1.2 What is it like starting out as a Safeguarding Lead?

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A female Safeguarding Lead.

In Course 2 you met Patience, an experienced Safeguarding Lead.

Activity: Starting out as a Safeguarding Lead

Listen to Patience talking about her experiences in her role. Identify anything she says that you are also feeling about your responsibilities as a Safeguarding Lead.

Download this audio clip.Audio player: patience_english_nc5266_2024_aug001a_1.2.mp3
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Transcript

PATIENCE
To be honest, when I started, I was quite worried. I hadn’t come into sport with this in mind – I’d been in another role when my manager suggested I take on the duties of the Safeguarding Lead.
I had assumed that most of my time would be spent dealing with actual cases – for example, sexual abuse of a child – but it hasn’t turned out like that. There have been several incidents I’ve had to get involved in – quite a few ’poor practice' issues, and one quite serious abuse case. A few times I’ve been contacted by a worried parent or concerned coach.
But most of my time early on was spent developing my organisation’s safeguarding approach – writing the policy and procedures and speaking to managers and staff across the organisation. I must admit that there was some pushback from a number of colleagues – even a few senior managers weren’t convinced this is a priority!
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Some of you might identify with how Patience felt – as you go through the course you’ll hear and learn more from her.

Different aspects of Patience’s story will mean different things to each of you. If you are new to the role of a Safeguarding Lead, the feelings of being worried, or not knowing exactly what the role requires, may be at the front of your thoughts. If you are more experienced, the aspects of influencing others about the importance of safeguarding may reflect your own day-to-day experiences.

Now let’s explore some of your key tasks in more detail.

1.1 Introduction

1.3 The Safeguarding Lead role: your key tasks