Course Description

This 3 hour workshop is mandatory for anyone taking on the role of Welfare Officer for their grassroots club or league. This workshop builds on the Safeguarding Children Workshop providing welfare officers with the specifics of their role; what will be required of them, where to go for professional support and guidance and how to access more information. It provides the key tools to carry out the welfare officer role. This workshop is interactive and learners should anticipate being involved in a number of group activities.

Course Pre-requisites

Learners are required to have completed The FA’s Safeguarding Children Workshop before completing this workshop. It’s also mandatory for anyone  taking on the role of Welfare Officer to have an accepted FA CRB check – so learners are advised to have as a minimum submitted their CRB application prior to attending this training.

Course Duration

• Three hours

Course Aims & Objectives

At the end of the workshop learners will be able to:

• identify what needs to be in place in for clubs / leagues to effectively safeguard and protect children
• describe their roles and responsibilities and those of other designated persons in grassroots football
• act on reported concerns about poor practice and abuse within or outside football
• begin an action plan for their club/league

Course Content

Introduction and outcomes

• Recognising the skill sets you bring to the role
• Identify workshop outcomes
• Confirm learning agreement

Qualities of a Welfare Officer

• Identifying the qualities of a Welfare Officer
• Exploring and identifying the key Welfare Officer responsibilities

Safeguarding building blocks

• Identifying and exploring what needs to be in place for clubs and leagues to demonstrate best practice in relation to safeguarding children
• Resources to assist clubs and leagues to develop a safe and aware environment including social media guidance
• Respect Programme
• Listening to children

Key legislation

• Recognise that key safeguarding legislation impacts on football
• Understanding the background to the development of The FAs Policy and Procedures

The statutory agencies and designated person infrastructure

• The key roles and responsibilities of the statutory agencies
• The roles and responsibilities of the Welfare Officer and other designated persons within football

Responsible Recruitment  

• The need for safeguarding recruitment procedures
• Eligibility for appropriate safeguarding checks [CRB]
• The FAs Online Safeguarding Service

Concerns and cases

• Dealing with a disclosure
• Dealing with a concern about the welfare of a young person
• Poor practice issues that clubs need to manage internally
• Identifying the organisations that can support Welfare Officers

Action Planning

• What will help to develop an aware club
• Making an individual action plan

Period of Registration

Candidates will be expected to participate in continued professional development opportunities once qualified. More information about this can be obtained from your CFA Welfare Officer. It is recognised that learning occurs in many different ways and the role of the Welfare Officer is varied as such there is a suite of learning opportunities which the learner is encouraged to select and engage in.

Equality: FA Learning will ensure that it treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, it's activities in an atmosphere free from harassment, bullying, discrimination or abuse. FA Learning will seek to provide a service which is appropriate to the needs of an individual and to make reasonable adjustments or provide support, where appropriate, to cater for those needs.

This details for this course is;

Venue: Cornwall FA Office, Kernow House, 15 Callywith Gate, Launceston Road, Bodmin, PL31 2RQ
Date: Saturday 28th January
Times:1.30pm- 4.30pm
Tutor: Shirley Needham
Cost: £25pp

If you have any questions please contact Grace Dent on 01208 262985 or grace.dent@cornwallfa.com