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Safer Recruitment Policy
Safer Recruitment Policy

Statement of Commitment

At Football Skills School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a safe, positive and inclusive environment where children feel protected, respected and valued.

Football Skills School expects all staff, freelance coaches, volunteers, contractors and anyone working on behalf of the organisation to share this commitment to safeguarding.

We recognise our responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children and young people. Safer recruitment is an essential part of our safeguarding practice and applies to all individuals engaged in activities involving children, regardless of whether they are employed, self-employed, contracted, paid or volunteering.

Football Skills School is committed to following current safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and relevant Football Association (FA) safeguarding requirements.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Help deter, identify and reject individuals who may pose a risk to children.
  • Ensure recruitment and selection procedures are carried out fairly, consistently and safely.
  • Promote a strong safeguarding culture throughout Football Skills School.
  • Ensure all staff and coaches understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
  • Reduce the risk of harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation or inappropriate behaviour towards children.
  • Comply with relevant safeguarding legislation, guidance and FA safer recruitment standards.

Scope

This policy applies to all individuals working with or on behalf of Football Skills School, including:

  • Freelance football coaches
  • Assistant coaches
  • Volunteers
  • Welfare officers
  • Apprentices or work experience placements
  • Guest coaches or external providers
  • Anyone delivering activities, events or services involving children

This policy applies regardless of whether individuals are:

  • Paid or unpaid
  • Full-time or part-time
  • Employed or self-employed
  • Temporary, casual or contracted

Recruitment Principles

Football Skills School will ensure that:

  • Safeguarding is embedded throughout the recruitment and selection process.
  • All roles involving contact with children are assessed for safeguarding suitability.
  • Recruitment decisions are based on merit, experience, attitude, behaviour and suitability to work with children.
  • Appropriate safeguarding checks are completed before individuals begin unsupervised work with children.
  • Individuals understand the standards of behaviour expected when working with children.
  • Concerns regarding suitability are taken seriously and acted upon appropriately.
  • Confidentiality is maintained throughout the recruitment process in accordance with data protection requirements.

Roles and Responsibilities

The responsibility for safer recruitment sits with the management of Football Skills School.

Those involved in recruitment will:

  • Follow this policy consistently
  • Prioritise safeguarding during recruitment decisions
  • Ensure safeguarding checks are completed appropriately
  • Record and store recruitment information securely
  • Escalate safeguarding concerns where necessary

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will oversee safeguarding aspects of recruitment where appropriate.

Recruitment and Selection Process

Before appointing any coach, staff member or volunteer, Football Skills School will aim to complete appropriate safer recruitment procedures relevant to the role.

Application and Information Gathering

Applicants may be required to provide:

  • Full name, address and contact details
  • Proof of identity
  • Employment and coaching history
  • Relevant qualifications and certifications
  • FA coaching qualifications where appropriate
  • Details of safeguarding training completed
  • Details of any criminal convictions, cautions, investigations or barring relevant to safeguarding
  • Explanations for gaps in employment history
  • A minimum of one suitable reference

Football Skills School reserves the right to request additional information where necessary to assess suitability.

Any inconsistencies, unexplained gaps or concerns identified during the recruitment process may be explored further before an appointment is confirmed.

Interview and Suitability Assessment

Where appropriate, applicants may attend an informal or formal interview, discussion or suitability assessment.

This process may assess:

  • Experience working with children and young people
  • Safeguarding knowledge and awareness
  • Professional conduct and behaviour
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with children
  • Understanding of equality, inclusion and welfare responsibilities

Safeguarding-related questions may form part of the assessment process.

Football Skills School may also observe practical coaching delivery where appropriate.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks

Football Skills School is committed to complying with DBS and safeguarding requirements.

All individuals working in regulated activity with children will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS Check with Children’s Barred List Check where legally eligible.

Football Skills School may:

  • Request evidence of an existing DBS certificate
  • Require registration with the DBS Update Service where appropriate
  • Request a new DBS application where necessary
  • Carry out risk assessments where information is disclosed

A DBS check alone does not guarantee suitability to work with children, and recruitment decisions will consider all available information.

No individual may begin unsupervised work with children until all appropriate safeguarding checks have been completed and approved.

Where exceptional circumstances require an individual to begin prior to checks being fully completed, this will only occur following a written risk assessment and with appropriate supervision arrangements in place.

Verification of Qualifications and Training

Football Skills School will seek to verify relevant qualifications and certifications where appropriate, including:

  • FA coaching qualifications
  • Emergency First Aid certification
  • Safeguarding Children training
  • Sport-specific governing body awards
  • Welfare Officer Certificate
  • Paediatric First Aid Certificate

All coaches, staff and volunteers are expected to:

  • Maintain valid qualifications relevant to their role
  • Keep safeguarding training up to date
  • Participate in additional safeguarding training where required
  • Participate in additional FA courses where required

References

References may be requested for all individuals working regularly with children.

References should ideally comment on:

  • Suitability to work with children
  • Professional conduct and reliability
  • Relationships with children and colleagues
  • Any known safeguarding concerns or disciplinary matters relevant to the role

Football Skills School reserves the right to verify references directly with referees.

Open testimonials or references from family members will not normally be accepted.

Induction

All newly appointed staff, freelance coaches and volunteers will receive an induction appropriate to their role.

Induction may include:

  • Safeguarding and child protection procedures
  • Staff code of conduct
  • Behaviour and professional boundary expectations
  • Reporting procedures for concerns or allegations
  • Health and safety procedures
  • Emergency procedures
  • Information regarding the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Individuals are expected to read, understand and follow all policies and procedures provided.

Code of Conduct and Professional Expectations

All individuals working with Football Skills School are expected to:

  • Act professionally and appropriately at all times
  • Prioritise the welfare of children
  • Maintain appropriate boundaries with children and families
  • Follow safeguarding and reporting procedures
  • Treat all children fairly, respectfully and inclusively
  • Avoid behaviour that could place themselves or children at risk

Any breach of safeguarding procedures or professional standards may result in disciplinary action, termination of engagement or referral to external agencies.

Ongoing Monitoring and Supervision

Safer recruitment is an ongoing process and does not end once an appointment is made.

Football Skills School will:

  • Monitor the conduct and behaviour of staff and coaches
  • Address safeguarding concerns promptly
  • Provide supervision and support where appropriate
  • Review safeguarding practice regularly
  • Take appropriate action where concerns arise

Where necessary, individuals may be suspended, removed from duties or referred to appropriate safeguarding agencies while concerns are investigated.

Allegations and Safeguarding Concerns

Any concerns or allegations regarding the behaviour, conduct or suitability of a member of staff, freelance coach or volunteer will be taken seriously and managed in line with Football Skills School safeguarding procedures.

Where appropriate, referrals may be made to:

  • The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
  • Children’s Social Care
  • The Police
  • The FA Safeguarding Team
  • The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Confidentiality will be maintained as far as possible while ensuring the safety and welfare of children.

Online Safety and Social Media

Individuals working with Football Skills School are expected to use technology, social media and communication platforms responsibly and appropriately.

Staff, coaches and volunteers must:

  • Maintain professional boundaries online
  • Avoid private or inappropriate communication with children
  • Use approved communication methods where possible
  • Report concerns relating to online safety or inappropriate conduct

Any breach of online safety expectations may be treated as a safeguarding matter.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Football Skills School is committed to fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory recruitment practices.

We will not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage or civil partnership
  • Pregnancy or maternity
  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation

Safeguarding and suitability to work with children will always remain the primary consideration in recruitment decisions.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

Football Skills School will handle recruitment information, DBS information and safeguarding records in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

Information will be:

  • Stored securely
  • Accessed only by authorised individuals
  • Retained only for as long as necessary
  • Processed lawfully and confidentially

Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed:

  • Annually
  • Following safeguarding incidents or concerns
  • Following changes to legislation, statutory guidance or FA requirements

Football Skills School reserves the right to amend this policy at any time to reflect safeguarding best practice.

Policy Adoption

Policy Name: Safer Recruitment Policy
Organisation: Football Skills School

Date Adopted: 01/03/2014
Last Reviewed: 01/09/2025
Next Review Due: 01/09/2026

Signed:
D.J Pitt

Position:
Owner / Designated Safeguarding Lead