We endorse and adopt The FA’s Safer Recruitment
guidelines and where an individual is going to take on
a specific role for the club we will:

• Specify what the role is and what tasks it
involves;

• Request identification documents;

• As a minimum meet and chat with the
applicant(s) and where possible interview
people before appointing them;

• Ask for and follow up with 2 references before
appointing someone; and

• Where eligible require an FA-accepted DBS
enhanced with barred list Check, in line with
The FA’s current Safeguarding Children Policy
and Regulations.

Everyone working in eligible roles with children and
young people, such as coaches/managers, first
aiders and physiotherapists, are required to hold
an in-date FA-accepted DBS enhanced with barred
list Check as part of safer recruitment practice
and we commit to managing this consistently with
individuals in current roles and those new to role.

If there are concerns regarding the
appropriateness of an individual who is already
involved or who has approached us to become part of
Heston Football Club, guidance will always be sought from
the County Football Association (MFA) Designated
Safeguarding Officer (DSO).

It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people
with a history of relevant and significant offending
from having contact with children or young people
and the opportunity to influence policies or practice
with children or young people. This is to prevent
direct sexual or physical harm to children and
to minimise the risk of football being used in the
grooming of children.

4. OUR CLUB WELFARE OFFICER
Heston Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer
(Youth Teams) (“CWO”) in line with The FA’s role
profile who has completed the Safeguarding Children
and Welfare Officer Courses. We commit to supporting
the post holder to be involved with ongoing Welfare
Officer training provided by The FA and/or MFA.
Our CWO is the first point of contact for all parents/
carers and club officials regarding concerns about
the welfare of any child or young person. The role
of the CWO and their contact information is widely
communicated throughout the club. The CWO will
liaise directly with the MFA DSO and will be familiar
with the procedures for referring any concerns.
The CWO will also play a proactive role in increasing
awareness of respect, acceptable behaviours, how to
deal with low-level concerns and how to report abuse.
We recognise the need for proportionality in
appointing individuals to the role of CWO (Youth
Teams) and where appropriate Assistant
CWO (Youth Teams) to ensure visibility for our
membership. Where needed, we will appoint
Assistant Club Welfare Officers (Youth Teams) to
support the club and CWO to bring this policy to life
and to drive safer working practice and a proactive
culture as is necessary.