Disclosure and Barring Service Checks
Welfare Officers must have an FA-accepted Criminal Record Check (CRC), also known as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check, which has to be renewed every three years.
Other roles in football that require a DBS include:
| Role in football | Action to take |
| Grassroots Coach, Manager, First-aider or other club-based eligible role (i.e. anyone who has a role with under-18s) | Contact your Club Welfare Officer (CWO) |
| Club Welfare Officer | Contact your CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) |
| FA Tutor | Contact your line manager within England Football Education |
| Referee, Referee Mentor, Referee Coach, Referee Assessor and Referee Tutor in under-18 football | Contact your CFA Referee Development Officer (RDO) |
| Working in a private soccer school or unaffiliated football | You may not be able to get an FA Enhanced DBS Check, speak to you line manager |
| Working in Premier League Club | Contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead at your club |
| Working in English Football League, BWSL, BWC and Club Community Organisations | Contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead at your club or 0115 969 4618 or FAChecks@TheFA.com |
| NLS (1-4) Coach/ Manager (incl. Assistants) First-Aider or other club-based eligible role | Contact your Club Welfare Officer (CWO) |
| Unsure what you should be doing? | Call 0115 969 4618 or email FAChecks@TheFA.com for advice |
The FA's Whole Game System enables club welfare officers (CWOs), assistant CWOs and club secretaries to track and manage club members who are required to do a check and safeguarding children training.
To register your club to use the online disclosures CRC service or to make enquiries not covered by the guidance provided below, please contact The Safeguarding Team or contact FAChecks@TheFA.com and either team will be happy to assist.
Guidance
The FA has created a page with further information here.