Firstly, Lincolnshire Football Association would like to thank you for coming on board as part of the County’s network of Welfare Officers. As you know The FA requires every league and club with youth teams to have a Welfare Officer, so you are not alone – and you have a really good support structure around you.
What does a Welfare Officer do?
He or she has two fundamental roles:
1. Taking the lead in being informed and aware of the league or club’s responsibilities when running football activities for children and young people.
This involves
• Ensuring these responsibilities are well-understood by others
• Developing best-practice processes
2. Helping league and club personnel understand what their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people actually means and entails on a day-to-day basis. For example:
• Ensuring all relevant people complete The FA’s ‘Safeguarding Children’ training programme
• Helping to make sure trips away are organised properly
• Assisting those with regular contact with children and young people to complete the
FA CRB paperwork
Visit www.thefa.com/TheFA/GOALChildProtection/
This is The FA homepage for all Safeguarding Children information and guidance. You can also obtain a Child Protection Policy Statement.
Clubs and Leagues are asked to refer any safeguarding concerns to John Griffin, Lincolnshire County Secretary who will action any serious concerns.
Cases of poor practice and welfare issues should also be brought to her attention, with the Welfare Officer Report Sheet which can be downloaded in related documents. she may ask for the involvement of Clubs and Leagues in these matters as appropriate.
If there are any serious concerns reported to you out of office hours, please call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local police station or social services.
For general safeguarding advice or queries out of office hours contact The FA’s 24 hour reporting and helpline on 0800 085 0508 or email them at FootballforAll@TheFA.com
For more details on Child Protection and Welfare issues please contact County Welfare Officer, John Griffin on email john.griffin@lincolnshirefa.com
Office 08449 67 07 08