Swim England
A Guide for Welfare Officers
This guide has been developed to support Welfare Officers involved in aquatics to provide essential resources, guidance, and support for you in your role. The welfare and safety of all participants in aquatics is a shared responsibility, and this page is dedicated to ensuring that Welfare Officers have the tools and knowledge they need to fulfil this vital role.
This page serves as a central hub of information to ensure Welfare Officers are well-informed, prepared, and supported in fulfilling their responsibilities. From managing disclosures of abuse to supporting emotional wellbeing, your work is at the core of effective safeguarding across the sport.
Reporting a concern
Anyone who has a concern that a child or adult may be at risk of harm, or being harmed, should refer to our safeguarding team. The team is staffed by individuals who are experienced in dealing with these concerns and have undergone specific training for those who have a designated role in safeguarding within sports.
Key Resources and Support for Welfare Officers
We understand the importance of having access to current resources and clear guidance. We’ve compiled all you need in one place and this includes a range of materials, such as:
- Safeguarding Policies and Procedures: Comprehensive documents outlining the safeguarding processes and protocols that Welfare Officers should follow, ensuring preparedness to manage both day-to-day welfare concerns and more serious issues.
- Guidelines for Responding to Safeguarding Concerns: A step-by-step guide for handling disclosures or suspicions of abuse, neglect, or harm. This includes how to report concerns both internally and externally.
- Training Materials and Courses: Information on mandatory and optional safeguarding training opportunities including online courses, webinars, and workshops to help you stay up to date and effective in your role.
- Confidential Reporting Tools: Secure and confidential channels through which Welfare Officers, coaches, athletes, or parents can report concerns. A transparent and supportive environment encourages openness and trust.
- Support for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Recognising that welfare includes emotional and psychological wellbeing, we offer resources and guidance on supporting participants, coaches, and volunteers who may be facing mental health challenges.
- Best Practice Guidelines: Practical advice on creating safe and supportive environments during training, competitions, and other Aquatics activities. Topics include maintaining appropriate boundaries, fostering positive relationships, and promoting inclusion.
- DBS checks: All regulated roles in aquatic organisations require age-appropriate DBS checks every three years. Different roles within your organisation will require different levels, and you can understand more about this here.
Safeguarding Policies (Wavepower and Handbook)
The two key Safeguarding and Welfare policies that aquatics Welfare Officers need to be aware of are Wavepower and our Handbook.
- Wavepower is Swim England’s safeguarding policy and procedures document. Its aim is to ensure everyone is able to enjoy our sports and aquatic activity in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment in line with current legislation, regulations and guidance. All Swim England affiliated clubs and organisations must adopt Wavepower.
- The Swim England Handbook is our official guide to contacts, procedures and information about Swim England. It includes key contacts throughout our sports, as well as the Code of Ethics which all members are bound by, and provides comprehensive guidance on club governance and compliance, ensuring all members and organisations operate within Swim England's standards and policies.
- Other relevant policies which Welfare Officers need to be aware of are the Coaching Policy and the Team Manager, Coach and Chaperone Policy.
Contact Details for Safeguarding and Welfare Support
Knowing where to turn for advice, support, or further information is crucial. Below you’ll find key contacts for safeguarding and welfare matters, including:
- The Swim England Safeguarding Team: This is your primary contact for safeguarding concerns or advice as a Welfare Officer.
If you need immediate support or are handling a serious issue, the Safeguarding Team is your first point of contact by emailing [email protected] or calling 01509 640 700 (Option 1 for Swim England and then Option 5 for Safeguarding). This dedicated team provides expert guidance on a wide range of safeguarding topics from handling specific cases to general welfare queries.
You can find out more about the team and who else is available to support here. One-on-one support is also available whenever required so always feel free to reach out to the team. - The Welfare Officers Network: If you are looking for peer support or need to discuss welfare-related concerns confidentially, our network of more than 40 experienced Welfare Officers is available to support you. This includes our National Welfare Officers, Regional Welfare Officers, and County Welfare Officers. You can find the contact details for all of them here.
Welfare Officers can also join our closed Facebook group to communicate with Welfare Officers from across the country.
We also hold regular Welfare Officer Forums which you are welcome to join. These are not mandatory but offer a great opportunity to speak to the team on a regular basis. You only need to register once to receive the link. Register here.
Other Useful Links:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Active Partnerships | Nationwide network promoting active lifestyles and offering Sport Welfare Officer support to aquatic clubs. |
| Ann Craft Trust | Safeguarding adults through training, research and practice reviews to minimise abuse risk. |
| BEAT | UK charity dedicated to ending the suffering caused by eating disorders. |
| Bullying UK | Support and advice on bullying including cyberbullying and workplace issues. |
| CEOP Education | Educating children and families to prevent online sexual abuse. |
| Child Protection in Sport Unit | Improving safeguarding practices in sport to keep children safe. |
| Childline | Support service for under-19s via phone, email or 1-to-1 chat. Call 0800 1111. |
| Hub of Hope | Directory of community mental health services across the UK. |
| Kidscape | Anti-bullying charity with accessible national and local support options. |
| Kooth | Free online mental health support and wellbeing activities for young people. |
| Mind | National charity offering mental health support and advocacy. |
| NSPCC | Leading children's charity protecting children for over 140 years. Call 0808 800 5000. |
| NWG Network | Supports professionals working to tackle child exploitation and trafficking. |
| Papyrus | Suicide prevention charity for young people. |
| Report Harmful Content | Helps people report online harm with links to platform-specific tools. |
| Report Remove | Allows under-18s to report and remove sexual images/videos from the internet. |
| Connect Safe | Provides online safety resources for all ages including parents and educators. |
| Shout | Free 24/7 mental health text support service in the UK. |
| The Samaritans | 24/7 helpline for emotional support. Call anytime, any day. |
| Young Minds | Supporting youth mental health with resources, campaigns and services. |
Your Role in Safeguarding and Welfare
As a Welfare Officer, your commitment to safeguarding and welfare is crucial to making Aquatics a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment. You play a central role in implementing safeguarding practices as part of your organisations governance team and ensuring that all participants, regardless of age or ability, are protected from harm.
Swim England have a number of different areas of information, support, policies and training (both mandatory and suggested) that can help you in your role.
Welfare Officer role description, skills and basic responsibilities
The Welfare Officer role is essential in providing a first point of contact for children and adults within the club who have a safeguarding or welfare concern.
The core tasks of the Welfare Officer include:
- Ensure confidentiality is maintained and information is only shared on a “need to know” basis.
- Ensure all incidents are correctly referred and reported in accordance to Wavepower.
- To act independently and in the best interest of the child or adult putting their needs above that of others and the club itself.
- To have contact details of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), Police, Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), Safeguarding partners and the Swim England Safeguarding Team,
- To raise awareness of and assist the club in implementing Wavepower.
- Ensure relevant individuals have a valid DBS check and appropriate safeguarding training.
- To ensure the club has a Code of Conduct in place for all members and paid or volunteer staff including but not limited to committee members, technical officials, team managers, poolside helpers, coaches, teachers, athletes and parents / guardians.
It is important that all Welfare Officers have a generic (non-personal) email address to ensure confidence to report concerns to you. This email address and links to the Swim England Safeguarding pages should be included on your club website or social media pages to allow members to contact you directly.
Welfare Officer training requirements
| Mandatory | Optional |
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