Designated Safeguarding Officer

Multiple Locations (Office based in House of Sport, Leckwith, Cardiff)

Vacancy listed 16/10/2026

Details

The purpose of the role is to promote and raise awareness of safeguarding across the Community Foundation and among its stakeholders, whilst also responding to safeguarding concerns and incidents in an effective, timely and professional manner.

The Designated Safeguarding Officer is accountable for the effective day‑today implementation of safeguarding arrangements within their delegated area of responsibility. The DSO is responsible for ensuring concerns are responded to appropriately, recorded accurately, progressed and escalated where necessary. The DSO works closely with the Head of Safeguarding & Compliance and relevant managers and does not replace the statutory responsibilities of external safeguarding agencies or the overall organisational accountability held by senior leadership.

• 1. Safeguarding concerns and case management Act as a designated point of contact for safeguarding concerns raised by staff, learners,participants, parents/carers and partners. Respond to concerns promptly and in accordance with the Foundation’s safeguarding procedures. Assess the nature and level of concern and determine appropriate action and escalation in line with escalation thresholds. Ensure safeguarding concerns are accurately recorded on the Foundation’s safeguarding system.
  
  Maintain appropriate oversight of open safeguarding concerns and ensure actions are progressed within agreed timescales. Escalate medium, high and very high-risk concerns to the Head of Safeguarding and Compliance in accordance with the escalation process. Make or support referrals to statutory agencies where required and maintain appropriate records of referrals and outcomes. Ensure safeguarding information is shared appropriately and proportionately.
• 2. Safeguarding advice and support Provide day‑to‑day safeguarding advice and guidance to staff and managers. Support staff to respond appropriately to disclosures, concerns and incidents. Promote professional curiosity and appropriate challenge where safeguarding practice or decision‑making requires further consideration. Support staff to understand their safeguarding responsibilities and reporting requirements. Provide safeguarding advice to programme teams when planning activities, trips, events or new provision.
• 3. Case supervision and reflective practice Support the Foundation’s safeguarding supervision arrangements. Provide or facilitate safeguarding supervision for staff managing ongoing concerns, where appropriately trained. Identify when a case requires additional management oversight, specialist advice or escalation. Ensure safeguarding decisions are appropriately challenged, recorded and reviewed. Contribute to learning from safeguarding cases and incidents.
• 4. Risk management Support programme teams to identify and manage safeguarding risks. Review safeguarding elements of risk assessments where required. Ensure safeguarding considerations are incorporated into new activities, programmes, trips, events and partnership arrangements. Provide advice where participant risk changes or new information becomes available. Escalate significant or unmanaged safeguarding risks to the Head of Safeguarding and Compliance.
• 5. Allegations, low‑level concerns and staff conduct Support the management of allegations or concerns relating to staff, volunteers, coaches or other adults working with participants. Ensure low‑level concerns are appropriately recorded, reviewed and escalated where necessary. Identify patterns or emerging concerns that may require wider organisational action. Work with HR and management where…