Role Description for a BF Event Welfare Officer

Last Updated: 12.10.2022

Everyone in fencing has a responsibility to safeguard and protect young people and adults at risk.  The role of the Event Welfare Officer is to promote good practice at an event, to be a named point of contact when there are concerns and to understand BF’s reporting procedures in case a concern is raised.

Role

• To be the first point of contact for staff, volunteers, parents/carers and young people where concerns about welfare, poor practice or child/adult at risk abuse are identified
• Implement BF reporting and recording procedures
• Promote BF’s best practice guidance/code of ethics and behaviour throughout the event
• Assist the competition organisers to fulfil their responsibilities to safeguard young people and adults at risk
• Assist the competition organisers to implement its child and adult at risk welfare plan
• Review the Event Risk Assessment and ensure that safeguarding risks are identified, measured and control actions documented
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained
• Promote anti discriminatory practice
• Be the first point of contact with BF’s Lead Safeguarding Officer
• Maintain contact details for Duty Children’s and Adult Social Care Workers, Police and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) in case of an emergency

Experience and Knowledge

The Welfare Officer will have a detailed knowledge about the following:

• Detailed knowledge of BF’s policy and procedures related to safeguarding and protecting young people and adults at risk
• Detailed knowledge of the competitions responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children and adults at risk
• Basic knowledge of roles and responsibilities of local statutory agencies (Social Services, Police and LSCB)
• Awareness of equality issues and child protection
• Basic knowledge of core legislation, government guidance and national framework for child protection and adults at risk

Skills

• Approachable
• Child-focused
• Basic administration
• Basic advice and support provision
• Communication
• Maintaining records
• Ability to promote organisations policy, procedures and resources
• Interpersonal

Training

Event Welfare Officers  must attend the following workshops which will provide them with much of the background information that is needed for this role:

• En Guarde Ready – an introduction to British  Fencing’s Welfare Pack
• Sportscoach UK’s Safeguarding and Protection Workshop (or equivalent in Scotland and NI)
• BF’s Welfare Officer Training Workshop

For more information click here.