COURSE
L3 Safeguarding Support Officer
The Safeguarding Support Officer Apprenticeship Standard is ideal for individuals who support statutory safeguarding responsibilities and demonstrate how organisations work to protect an individual’s health, wellbeing and human rights, enabling individuals to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. This occupation is found in a range of public, private, and voluntary sector organisations, including Education and Training Providers, Health and Social Care Providers, Police Support Staff, Fire and Rescue Services, Housing Organisations, Charities and the Voluntary Sector, Religious Organisations and Professional Sports Organisations.
Safeguarding Support Officers have an emphasis on preventative safeguarding and cooperate with different organisations to support in making informed decisions in the safeguarding of children and adults. They are skilled in recognising and responding to emerging safeguarding needs, initiating and advocating early intervention when a problem first arises. They are knowledgeable in multi-agency early help strategies, referral pathways and key legislation and processes to help prevent children, young people and adults with care and support needs being referred to safeguarding services. Additionally, these officers support staff in developing professional curiosity and learning how to ask the right questions to obtain the information necessary to complete risk assessments. Safeguarding Support Officers ensure that wellbeing is promoted, having regard to the individual’s views, wishes, feelings and cultural influences when deciding on any action and recognising vulnerable individuals are less likely to identify or report abuse.
A Safeguarding Support Officer will report to designated safeguarding leads to support and enable their employing organisation to safeguard the vulnerable populations they work with. They will be the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns, conducting initial risk assessments, triaging, and signposting to the most appropriate person within their organisation or external agency if appropriate. They will maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of any decisions and advice given, ensuring information is accurately recorded and documentation is safely stored and shared appropriately, proportionately and securely according to national and organisational policy.
Job Roles suitable for this qualification
- Safeguarding Advisor
- Safeguarding Assistant
- Safeguarding Coordinator
Entry Requirements
- Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
- For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3.
- A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
- A satisfactory enhanced DBS check will be an entry requirement for the programme.
- Employers may set their own entry requirements which might typically include a minimum entry age due to the nature of the role.
Duration
The qualification usually takes around 18 months (excluding 3 months EPA period). However, it is possible to complete earlier depending on the existing achievements and individual circumstances. This can be discussed with your tutor. The apprentice must spend at least 12 months on-programme and complete the required amount of off-the-job training in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
Aims of this qualification
The aim of this qualification is to support the apprentice’s understanding of the 3 key areas covering the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs). The core occupation duties of the Level 3 Safeguarding Support Officer are as follows:
- Duty 1 – Act as a first point of contact for safeguarding concerns.
- Duty 2 – Understand and apply knowledge around safeguarding legislation, guidance and policy to the safeguarding work undertaken within their organisation.
- Duty 3 – Prioritise safeguarding concerns and recommend initial courses of action using a tailored approach to suit the needs of the individual, escalating complex cases to senior staff.
- Duty 4 – Report safeguarding allegations involving staff to Senior leaders.
- Duty 5 – Make decisions relating to the appropriate sharing of information in the context of safeguarding and information governance procedures/data protection legislation.
- Duty 6 – Collate evidence and report data to inform safeguarding meetings, processes and audits.
- Duty 7 – Maintain accurate and up-to-date safeguarding logs and registers using digital or paper systems in accordance with organisational policies reviews and audits.
- Duty 8 – Escalate concerns when a decision is not in the best interest of the vulnerable person(s) or family and report incidents as appropriate to their organisation.
- Duty 9 – Provide safeguarding support to employees working within their own organisation and partner agencies to assist with the implementation of organisational, multi-agency, national safeguarding legislation and guidance.
- Duty 10 – Initiate advice and intelligence to colleagues on safeguarding matters based on current safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Duty 11 – Support the management of a safeguarding caseload and be able to offer assistance to vulnerable people through the safeguarding process.
- Duty 12 – Participate in discussions of safeguarding cases with colleagues to review, reflect and learn from practice.
- Duty 13 – Assist with training to colleagues on safeguarding relevant to own organisation’s training requirements and ensure stakeholders are aware and compliant with safeguarding related policies and procedures.
- Duty 14 – Contribute to and prepare for external safeguarding inspections, reviews and audits.
- Duty 15 – Maintain own professional development via training and safeguarding supervision, ensuring that knowledge is up to date based on national and local legislation and best practice guidance.
On-Programme Learning/Delivery
On-programme assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours will lead to the final synoptic end-point assessment.
Apprentices will be allocated a qualified tutor to support the full completion of the apprenticeship and prepare them for the end-point assessment (sometimes 2 tutors will be required at different times for teaching different elements). The tutor will undertake engaging and interactive teaching, learning and support sessions with the apprentice on a regular basis (at least every 4-5 weeks), either remotely via Microsoft Teams or in the workplace if appropriate, to conduct teaching, learning and assessments. These will be planned with the apprentice and employer.
The tutor will manage a portfolio of evidence using an online electronic system called OneFile and give regular updates about progress. Apprentices can contact their tutor in between visits to discuss any aspect of their qualification and will be able to access their online portfolio 24/7.
Learning Outcomes
- Level 3 Safeguarding Support Officer Apprenticeship Standard
- Designated Safeguarding Lead Training (e-learning course)
- Level 2 Functional Skills in English (if not exempt)
- Level 2 Functional Skills in maths (if not exempt)
Assessment Gateway
Before the apprentice is adjudged ready to undertake the end-point assessment by their employer and training provider, they will need to:
- receive confirmation from the employer that the apprentice is deemed to be working at or above the level set out in the apprenticeship standard and ready to undertake the EPA.
- confirm that they are ready to take the EPA.
- achieve Level 2 in English and maths Functional Skills (if not exempt).
- submit a portfolio of evidence to support the professional discussion.
The purpose of the end-point assessment is to test (in a synoptic way) the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprentice as set out in the apprenticeship standard.
The end-point assessment:
- provides apprentices with a showcase opportunity to provide oral and documentary evidence of their knowledge, skills and behaviours developed throughout the apprenticeship.
- enables the independent assessor to assess the skills and behaviours of the apprentice by observing the apprentice in the course of their normal work.
- tests the knowledge acquired by the apprentice throughout the apprenticeship.
End-Point Assessment
The end-point assessment will comprise two assessments. All assessments must be individually passed for the apprentice to be deemed competent:
- Presentation with Questions:
Grading for Presentation with Questions: Pass/Distinction
- Professional Discussion underpinned by Portfolio:
A professional discussion is a 60-minute, formal two-way discussion between the apprentice and the independent assessor. The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence. The purpose is to assess the apprentice’s competence against the following themes:
- Collaboration
- Safeguarding practice
- Legislation, policy and procedures
- Personal development
The independent assessor will ask at least 12 questions. The purpose of the independent assessor’s questions will be to assess the depth of understanding of the KSBs, draw out contextualised examples and further clarify skills demonstrated in the portfolio of evidence.
Grading for Professional Discussion underpinned by Portfolio: Pass/Distinction
Overall apprenticeship standard grade: Pass/Merit/Distinction
If you have already discussed joining a cohort with Pier Training, please click here to apply for this course. A Pier Training representative will contact you to discuss the next steps of your enrolment.
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