Information Gathering for Safeguarding Officers

14 Safeguarding Officers (SO) joined us at our Safe Sport Community of Practice (CoP) held on 2^nd October 2025. 

The goal of the session was to provide SOs the chance to continuously utilise and sharpen their information gathering abilities when attending to Affected Persons (APs). It was led by Jolie, an experienced trainer and psychologist, who has also been delivering our Safeguarding Officer Training course since 2022.

Jolie opened the session by addressing tricky questions based on scenarios that the SOs have experienced, sharing suggestions and tips on how to approach challenging situations.

Participants were split into pairs and were given two different role-play practices. They took turns playing the role of an SO and an AP who had either experienced or witnessed forms of abuse. Each pair was facilitated by a Safe Sport secretariat member.

After each scenario, positive interactions were acknowledged, and recommended practices were reiterated in a debrief. One example of this is how the SOs should try their best to use open-ended questions when speaking with an AP, so they can elaborate on their thoughts and feelings. 

“Role playing prepared me for future situations and being able to help when the need arises. It was a great format made better by the engaging trainer, Jolie” 

The role of a Safeguarding Officer is challenging, but participants understand the importance of the work they do. Their dedication serves as an encouraging reminder of perseverance in safeguarding efforts.

The Safe Sport team remains dedicated to supporting SOs and creating more opportunities for further learning and growth. A massive thank you to Jolie and all SOs who joined us and for their contributions to a truly meaningful evening.