The FA is taking the step of supporting the appointment of a CWO by clarifying the anticipated role and providing guidance as to how to go about appointing the right person for the job.

Ideally, The FA hopes to encourage every one of its 40,000 affiliated grassroots clubs, across around 2,000 leagues, to appoint a Club Welfare Officer (CWO), and is committed to supporting those already in post and well as those clubs who are seeking to make an appointment.

Appointing a CWO will ensure that there is an informed point of contact in every club when it comes to dealing with child protection issues. It is anticipated that this will ultimately bring about a broadened understanding of the issues that clubs are faced with, so that prevention is the theme rather than cure.

Rachel Tarr, The FA’s Child Protection Manager, says that the appointment of a CWO should be seen as the appointment of a catalyst – someone who encourages the club’s management committee to embrace The FA’s best practice guidance and policy and procedures. “It is important to remember that child protection is everyone’s responsibility – but someone needs to drive the principle of child protection in clubs so that it is demystified, understood and embraced fully.

“It is hoped that clubs will ultimately have the CWO as part of the management committee, which will help to truly embed child protection awareness in the club’s day to day planning and thinking.

“We acknowledge that there is a great deal of best practice already prominent in many clubs, but we want to encourage a proactive stance on ensuring the wellbeing of young people rather than a reactive one. It won’t require a great deal of change for most, but rather a review of some current practices and the implementation of a few common sense changes.

“Just because a club has always done something in a particular way it doesn’t mean that it’s always the best way. Some small changes can make all the difference to a young person’s safety and enjoyment of the game,” Rachel points out.

She adds that by having someone with a designated responsibility, the club will have a person to guide them in the right direction and keep them in touch with FA developments. “This will include consideration – and hopefully application – of a recruitment policy which includes CRB checks, the introduction of an anti-bullying policy, dealing with poor practice issues relating to the behaviour of players, parents and spectators and a number of other common sense approaches. Appointing a CWO is a part of The FA’s aim to get child protection on every club’s agenda in a pragmatic and informed way.”