Job title: HR & Safeguarding Officer
Hours of Work: You will be expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week, excluding lunch breaks. The role may include evening and weekend hours.
Location: Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Ewood Park, Blackburn, BB2 4JF (and remote as agreed with line manager)
Responsible To: Finance, People and Policy Director
Contractual Status: Full Time – permanent
Closing Date: Monday 22nd June 2026 @ 5pm
Interview Date: W/C Monday 22nd June 2026
Overall purpose of the Job:
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust (BRCT) is the award-winning official charity of Blackburn Rovers FC.
The HR & Safeguarding Officer will provide high-quality generalist HR support and advice across the Trust, supporting managers and employees throughout the employee lifecycle and contributing to a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture.
The role will also support the effective implementation and monitoring of safeguarding policies and procedures across the organisation, helping to ensure the welfare and safety of children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers.
Working closely with the Finance, People and Policy Director, the postholder will support safer recruitment, employee wellbeing, compliance, learning and development, safeguarding culture and continuous organisational improvement.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Support the effective implementation and promotion of safeguarding policies, procedures and safer working practices across the Trust.
- Provide safeguarding advice and support to staff in line with organisational policies and procedures, escalating concerns where appropriate.
- Monitor and triage safeguarding concerns and records using safeguarding reporting systems, ensuring accurate, confidential and GDPR-compliant record keeping.
- Immediately escalate high-risk or serious incidents to Senior Safeguarding Manager.
- Support safeguarding investigations, audits, compliance requirements and reporting processes, identifying trends, learning opportunities and areas for improvement.
- Coordinate safeguarding training plans and mandatory safeguarding compliance for staff, volunteers and contractors.
- Attend relevant safeguarding meetings and maintain up-to date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, guidance and best practice.
- Support management of low-level concerns and whistleblowing processes.
- Provide day-to-day HR advice and support to managers and employees on policies, procedures and employee-related matters, escalating complex issues where appropriate.
- Support safer recruitment, onboarding and off-boarding processes, ensuring all compliance documentation is completed and recorded accurately.
- Coordinate recruitment activity including preparing job descriptions, posting adverts and supporting interview processes.
- Maintain HR systems, employee records and compliance trackers, including DBS checks, references and right to work documentation.
- Support employee lifecycle processes including contracts, policy documentation, absence management, wellbeing initiatives and performance management.
- Assist with employee relations matters including, promotions, restructures, investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes.
- Support the development and review of HR policies, systems and processes to promote compliance, efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Produce HR and safeguarding reports, workforce insights and compliance data for senior leaders, Trustees, governing bodies and external partners where required.
- Support staff induction, training, mandatory compliance and continuous professional development across the organisation.
- Work collaboratively with managers, external agencies and support services to ensure effective people and safeguarding practices.
- Any other duties reasonably required by the Finance, People and Policy Director.
General:
Act at all times as an ambassador for Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and the Blackburn Rovers brand. Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusion, contributing positively to the Trust’s culture, values and strategic objectives.
Person Specification:
Essential knowledge:
- Excellent knowledge of Human Resources practices.
- Good knowledge of safeguarding practices and procedures.
- Good knowledge and understanding of UK employment law.
- Knowledge of Data Protection and confidentiality.
Essential experience:
- Experience providing HR administrative or advisory support within a busy organisation.
- Experience using HR systems/databases.
- Experience managing confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
- Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding and employee lifecycle processes.
- Working with an external HR company to facilitate expert advice.
- Experience working within safeguarding procedures and practices.
- Report writing.
- Experience maintaining accurate records and compliance documentation.
Desirable experience:
- Experience within a charity, football, education or community setting.
- Experience supporting employee relations casework.
- Experience working with confidential safeguarding or welfare related information.
- Experience coordinating safeguarding training and compliance.
Qualifications
Essential qualifications:
- GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent).
- CIPD Level 5 qualification or working towards.
- FA Safeguarding qualification (or willingness to complete).
- Safeguarding Children certificate (or willingness to complete immediately).
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training/awareness.
Desirable qualifications:
- CIPD Level 7 qualification.
- Mental Health First Aid qualification.
- Safer Recruitment training.
- FAA3 Safeguarding.
Essential skills:
- Good judgement and decision-making skills.
- Good analytical skills.
- Highly organised with attention to detail.
- Ability to assess risk, make sound decisions, and maintain accurate records
- The ability to deal with all information with discretion and confidentiality.
- The ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the business.
- The ability to work within a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to build positive working relationships across all levels of the organisation.
- Ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands Values and Personal Attributes effectively.
- Ability to handle sensitive situations professionally and calmly.
- Strong administrative and organisational skills.
- Good IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
Values and Personal Attributes
Essential:
- Passion for community impact.
- High level of emotional intelligence.
- Strong alignment with the values and mission of Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.
- Clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and equality.
- Collaborative, supportive and accountable approach.
Desirable:
- Interest in football, sport and social impact.
DBS check required: Yes (enhanced)
Please note:
The person appointed to this post will, from day-to-day, have contact with children and vulnerable adults, many of whom are under eleven years of age, and several whom may have moderate learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Therefore, the post holder will require an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check.
Safeguarding Recruitment:
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and Blackburn Rovers FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate safeguarding checks as well as providing proof of right to work in the UK. The successful applicant can expect to have their personal information entered on to a Single Central Record and/or the FA’s Whole Game system, which will be shared with key football and other sports governing bodies and organisations where applicable.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
As we are a diverse community trust that respects differences in race, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, background or personal circumstance we welcome all applications. We want everyone to feel valued and included in the football community and to achieve their full potential. BRCT is opposed to any form of discrimination and commits itself to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate.
The document is a guide only and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing needs of the organisation.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
