Safeguarding and Compliance Coordinator

EFL; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation is seeking a Safeguarding and Compliance Coordinator to lead safeguarding, governance and risk management across the organisation. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, embedding a positive safeguarding culture and assuring welfare of participants, staff and volunteers.

You will coordinate quality assurance, compliance reviews and operational risk processes, working with teams to ensure safe, compliant delivery of programmes and events in line with

Qualifications

• Significant safeguarding and governance experience across organisations.
• Experience in maintaining confidential, compliant records and supporting QA activities.
• Ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive positive outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding governance, ensuring compliance with framework and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate safeguarding training and reporting to senior leadership and board.
• Manage operational risk and incident processes; provide guidance on risk identification and mitigation.
• Oversee quality assurance processes and assist with funder compliance where relevant.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Governance & compliance

Stakeholder collaboration

UK GDPR / data protection

Training delivery

Education

Level 3 Safeguarding Qualification

UK DBS check clearance

Tools

Policy management

Incident reporting system

Job description

About The Role

The Safeguarding and Compliance Coordinator will be a vital role in supporting Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation to operate safely, responsibly and in line with regulatory requirements. As the Foundation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, the postholder will provide leadership on safeguarding matters, helping to embed a positive safeguarding culture across the organisation and ensuring the welfare of participants, staff and volunteers remains a priority.

The role is also responsible for coordinating the Foundation’s quality assurance and operational risk management frameworks, helping to ensure programmes, projects and events are delivered safely, consistently and to a high standard. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation, the postholder supports the development and monitoring of risk assessments, compliance processes and operational controls, providing assurance that activities meet internal standards and external requirements. Through a focus on continuous improvement, effective governance and organisational learning, the role helps strengthen service delivery in a way that reflects the Foundation’s values and commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.

At the Foundation we are committed to living and embedding our core values quality, inspire, teamwork, inclusion and honesty and integrity

Job Description

Safeguarding

• Lead the Foundation’s Safeguarding Ambassador Group and the Foundation’s approach to safeguarding acting as the Foundation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding governance expectations including the EFL in the Communities governance framework 'Capability Code of Practice'.
• Develop and implement a Safeguarding Action Plan supported by safeguarding ambassadors.

• To respond promptly, efficiently and effectively to any safeguarding incidents/concerns, ensuring records are logged accurately, appropriately and confidentially.
• Coordinate the delivery of the safeguarding training programme
• To support the Head of Governance and People to prepare and share safeguarding reports to the senior leadership team and board of trustees.
• To work collaboratively with the Club Head of Safeguarding on joint safeguarding projects and representing the Foundation on working groups.

Wider Compliance

• Support the Head of Governance and People in ensuring compliance against the Capability Code of Practice, Charity Commission guidance, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
• Assist with audits, self‑assessments and compliance reviews.
• Support with the management and review of core policies and procedures (e.g. safeguarding, EDI and Health and Safety).
• Coordinate the organisation’s operational risk and incident management processes, ensuring robust risk assessments are completed for all programmes, projects, events and activities; provide advice to managers and coordinators on risk identification and mitigation; monitor control measures; and report emerging operational risks, trends and compliance concerns to the senior leadership team.
• Support the Health and Safety lead with health and safety processes and procedures including coordinating and leading on the Foundation’s approach to operational and event health and safety.
• Oversee quality assurance processes and support funder compliance where relevant.
• Lead on coordination of complaint, compliments and feedback process.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Work collaboratively with the Data and Impact Coordinator to support compliance with UK GDPR and data protection requirements.

• Promote the vision, mission and core values of Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation.

About The Candidate

Essential

Desirable

Experience

• Significant safeguarding experience working with children and/or adults at risk, including undertaking, reviewing and monitoring risk assessments.
• Experience of process management, maintaining accurate, confidential and compliant records, and supporting compliance, governance and quality assurance activities.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

• Experience of charity governance including Charity Commission requirements
• Experience of working in the voluntary, community, education and/or sports sector
• Experience of planning and delivering training
• Experience of people management

Qualifications

• Level 3 Safeguarding Qualification or above

• IOSH Managing Safely qualification or willingness to work towards
• Youth/Adult Mental Health First Aid Certificate
• Emergency First Aid Certificate
• Trauma‑Informed Practice Training
• FA Safeguarding Children Course

Specific Skills and Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of UK safeguarding legislation and best practice, underpinned by high levels of integrity, professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships and adapt communication styles to a range of audiences.

• Understanding and experience of managing compliance and governance codes/frameworks
• Understanding of UK GDPR and data protection legislation.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and continuous improvement frameworks.
• Experience of using safeguarding, incident reporting or compliance management systems

Additional Requirements

• Be eligible to work in the UK
• A satisfactory enhanced DBS check will need to be completed
• Ability and willingness to travel within the Tees Valley
• Committed to creating a safe, inclusive and positive environment for all stakeholders

• A valid driving licence, with access to own transport including business insurance and willingness to travel within the Tees Valley
• Commitment to working occasional evening and weekends including match days for Middlesbrough FC Men and Women’s teams

About The Club

Additional Information

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Alongside Middlesbrough Football Club, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion as highlighted by our RiversideBySide initiative. The Foundation is a place where inclusion is a core value and where everyone can be themselves in an environment where they feel safe and included, including being a Disability Confident Leader.

Safeguarding

Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and Middlesbrough Football Club are fully committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children, young people, young players, and Adults at Risk.

Promoting safeguarding and welfare of participants and staff is everyone’s responsibility and staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

As part of the Foundation’s commitment to safeguarding, any successful applicant, who will be working in regulated activity, will be required to undergo a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or an enhanced DBS check. The successful applicant will not be able to start working for the Foundation until the DBS check has been completed.

The Foundation will also seek the successful candidate’s consent for obtaining two written references and to ask for documentary proof of qualifications and right to work in the UK. Any offer of employment will be conditional on these being satisfactory.

Once in post, all new staff will receive a comprehensive safeguarding induction from our Designated Safeguarding Officer, as well as ongoing safeguarding training