Season 2012-13 will confirm that by the commencement of the season in September all Youth Clubs will have a qualified appointed Club Welfare Officer (CWO) having attended the Mandatory Welfare Officer Workshop.
CWOs are used as FACRB verifiers for their clubs, hence removing the need of club members sending personal documentation through the post. Additionally with the support of the County WO and the League WO they take the lead on educating best practices to their respective Clubs.
Each CWO was sent information regarding CRB Online (£10.00) in July 2011 and so far over 200 CWOs have registered their club for this online service . CWOs to contact The FACRB Unit using 0845 210 8080 or e mail FAChecks@TheFA.com
The County schedules Safeguarding Children Workshops as part of Level 1 Coach Courses, Referee Courses and Stand-alones. All three are similar and may be topped-up by any of the disciplines, resulting in approximately 70 workshops being made available annually. If members of your club require to attend the workshop please use the 'Book Online' service via 'Development' on this web site or contact Jackie Day on 01256 853014.
The FA Welfare Officer Pack is available to download now - see 'Related Links'.
The pack offers information about the role of a welfare officer at both club and league level. This has been developed in conjunction with other County Football Associations to provide guidance for all welfare officers across the country. This pack will provide information, guidance and ideas on the role of a welfare officer, as well as some practical tips.
Also available is information to enter the Online Safeguarding System and how the CWO can access this and what it provides.
Safeguarding Online for CWOs
A number of our CWOs are already involved with the Safeguarding Online system – it obviously requires the CWO to have an email address. Online will enable the CWO to see who in the club has been CRB’d and also who holds a current Safeguarding Certificate (3-year life): please note, this may be a Safeguarding Children workshop or CD equivalent.
Safeguarding Recertification on line
The FA Safeguarding Children recertification process.
The recertification course is now an online course.
The course costs £13.95, which must be paid before you can access the course.
To pay, please visit http://eventspace.thefa.com/onlinecourses
You will need your FA number
Thinkuknow Website
The www.thinkuknow.com website provided by CEOP (Child Protection & Online Protection) is worth a visit if you haven’t already done so. It offers up to date advice and guidance for children and parents on the safe use of the internet.
Telephone Numbers
The FA/NSPCC 24 hour Helpline number…
0808 800 5000. The FA teamed up with the NSPCC eight years ago and contributed financially to the nationally known NSPCC 24-hour Helpline number. Anyone wishing to report a concern about a child or seek advice can phone The FA/NSPCC 24-hour Helpline 0808 800 5000. This number is dealt with by a team of NSPCC trained staff who will inform The FA of concerns they receive relating to football. It also offers a deaf users textphone on 0800 056 0566.
The FA Safeguarding and Equality General Enquiries number…
0845 210 8080 is aimed at anyone who wants to find out more about The FAs Safeguarding Education Programme, The FA CRB Unit or anything relating to Safeguarding Children in football that we deal with. Please note this number is also used as a general enquiries number for the Equality Education Programme. It is managed by TMG Support on behalf of The FA’s Equality and Child Protection department. There are also the two email addresses which can be used:
Footballsafe@TheFA.com for general safeguarding enquiries and crb@TheFA.com for CRB specific issues.
The FA Report Discrimination free phone number and email address …
0800 058 0508 to report allegations of discrimination such as sexist, racist and homophobic abuse as well as abuse in relation to disability. This number is dealt with by FA staff in London although allegations can be passed back to a County FA or other organisation to deal with. There is also an email address: reportdiscrimination@TheFA.com
which can be used as an alternative to the phone number.
CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) Checks
Clubs often inform me that their CWO/ Manager/ Coach has a CRB from another agency as part of their work or other voluntary activity. Under current rules, CRBs are not transferable between agencies and hence The FA requires its own CRB process.
The FACRB is ‘portable’ between FA clubs – a referee who has a FACRB can also be the Club Welfare Officer using the same document. A CWO moving from one football club to another uses the same FACRB document.
All Registered Referees over the age of 18 must have an enhanced FACRB plus attendance at a Safeguarding Children Workshop. Due to the possible sensitivity of the workshop, the Under 16s are sent a DVD to study with a question/ answer paper, which is sent to The FACRB Unit for assessment.
The CRB renewal is strongly encouraged to be undertaken on individuals associated with their Clubs every 3 years.
CWOs must ensure that their Managers, Coaches and Physios hold an FACRB.
CRBs are sensitive personal documents. They cannot be demanded for observation by anyone else and neither should they be photocopied. The only information that can be requested by the Club or Organisation is the CRB Serial Number.
If your club/ team operates within a school environment, the school may request that you become CRB’d under their agency despite holding an FACRB.
Welfare Officers Workshop
The Welfare Officers Workshop is for Club Welfare Officers and Youth League Welfare Officers. Prerequisites are:
Accepted FACRB and attendance at a Safeguarding Children in Football workshop.
Support & Guidance
I am available to assist CWO’s as required so please contact me via e mail or telephone as you deem appropriate.
For a complete list of Safeguarding Policy Documents please click here
