Safeguarding Support Officer (Level 3)

Who is this Apprenticeship for?

This course is for any eligible candidates, who are in safeguarding role and wish to further their career in this area.

The purpose of this apprenticeship is to work alongside designated safeguarding leads to support and enable their employing organisation to safeguard the vulnerable populations they work with. A safeguarding support officer will be the first point of contact when there is a safeguarding concern, conducting initial risk assessments, triaging, and signposting to the most appropriate person within their organisation or external agency if appropriate. The safeguarding support officer will maintain accurate and up to date documentation of any decisions and advice given, ensuring information is accurately recorded and that documentation is safely stored and shared appropriately, proportionately and securely according to national and organisational policy.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with staff and volunteers in their organisation, service users and members of the public as the first point of contact for raising safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding support officers will also interact externally with investigative statutory agencies. A safeguarding support officer will report into the designated lead for safeguarding within their organisation.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for responding and triaging, initial safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding support officers will assist practitioners to collate and assess information and intelligence to prepare an accurate account of the safeguarding concerns to ensure a high-quality referral is made to ensure that the most appropriate action is taken to safeguard the vulnerable persons. Safeguarding support officers will also be responsible for recognising and responding to early signs of abuse and neglect in vulnerable children, young people and adults and supporting staff within their employing organisation to report concerns about the safety of individuals working alongside external organisations and agencies to adhere to safeguarding best practice principles.

Are there any entry requirements?

Must be a UK citizen, or have the right of abode in the UK, or is a citizen of a country that is within the EEA and have been ordinarily resident in the UK, the EU or the EEA continuously for the previous three years before the start of learning.

Candidates will have achieved a minimum of GCSE Grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent in English and Maths. We also offer Functional Skills English and maths at Level 1 and Level 2 for those needing to gain these qualifications prior to enrolment.

Apprentices must be employed, for a minimum of 30 hours, in a role that suits the skills requirements of this apprenticeship.If you are not already employed, in this type of job role, you could search our apprenticeship vacancy page at:

www.darlington.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/apprenticeships/apprenticeship-vacancies/

New applicants will be contacted by a vocational delivery tutor to determine suitability/eligibility prior, give information and advice on the next steps.

Shortlisted applicants will be sent to the employer, to then follow their recruitment procedure. Unsuitable applicants will be sign-posted to other areas of our service to develop transferable/employability skills, with a view to ensuring they are suitable for other apprenticeship positions in the future.

What is the curriculum intent of this Apprenticeship?

The structure and delivery of the course curriculum will enable you to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours to reflect the needs of local and regional employers, gain qualifications and be successful in this area.

The curriculum is planned and sequenced to enable learners with previous knowledge and experience to develop the new skills needed to progress to the next stage of their career, training, education or employment. The curriculum is flexible and responsive to learner demands and can be tailored to suit individual needs, arising from any current and dynamic issues affecting their role, which can be addressed during workshop sessions.

As an apprentice you will need to be able to demonstrate knowledge and practical skills at the end of your apprenticeship training programme and understand how this reflects the needs of the local, regional and national economy.

What will the Apprenticeship cover?

The Safeguarding Support Officer L3 Apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and understanding of:

Principles of safeguarding and how to respond to safeguarding concerns within own scope of practice and organisational protocol.
Methods for person-centred communication.
How to offer safeguarding advice based on legislation, working in remit of own role.
The priority and recommended course of action of different safeguarding concerns based on local and national guidance.
Ways of tailoring responses to safeguarding cases to suit the individual’s views, feelings and cultural influences.
When and how to escalate complex cases to senior staff in line with local policy and procedures.
Local policy and procedures relating to safeguarding allegations against staff, including whistleblowing, and how to report allegations whilst maintaining confidentiality.
Ways to use, record and store paper based, digital data and information securely, in line with local and national policies and procedures.
When and how to share data and information in a safeguarding context, in line with local and national policy and procedures.
Data sources available to inform safeguarding decisions, in line with local policy and procedures.
Ways to maintain accurate and up to date safeguarding logs and registers using digital and paper systems in line with local and national policy and procedures.
Local safeguarding escalation pathways.
Types of concerns and mechanisms for reporting incidents.
Referral processes and local well-being services for individuals and staff.
How to make a comprehensive and accurate referral to children or adult social care.
Safeguarding legislation, local and national policies, procedures and codes of conduct that apply to own role.
How to link safeguarding theory to practice.
Ways to support the management of safeguarding caseloads working together within the wider team.
The safeguarding process from when a safeguarding concern is raised to the end outcome.
Different communication styles and approaches to suit the needs of individuals views, feelings and cultural influences.
Principles of reflective practice and peer support related to safeguarding cases and concerns within scope of own role.
Published local and national safeguarding reviews and how they can be applied to practice.
Legislative safeguarding training requirements and how to deliver training content to stakeholders using different teaching and learning approaches.
Principles of safeguarding inspections, reviews and audits.
Methods of collating evidence to prepare for external safeguarding inspections, reviews and audits.
How to interpret the results of inspections, reviews and audits to apply feedback to practice.
The importance of continuous professional development and identifying and evaluating own learning and development needs.
Models of safeguarding supervision and how to prepare and access supervision.
How safeguarding can impact on own wellbeing and personal safety.
Principles in supporting colleagues to follow safeguarding policy and procedures.
Principles of safeguarding culture, safeguarding supervision and compassionate care.

Develop the skills in:

Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns within role and responsibilities.
Use person-centred communication.
Use safeguarding legislation and organisational policies and procedures to advise colleagues on safeguarding matters.
Triage and prioritise safeguarding concerns.
Recommend courses of action in relation to safeguarding concerns.
Tailor safeguarding responses to suit the individual’s views, feelings and cultural influences.
Escalate cases to senior staff in accordance with local policy and procedures.
Report allegations about staff in line with local policies and procedures, whilst maintaining confidentiality.
Use, record and store paper based and digital data and information securely and in line with local and national policies and procedures.
Share data and information in a safeguarding context in line with local and national policy and procedures.
Collate and use data to create reports to inform safeguarding meetings, processes and audits.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date safeguarding logs and registers using digital or paper systems in line with local and national policy and procedures.
Identify when decisions are not in an individual’s best interest and escalate concerns within scope of own role using the local safeguarding escalation pathway.
Recognise and report incidents to own organisation.
Provide emotional and practical support to internal and external stakeholders during safeguarding work.
Support and supervise internal and external stakeholders to make multi-agency referrals.
Apply safeguarding legislation, local and national policies, procedures and codes of conduct to safeguarding practice within own role.
Apply safeguarding theory to practice.
Work together within the wider team to plan and manage safeguarding caseloads.
Comply with the safeguarding process when a safeguarding concern is raised in line with organisational policy.
Use communication styles and approaches to suit the needs of individuals.
Reflect on own performance within a group environment with other colleagues to inform best safeguarding practice.
Embed lessons learned from local and national safeguarding reviews to practice.
Assist with the delivery of safeguarding training to stakeholders in accordance with safeguarding training frameworks to ensure stakeholders achieve desired learning outcomes.
Collate evidence to prepare for external safeguarding inspections, reviews and audits.
Apply feedback from safeguarding inspections, reviews and audits to improve safeguarding practice.
Participate in training and continuous professional development activities and evaluate the impact of learning on own practice.
To seek advice and support from senior staff to preserve own wellbeing and personal safety when required.

Develop and demonstrate the following behaviours:

Treat people fairly and with dignity and respect.
Be caring and compassionate.
Show discretion and empathy whilst maintaining confidentiality.
Be adaptable and consistent.
Be self-aware, resilient and objective.
Show honesty and integrity.
Be professional and courteous.

On completion of the on-programme element of the apprenticeship you will enter gateway to the End Point Assessment, which is the final assessment. This will be conducted by an independent end point assessor who will grade the assessment.

End Point Assessment Methods

To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must:

English & maths GCSE minimum grade 4+ (C+) or equivalent level 2 qualification proof.
Completed a showcase portfolio, demonstrating how you have met the knowledge, skills and behaviours.

The End Point Assessment consists of:

Presentation with Questions – 45 mins (25 mins presentation and 20 mins Q&A)
Professional discussion – 60 mins (underpinned with a portfolio of evidence)

This standard will be graded as Distinction, Pass or Fail

What could I do when I have finished this Apprenticeship?

You may remain in employment with your employer and / or progress to become a designated safeguard lead.

You will also be given information and guidance to continue onto other courses.

Where and when will I learn?

During the course you will be expected to, normally, attend work a minimum of 30 hours per week where you will learn the skills and knowledge required to continue through your qualification. You will be supported in the workplace through regular visits with your tutor and you will also be expected to come into the training centre (Coleridge Centre, DL1 5AJ) for support sessions. These sessions will allow you to complete coursework, receive instant feedback and ensure you are ready for the End Point Assessment.

This course could also be delivered remotely, utilising digital online systems for submission of coursework, receiving feedback and 1:1 support from your tutor.

This on-programme taught element will typically take 18 months, but this is based on a vocational initial assessment to determine prior learning in this area and may be reduced. The course duration is based on the apprentice working 30 hours per week but will be extended if the apprentice works less hours. The End Point Assessment will be completed within 3 months of completing the on-programme taught element.

How much will the Apprenticeship cost?

There are no fees for this apprenticeship.

What do I do next?

You can:

View our latest vacancies

Or you can:

Apply for this apprenticeship area to be entered into a 'pool of candidates'. When a relevant vacancy becomes available we will contact you.
If you are already employed in this area and wish to join the apprenticeship training, or have identified an employer wishing to start you as an apprentice in this area, please contact us