Senior Safeguarding Manager

About the role

Charlton Athletic Football Club is more than a workplace. It is a club with deep roots in Southeast London, built on community, resilience and ambition. Founded in 1905, Charlton has a proud history that includes an FA Cup triumph in 1947 and generations of supporters who see the club as part of their identity.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for safeguarding, governance, compliance and safer recruitment across Charlton Athletic, Charlton Athletic Women, the Boys’ Academy and Girls’ Academy, promoting a positive safeguarding culture that prioritises the welfare, protection and wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk.
• Lead the development, implementation and continuous review of safeguarding policies, procedures and practices, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, FA, EFL and statutory requirements.
• Act as the Club’s senior safeguarding lead, providing regular reports and assurance to the Board on safeguarding activity, risks, outcomes and compliance.
• Oversee and support Designated Safeguarding Officers across the Club, ensuring they have appropriate resources, training and operational support to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.
• Manage and oversee safeguarding concerns, referrals and investigations, maintaining accurate, confidential records and liaising with external agencies including Children's Social Care, the Police, Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO), the FA and EFL where required.
• Serve as the central point of contact for safeguarding matters, providing expert advice, guidance and support to staff, volunteers, players, parents and external stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver safeguarding training, awareness initiatives and best practice guidance across all areas of the Club.
• Work collaboratively with the Player Wellbeing Team and wider multidisciplinary staff to identify, manage and appropriately escalate welfare, wellbeing and safeguarding concerns, ensuring individuals receive timely support and intervention.
• Oversee safeguarding operations at all Charlton Athletic matchdays at The Valley, ensuring appropriate safeguarding measures, reporting procedures and support mechanisms are in place for players, staff, supporters and vulnerable individuals.
• Manage, monitor and regularly audit the Club’s Single Central Record (SCR), ensuring all safeguarding, DBS, training and compliance records are accurate, up to date and maintained in accordance with statutory, FA and EFL requirements.
• Work in partnership with the Human Resources department to oversee safer recruitment processes across the Club, ensuring appropriate pre-employment checks, DBS requirements, risk assessments and safeguarding standards are embedded throughout recruitment and onboarding practices.
• Represent the Club at internal and external safeguarding forums, maintaining effective relationships with key partners and ensuring safeguarding standards are continually reviewed, monitored and improved.
• Promote and champion a child-centered and person-centered approach to safeguarding, embedding best practice and fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive environment across all Club activities.
• Maintain up-to-date professional knowledge and ensure the Club remains aligned with emerging safeguarding legislation, guidance and industry best practice.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, regulations, policies and best practice, with the ability to apply them effectively.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional discretion, judgement and professionalism when handling highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence, advise and build effective relationships with senior leaders, staff, players, parents, volunteers and external agencies.
• Strong risk assessment skills, with the ability to manage concerns and investigations effectively.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including Player Wellbeing, Human Resources, Academy, Football Operations and Stadium Operations to identify, manage and appropriately escalate safeguarding and welfare concerns.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and the demands of a high-performance sporting environment.
• Significant safeguarding leadership experience within elite sport, education, public services or a comparable multi-disciplinary environment, with experience of working with children, young people and adults at risk.
• Expert knowledge of current safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice, including child protection, safer recruitment, information sharing, case management and safeguarding governance.
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant safeguarding frameworks and regulatory requirements, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE), Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) regulations, FA, EFL and statutory safeguarding standards.
• Demonstrable experience of managing safeguarding concerns, referrals and investigations, including liaison with external agencies such as Children's Social Care, the Police, Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO), the FA and EFL.
• Experience of developing, implementing and reviewing safeguarding policies, procedures and compliance frameworks.
• Proven ability to maintain accurate, confidential and compliant safeguarding records, with a strong understanding of GDPR, record keeping and case management requirements.
• Experience of overseeing safer recruitment practices, DBS compliance and Single Central Record management in partnership with Human Resources functions.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility and confidence to provide expert safeguarding advice to senior leaders, Board members, staff, players, parents, volunteers and external partners.
• A commitment to continuous professional development, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of emerging safeguarding legislation, guidance and sector best practice.
• Educated to degree level or holding an appropriate safeguarding, welfare, education, social care or related professional qualification, or able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience.