Safeguarding

Local Welfare

Safeguarding in Shropshire

 

SAFEGUARDING & WELFARE IN
GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

The Shropshire FA offers a range of safeguarding services and training to help
create a safe and enjoyable football experience for everyone.

We ensure safeguarding requirements are met as a requirement of club affiliation and we support
clubs to maintain these standards. This includes making unannounced safeguarding visits to clubs.

 

DBS Guidance

FA courses

reporting concerns at shropshire fa

Safeguarding Handbook 23 24

 Email Shropshire FA Safeguarding

Get In Touch

Victoria Vespa

Designated Safeguarding Officer

Phone: 07918764766 / 01743 362769 (Option 4)

Emailsafeguarding@shropshirefa.com

For any Emergencies please contact the NSPCC Helpline on 08088005000 or 999

HOW WE HANDLE REPORTED CONCERNS


Concerns within your club

If you are concerned about your child or another child in your club, you would normally contact your Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in the first instance. You should be given the contact details of the CWO at the start of the season. If you do not know who your CWO is, speak to a coach in your club and ask for their details. The CWO will normally deal with cases of poor practice and behaviour within your club.

If you feel a resolution has not been made please contact your league Welfare Officer (request contact information from your Club).


Designated Safeguarding Officer

For concerns of a serious nature or for advice and guidance contact Designated Safeguarding Officer, Victoria Vespa on 07918764766 / 01743 362769 (Option 4) or e-mail safeguarding@shropshirefa.com

SUPPORT FOR WELFARE OFFICERS

As you know RESPECT is The FA's direct response to a clear message from the grassroots game. We must improve standards of behavior - on and off the field.

Parental behavior is one of the main reasons why young players drop out of the game. Poor behavior by coaches, parents and players has also seen a number of officials drop out each season

The role of the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is to deal with poor practice cases within their club, give advice and guidance as well as being the lead on DBS’s within the club.

CWOs should always report more serious welfare case to the FA via the County Designated Safeguarding Officer.

WANT TO BECOME A WELFARE OFFICER?

Safeguarding Adults in AFFILIATED football

The Shropshire FA is committed to football being inclusive and providing a safe and positive experience for every adult in the game. Safeguarding is high on our agenda and we are committed to promoting adult safeguarding and responding appropriately to any adult at risk.

We recognise some people may need additional safeguards and/or protection. These adults are referred to as ‘Adults at risk’. The Football Authorities recognise their responsibility to safeguard and protect adults at risk by responding appropriately to any allegations or suspicions of abuse. Everyone who works with adults at risk has a responsibility to commit to this. If abuse is suspected, or reported, The Authorities and The Association will work in partnership with the adult at risk wherever possible, depending on their capacity and the risk to them and others. The Association will also work in partnership with the Police, health and/or adult services, the Disclosure and Barring Service, Safeguarding Adults Boards and local authorities so these organisations can carry out their statutory duties to safeguard and protect adults at risk. When responding to abuse or allegations of abuse and considering the sharing of information, The Authorities and The Association will put the needs of the adult first and take into account the six principles of safeguarding adults detailed in the Care Act 2014: empowerment; protection; prevention; proportionality; partnership; and accountability. These principles will underpin all work with adults at risk.

Attached below are a number of documents which will assist you to meet your responsibilities within Disability Football, to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse, and how to deal with any concerns that may arise.

The actions we would request for you to take are;
1. Appoint a Welfare Officer (Adult Disability Teams) and upload their name to Whole Game System;
2. Adopt a ‘Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures’;
3. Communicate the policy and procedures;
4. Encourage volunteers and staff to complete the free, online FA Safeguarding Adults course.
5. Upload the names of coaches and managers to Whole Game System and identify who is working with under-18s and needs a DBS Check;
6. Review the best-practice guidance and identify any steps that could be taken to strengthen existing safeguards;
7.
Manage poor practice and report any concerns that an adult is at risk in a swift and effective way.

answers to your FREQUENTLY asked questions 

Local Welfare FAQ's

In many cases this is just routine to clarify information and is nothing to worry about. If the individual does not comply with the process they will be suspended. It is up to the FA to make a decision on whether they should be accepted.

If you are querying a record we would need to have full details of the individual before searching records. That must include full birth name, as well the name they are known as now, address, DOB as well as any previous addresses. You will need to speak to the individual to find out this information.

Click here: 

DBS  Applicant 

If your are on Whole Game System as the Club Welfare Officer, contact fadv.onlinedisclosures.co.uk to register as the verifier.

The system recognises your email address as the verifier so you will need use a different email address to register as an applicant.

The online system shows the completion of the DBS process. Once that process is completed the FA makes its decision based on the content. There can be a few weeks delay between completion of the DBS process and it showing as accepted on Whole Game System. The DBS certificate is not a certificate of acceptance it is just part of the process. The only way to see if they are accepted is on member services.

Your check can only be verified by County FA staff. Contact the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer to arrange verification.

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