Independent Non-Executive Director (Safeguarding)

The Kent FA is the governing body for football who governs, develops and promotes grassroots football across Kent. 

It prides itself in being an innovative and forward-thinking organisation and these are exciting times as we embark on developing a new corporate strategy to reinforce the vision, and objectives moving forward for the next four years. The successful candidates will be instrumental in helping the Kent FA to deliver this.

We are seeking to appoint a Safeguarding Non-Executive Director to ensure that the Kent FA acts in accordance with legislation, statutory guidance and The FA’s safeguarding policies and procedures and any associated guidance including the achievement and retention of The FA Safeguarding Operating Standard

Role purpose:

• To ensure Kent FA achieves and retains The FA’s Safeguarding Operating Standard for CFAs;
• To ensure the board acts in accordance with legislation, statutory guidance and The FA’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures and any associated guidance including the achievement and retention of The FA Safeguarding Operating Standard;
• To be an active board member championing the safeguarding of children, young people (under the age of 18) and adults at risk in all CFA activities;
• To recognise and champion that all children and young people in football and all adults at risk are entitled to the same protection regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity.

Key accountabilities:

• To ensure the Kent FA always acts in keeping with legislation, statutory guidance and The FA’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures and the Safeguarding Operating Standard;
• To ensure the Kent FA safeguarding responsibilities and accountabilities are embedded in the Kent FA strategy, business plan, budget, risk register and operational plan; 
• To ensure the Kent FA enables and provides relevant safeguarding training for the board, staff, volunteers and committee and council members;
• To ensure all staff role profiles have safeguarding responsibilities embedded in them;
• To ensure the board receives and scrutinises information on progress against key areas of work, including the independent assessment reports, risks and challenges;
• To ensure all volunteers are aware of and comply with The FA’s Safeguarding Operating Standard requirements;
• To check and challenge to ensure that the interests of children and young people are paramount in all Kent FA activities and the best interests of adults at risk are given due consideration;
• To use the whistle-blowing policy if any concerns are not fully addressed by the Kent FA or the board;
• Serve as a director of the company and to participate in its strategic management;
• Execute the responsibilities of a company director in accordance with the Companies Act (2006) and other relevant legislation;
• Safeguard the interests of the membership and stakeholders of the association;
• Establish clear objectives to deliver the agreed strategy and business plan and regularly review performance against those objectives;
• Constructively check, challenge, review and support the development of the Kent FA’s strategy and performance against objectives;
• Monitor, review and evaluate organisational performance against agreed objectives;
• Ensure efficient and effective corporate governance;
• Contribute to constructive debate on all board matters;
• Promote equality of opportunity throughout the association;
• Oversee the management of risk to the association, including matters of health and safety;
• Monitor the financial affairs of the association to ensure the effective use of financial and other resources;
• Review and approve annual operating and capital expenditure budgets;
• Ensure appropriate levels of resources to deliver the strategy;
• Use expertise, time and connections to support staff;
• Be a positive ambassador for football in Kent, representing the Kent FA;
• Act in the best interests of football in Kent and continually seek to improve the football experience for all;
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the board.