Attended an FA Welfare Officer Workshop (WOW)
Details of all forthcoming Safeguarding Children Workshops and Welfare Officer Workshops can be found under the ‘related links’ section on the right hand-side of this page.
Available on this page are all of the resources and materials that a Club Welfare Officer will require to fulfil this role. However, if you have any further questions or queries on any aspects of the Club Welfare Officer role, please contact the Surrey County Welfare Officer, Frank Thompson either by email at frank.thompson@surreyfa.com or by phone on 01372 384 745.