County Safeguarding Officer

At Cricket Shropshire, safeguarding is a non-negotiable priority and a core foundation of everything we do. The County Safeguarding Officer (CSO) reports directly to the Lead Officer and leads on both proactive and reactive safeguarding. The CSO supports a network of club and league officers, ensures compliance with ECB and Cricket Regulator standards, and embeds best practice throughout the game.

Proactive Responsibilities

• Lead and manage proactive safeguarding across all areas of Cricket Shropshire’s activities.
• Act as the first point of contact for Club and League Safeguarding Officers, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and support on best-practice safeguarding at club level.
• Coordinate and engage with the voice of children and young people.
• Oversee lower-level concerns (LLC) reporting using ECB systems.
• Ensure compliance with County Partnership Agreement (CPA) minimum standards and strive for “leading organisation” status.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the County Safeguarding Advisor (CSA) and ECB Safeguarding Team.
• Attend quarterly CSA meetings to review safeguarding progress and update action plans.
• Provide detailed safeguarding reports to the Board Safeguarding Lead and participate in Board discussions as needed.
• Deliver safeguarding training to Board members and complete ECB Safe Hands Tutor training within 12 months.
• Deliver ECB Safe Hands Workshops annually for recreational club staff and volunteers.
• Drive safer recruitment practices across all clubs, including DBS and barred list checks.
• Act as the County-wide Safeguarding Recruiter and ID Verifier using ECB systems.
• Deliver/Co-deliver Safeguarding in the Talent Pathway courses every 3 years.
• Provide operational safeguarding support within Cricket Shropshire’s Talent Pathway.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding training matrices and risk assessments.
• Attend inductions, webinars, regional meetings, and CPD opportunities provided by the ECB.
• Support induction and compliance requirements for new Club Safeguarding Officers.
• Share regular safeguarding updates via newsletters, webinars, visits, and support meetings.
• Be visible across the county through club visits, meetings, and training sessions.
• Promote an inclusive, safe, and welcoming safeguarding culture.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

Reactive Responsibilities

• Lead and manage reactive safeguarding across all cricket delivery areas.
• Complete referral forms promptly and accurately in line with ECB guidance.
• Log all lower-level concerns (LLC) on the ECB system.
• Ensure clear referral pathways for reporting and recording concerns.
• Identify safeguarding concerns that may also breach the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code and escalate appropriately.
• Attend Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or statutory agency meetings when required.
• Support Cricket Shropshire in managing safeguarding concerns returned by the cricket regulator.

Mandatory Training (Provided by Cricket Shropshire / ECB)

• ECB Induction to Safeguarding
• Safeguarding Level 2 (SSR)
• Safer Recruitment within Cricket
• Safeguarding Adults within Cricket
• Safeguarding in the Talent Pathway
• Prevent Training

• Lead and manage proactive safeguarding across all areas of Cricket Shropshire’s activities.
• Act as the first point of contact for Club and League Safeguarding Officers, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and support on best-practice safeguarding at club level.
• Coordinate and engage with the voice of children and young people.
• Oversee lower-level concerns (LLC) reporting using ECB systems.
• Ensure compliance with County Partnership Agreement (CPA) minimum standards and strive for “leading organisation” status.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the County Safeguarding Advisor (CSA) and ECB Safeguarding Team.
• Attend quarterly CSA meetings to review safeguarding progress and update action plans.
• Provide detailed safeguarding reports to the Board Safeguarding Lead and participate in Board discussions as needed.
• Deliver safeguarding training to Board members and complete ECB Safe Hands Tutor training within 12 months.
• Deliver ECB Safe Hands Workshops annually for recreational club staff and volunteers.
• Drive safer recruitment practices across all clubs, including DBS and barred list checks.
• Act as the County-wide Safeguarding Recruiter and ID Verifier using ECB systems.
• Deliver/Co-deliver Safeguarding in the Talent Pathway courses every 3 years.
• Provide operational safeguarding support within Cricket Shropshire’s Talent Pathway.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding training matrices and risk assessments.
• Attend inductions, webinars, regional meetings, and CPD opportunities provided by the ECB.
• Support induction and compliance requirements for new Club Safeguarding Officers.
• Share regular safeguarding updates via newsletters, webinars, visits, and support meetings.
• Be visible across the county through club visits, meetings, and training sessions.
• Promote an inclusive, safe, and welcoming safeguarding culture.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.