SAFEGUARDING FOR CLUBS - 2022-23 SEASON GUIDE
The Guernsey FA is mindful that all involved in the game can never stop looking to improve the safeguarding best practices we want to see applied throughout grassroots football every day of the year. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility - 365 days a year!!
Below is a guide to help ensure that the local football environment is on that is both safe and enjoyable for all participants.
During the 2022/23 season everyone in football is required to have the relevant safeguarding qualifications for their role in football, these roles include;
- Team Officials (including Manager, Coach, Assistant Coach and Medic),
- Club Welfare Officer,
- Club Committee Member,
- Parents & Carers,
- Players Under 18
Youth Team Officials-
- All youth team officials in regulated activity (coaches, managers, medics (including assistants)) identified through the club portal/ WGS record must have an in date and accepted DBS check at all times
- All youth team officials in regulated activity (coaches, managers, medics (including assistants)) identified through the club portal/ WGS have in date training (Safeguarding Children Course)
Open Age Team Officials-
- All open-age team officials of teams with under-18 players (coaches, managers, medics (including assistants)) as identified through the club portal/WGS record are required to have an in date and accepted DBS check
- All open-age team officials of teams with under-18 players identified through the club Portal/WGS are required to have in date training (Safeguarding for All/Safeguarding Children Course) qualification
Club Welfare Officer-
- All Club Welfare Officers identified through the club Portal/WGS are required to have an in date and accepted DBS check
- All Club Welfare Officers identified through the club Portal/WGS are required to have in date training (Safeguarding Children Course) qualification
- All Club Welfare Officers identified through the club Portal/WGS are required to have in date training (Welfare Officer Course) qualification
- All Club Welfare Officers identified through the club Portal/WGS are required to have in date training (Safeguarding for Committee Members training course) qualification
Club Committee Member-
- All Club Committee Members identified through the club Portal/WGS are required to have in date training (Safeguarding for Committee Members training course) qualification
Parents and Carers-
- Parents and Carers are encouraged to complete the ‘Safeguarding Awareness for Parents & Carers’ course
- Parents and Carers are encouraged to complete The FA’s free online ‘Safeguarding for All’ course
Players Aged Under 18-
DBS Guidance
The Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate which results from a DBS Check is a document containing confidential criminal history information held by the police and government departments. It can be used by employers to make safer recruitment decisions.
- STEP ONE | Your club will add you as a DBS Applicant on WGS - How to initiate a DBS in WGS (as a club)
- STEP TWO | You log in to WGS to initiate the process - How to initiate a DBS in WGS (as an applicant)
- STEP THREE | An automated email will be sent to your inbox with a link to complete the application form
- STEP FOUR | You will need to provide your Club Welfare Officer your documents for verification
How to Report a Concern
The Guernsey FA are committed to our responsibilities in safeguarding the welfare of all young people involved in grassroots football.
If you are worried about a child, it’s vital you report your concerns. Doing nothing is not an option. It’s also important you stay calm, and if any child is present, reassure them they are not to blame. But don’t make promises of confidentiality or outcome.
How you report your concerns to the FA’s Safeguarding Team
- If you are worried about a child, it’s vital you report your concerns. Doing nothing is not an option. It’s also important you stay calm, and if any child is present, reassure them they are not to blame. But don’t make promises of confidentiality or outcome.
- There are five ways to report a concern:
- To your club or league Designated Safeguarding Officer – please find out from your club who these people are;
- To your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer.
- By emailing The FA Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@TheFA.com;
- If urgent and you cannot contact your club, league or County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline for expert advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk;
- If it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police or Children’s Social Care in your area.
Guernsey FA Designated Safeguarding Team
If you wish to report a concern to the Guernsey FA please contact one of our designated safeguarding team:
- Guernsey FA Designated Safeguarding Officer Sara Mallett
- Guernsey FA Senior Safeguarding Lead, Gary Roberts
- Guernsey FA Board Safeguarding Champion Margaret Broome
- Guernsey FA Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer, Joelle Pengelley
Joelle.Pengelley@guernseyfa.com
- Guernsey FA Deputy Senior Safeguarding Lead, Angus Mackay
If you have an urgent safeguarding concern then please call The FA / NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 - or if it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police or Children's Social Care in your area.
Other useful contacts;
- FA Safeguarding Department: Tel - 0800169 1863
- Email – safeguarding@TheFA.com
- Guernsey Police 222222
- Guernsey Multi-Agency Support Hub: 223182
- For out of hours emergencies contact 220000
- Crimestoppers – 0800 555 111
- NSPCC Hotline – 0808 800 5000
Thank you for all the hard work and energy that’s going in to safeguard children and adults at risk in the grassroots game.