The Safeguarding Officer (SO), also known as Welfare Officer, plays a vital role in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in sport.

Safeguarding Officers are required all Clubs/Teams or Leagues 

The main purpose of an SO is to promote best safeguarding practice and support the implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures in a relevant environment.  The SO needs to ensure that all appropriate policies and procedures are followed and that documentation is completed in accordance with BSUK policy and current legislation.

Safeguarding Officers have two key roles:

  • Being informed and aware of the league or club’s responsibilities when running baseball/softball activities for children and young people -- for example:
    • Ensuring that these responsibilities are well understood by others
    • Developing best practice processes
  • Helping league and club personnel understand their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people -- for example:
    • Ensuring that all relevant people complete ‘Safeguarding Children’ training programmes
    • Making sure trips away are properly organised
    • Managing the administration of DBS checks

Safeguarding Officers also play a vital link between clubs and BSUK.  A good Safeguarding Officer is someone who:

  • Always puts children’s welfare first
  • Is a good communicator
  • Has a common sense approach
  • Is willing to learn and seek advice
  • Is over the age of 18

Safeguarding Officers don't need to have a professional background in safeguarding children, but they do need to:

  • Have the interests of children at heart and the ability to maintain this perspective when dealing with situations that may arise
  • Attend BSUK’s Safeguarding Officer training (or have an equivalent qualification)
  • Have a BSUK DBS Enhanced Disclosure in place

More than one person can take on the role.

It’s good to have a male and female Safeguarding Officer if you have both boys and girls on your teams. However, BSUK only needs one named person concerned with safeguarding for its main database (Sport:80), so that we can communicate effectively through one person to every league and club.

To become a Safeguarding Officer, let your team or club know that you wish to do so.

Safeguarding Officer’s details should be uploaded onto Sport:80

As a club Safeguarding Officer, how can you let everyone know who you are and what you’re doing?

It is best practice to hold an information evening/session at the start of each season, which is the ideal place for you to be introduced.  Arrange to meet with the club's coaches and team managers so they know who you are and can introduce you to their players over the coming weeks.  Find out when newsletters or other communications will be sent to parents/carers and use them to distribute safeguarding information.

Safeguarding Officers should make sure they are visible at events.  Walking around and chatting to parents and players is a positive way of establishing yourself in the role; it takes effort but is very worthwhile.

Safeguarding is the responsibility of the entire club, not just the SO, so get the club involved in whatever you do.

Click to view a role description for a Club Safeguarding Officer. 

Click to view a role description for a National Team Safeguarding Officer. 

Safeguarding Officers on Sport80

So that BaseballSoftballUK can communicate directly with Safeguarding Officers, it’s important that we keep Sport:80 up to date.  If any of your information has changed, or you are no longer your club’s Safeguarding Officer, please let us know by changing the details on your club page.