Protecting and safeguarding children is of the utmost importance across our organisation and Swim England is committed to ensuring that any child who attends an affiliated organisation, event or activity will be safeguarded from harm.
County Welfare Officers
Welfare Officers Information
This role of a swimming club welfare officer is essential in providing a first point of contact for children, parents and adults within the club who have a child safeguarding or welfare concern.
What do we and the club expect from a club welfare officer?
- To assist the club in implementing Wavepower, Swim England’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures document.
- To be the first point of contact for club staff, volunteers, young people, and parents for any issues concerning child welfare, poor practice or potential or alleged abuse.
- To ensure that all incidents are reported correctly and referred, in accordance with Wavepower.
- To act independently and in the best interests of a child at the club, putting their needs above that of others and the club itself.
- To ensure that all relevant club members, volunteers and staff have an up to date DBS Enhanced Disclosure (this should be updated every three years) and the opportunity to access appropriate child safeguarding training.
- To ensure that Codes of Conduct are in place for club staff, volunteers, coaches, competitors and parents.
- To ensure confidentiality is maintained and information is only shared on a ‘need to know’ basis.
What is the level of commitment?
This will vary from club to club, but will include attendance at club meetings and dedicated time should any child protection concerns be raised.
What support can you expect from Swim England?
- Access to resources and guidance via the ‘Club Hub’.
- Direct contact with and support from the Swim England Club Development Officers.
- Direct contact with and support from the Swim England Safeguarding Team.
What will you gain from the experience?
This is a hugely important role requires the individual to take-on a certain level of responsibility to the club’s members.
As well as your ability to ensure Swim England’s safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented and adopted within the club, it is an opportunity to take on a new challenge and support the welfare of its members.
What other resources are available?
Resources including information about the DBS process, Wavepower documents and forms, as well as social media and safeguarding practices, are now available to Welfare Officers. To get access, email [email protected] confirming your name, club and your role as welfare officer.
Welfare Officer Training
There are 3 key requirements for Welfare Officers to complete before they can fulfill their role: Time to Listen course, Safeguarding & protecting children course, and a DBS check.
Safeguarding & protecting children
Learn how to recognise signs of abuse.
Learn how to deal with issues sensitively, appropriately, and effectively.
Renewed every 3 years.
Welfare Officer (Time to Listen)
What to do in the event of an incident in your club.
Requires the safeguarding & protecting children qualification.
Renewed every 3 years.
DBS
Disclosure and Barring service check.
Enhanced check with barred check is a requirement for Welfare Officers.
Free update service for volunteers.
Please note: from 2024 only the Swim England Safeguarding course will be accepted at the point of renewal.
National Welfare Forum
The National Welfare Forum hosted by Swim England has been set up to enable important updates to be shared and create an opportunity for all Welfare Officers, and others involved in supporting Welfare and Safeguarding concerns, to come together to share good practice and seek support for issues raised.
Please complete the following information to register for the forum and joining instructions will be sent nearer the forum date. We will also share all future forums dates at that time.
Register here