The Lincolnshire FA offers a range of safeguarding services and training to help create a safe and enjoyable football experience for everyone.

We ensure safeguarding requirements are met as a requirement of club affiliation and we support clubs to maintain these standards. This includes making unannounced safeguarding visits to clubs.

Here are details of the current safeguarding support services we offer:

Forthcoming Safeguarding Courses And Workshops

We offer a range of safeguarding services and training to help create a safe and enjoyable football experience for everyone. We ensure safeguarding requirements are met as a requirement of club affiliation and we support clubs to maintain these standards. This includes making unannounced safeguarding visits to clubs.

BOOK ON A COURSE

Safeguarding Children Re-Certification

If your need to renew your Safeguarding Children Workshop then you can renew it online. The

Re-certification is available to those who have taken the 3 hour face to face workshop 3 years prior. Download the instructions to complete it online. 

If you are having trouble accessing the online re-certification, please email Stuart.Houlton@lincolnshirefa.com

ONLINE RE-CERTIFICATION FOR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN WORKSHOP

Obtaining a Criminal Record Check (CRC)

As part of our safeguarding children strategy, The FA requires those coaching staff working with children and young people under the age of 18 must pass a criminal records check. This is in line with legislation and government guidance and is standard practice.  

We provide the framework and guidance for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in football and the leagues and clubs then have to implement this to ensure that those who are required to have checks done, do so.  

The majority of checks are processed electronically, ensuring that people can be confirmed to work with children and young people swiftly. Where the check highlights relevant information, this is investigated further and a risk assessment is carried out to establish whether or not they will be accepted to work with children and young people in football. 

Your club welfare officer will be able to help you with the information required to obtain your DBS check as can the Lincolnshire FA.

If you require administration support with your DBS, then please contact Stuart Houlton on 01522 596580 or stuart.houlton@lincolnshirefa.com

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How We Handle Reported Concerns

If you have any concerns regarding the about the welfare of a child or the behaviour of an adult towards a child or young person under 18 years of age in football, please make sure you report it as soon as possible. 

As a County FA we have trained staff who have experience in dealing with these concerns and can ensure the necessary action is taken. Even If a concern doesn't meet the criteria and standard required for county involvement, advice will be given to clubs on how to investigate the issue internally using their club's policies, procedures and constitution. All concerns are treated confidentially. 

You can find out more about how to report safeguarding and welfare concerns by viewing our Safeguarding Thresholds document. 

Support for Welfare Officers

We have a Designated Safeguarding Officer at Lincolnshire FA to support Club Welfare Officers obtain the correct and necessary training and to support them in their role within their club.

Ongoing support, advice, training guidance is available at any time via Ben Pearce, Lincolnshire FA's Designated Safeguarding Officer.

In order to join our network of Club Welfare Officers, you are required to have an up-to-date Criminal Records Check, an FA Safeguarding Children Qualification, and attended a Welfare Officers Workshop.

Once you have these vital qualifications and took up the role within a club, you'll also be asked to complete a safeguarding for committee members online course.

BECOME A WELFARE OFFICER

If a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, contact the Police 999 or NSPCC 0808 800 5000