Oxfordshire FA offers a range of safeguarding services and Continual Professional Development training opportunities to help create a safe and enjoyable football experience for everyone locally.

We ensure safeguarding requirements are met during the annual affiliation of clubs and we support clubs and their members to maintain these throughout the season.

Each club with a youth team has a Welfare Officer and whilst the initial training is now provided online, we continue to provide opportunities throughout each season to deliver sessions on changes in rules, refresh previous learning, explore emerging issues and potential solutions. 

DBS Checks in football

The FA's Policy

As part of our safeguarding children strategy, The FA requires those working in eligible* roles with children and young people to 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 and remain compliant.  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.

Guidance on How to Get a Check

Select the activity in which you have the most frequent contact with U18s from the table below and follow up with the relevant contact point: