ABOUT NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST

Nottingham Forest Community Trust (NFCT) is the official charity of Nottingham Forest Football Club (NFFC) and a dynamic, authentic organisation that inspires communities to aspire to and achieve great things. The Trust is a high-performing charity with a clear ambition to increase its impact across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire through the expansion and strengthening of its programmes.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To support this ambition, the Trust is seeking a Safeguarding Manager who will act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), holding day-to-day operational responsibility for safeguarding across all Trust activity. The Safeguarding Manager will be a dedicated and experienced professional with a proven track record in safeguarding children and adults. They will provide visible leadership, embedding a strong culture in which safeguarding is clearly understood and everyone's responsibility, ensuring all environments are safe and inclusive. Therefore, a strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and best practice is essential.

The role ensures safeguarding arrangements are robust, concerns are responded to promptly and appropriately, and best practice is embedded across the organisation in line with the Premier League Foundation Capability Code of Practice (CCOP). The role-holder will also support Nottingham Forest Football Club's wider safeguarding agenda, ensuring the highest standards of compliance, care & continuous improvement, in close professional alignment with NFFC's Head of Safeguarding.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Professional (dotted line): Head of Safeguarding (Nottingham Forest Football Club)

Salary: £32,000 - £35,000

Contract: Full-time, permanent

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Safeguarding Leadership & Case Management

1. Act as the primary point of contact for safeguarding concerns, including poor practice, low-level concerns, and allegations against staff, volunteers or partners, relating to children, young people, or adults at risk within NFCT

2. Record, manage, and respond to safeguarding concerns in line with NFCT and NFFC safeguarding policies, statutory guidance, and local safeguarding partnership thresholds

3. Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential safeguarding records using MyConcern

4. Make timely referrals to statutory agencies where required and support multi-agency safeguarding processes

5. Provide safeguarding rota cover where appropriate across NFCT and NFFC activity

Policy, Standards & Compliance

1. Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures remain up to date and aligned with national guidance and NFCT/NFFC safeguarding standards

2. Lead operational delivery of safeguarding quality assurance processes across all NFCT provision

3. Support compliance with Premier League Foundation safeguarding standards, including external audits and assessments

Culture, Training & Workforce Support

1. Work closely with internal stakeholders, including the People Team, to advise on KCSIE and Safer Recruitment processes

2. Develop and deliver safeguarding training and CPD to staff and volunteers, ensuring confidence in identifying and reporting concerns

3. Promote safeguarding awareness through clear messaging, learning, and best practice

4. Provide day-to-day safeguarding advice and guidance to staff and managers

5. Embed a safeguarding culture where safeguarding is understood as everyone's responsibility

6. Develop and support a network of safeguarding champions across delivery teams

Governance & Assurance

1. Act as the operational safeguarding link to the NFCT Board Safeguarding Lead, providing updates, assurance, and reporting as required

2. Escalate serious, complex, or high-risk matters to the COO and NFFC Head of Safeguarding

3. Support safeguarding governance meetings and contribute to structured reporting

4. Contribute to safeguarding reporting for NFCT Board and funder assurance purposes

Partnerships & External Relationships

1. Maintain effective working relationships with local authorities, safeguarding partnerships, the police, and relevant external agencies

2. Work collaboratively with NFFC's Safeguarding Team to ensure consistent standards, shared learning, and appropriate information sharing

Supporting the Club's Wider Safeguarding Agenda

1. Support NFFC's wider safeguarding agenda, as agreed with the COO and NFFC Head of Safeguarding, which may include supporting match day safeguarding activity where required, and providing safeguarding support linked to Academy activity where there is overlap with NFCT delivery or where specialist input is required

2. Ensure all activity will be undertaken in alignment with NFFC safeguarding leadership and will not replace or duplicate NFFC statutory safeguarding responsibilities

Safer Working Practice

1. Provide safeguarding input into programme design and partner engagement to ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are put in place

2. Lead and support safeguarding risk assessments to ensure safe delivery and effective controls

3. Support and provide the People Team with DBS checks, risk assessment, safeguarding advice

4. Support safeguarding for events/off-site activity, ensuring safe planning & clear escalation routes

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

1. Proven experience in a safeguarding role with strong knowledge of child & adult protection

2. A safeguarding and/or welfare professional with a relevant degree, professional qualification, OR significant equivalent experience, including work or volunteering with children and/or young people

3. In-depth knowledge and understanding of current safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and recognised best practice, including maintaining clear, accurate, and confidential records

4. Experience managing safeguarding concerns and allegations and contributing to multi-agency safeguarding processes

5. Knowledge of Safer Recruitment

6. Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience advising senior leaders and/or Board members on safeguarding

7. Highly organised, able to manage competing priorities, work independently, and respond flexibly and professionally in complex safeguarding situations

8. Strong IT skills, including the use of safeguarding case management systems (e.g., MyConcern)

An approachable individual who is calm under pressure, the role-holder must be progressive, solutions-focused, highly organised with strong attention to detail, and collaborative, working with integrity, accountability, and respect for others. The individual should be resilient and adaptable in complex safeguarding environments.

Apply with application form below. Closing date 20/02/2026

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All candidates must:

1. Have the right to work in the UK

2. Undertake an enhanced DBS check

3. Provide two professional references

4. Fully complete the application form

Forest For Everyone

We aim to create a culture which embraces and celebrates differences, enables individual to feel comfortable, maximise their potential, and eliminates discrimination. Nottingham Forest Community Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Privacy Notice

Nottingham Forest Community Trust is committed to being transparent about how it handles personal information, protecting privacy and security, and meeting its obligations under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Safeguarding Statement

At Nottingham Forest Community Trust, we take a holistic and person-centred approach to safeguarding. Where concerns about any child or adult at risk are raised, NFCT staff will always act in the best interests of the individual. We accept and acknowledge our responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of participants engaged in NFCT programmes and activities. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.