Level 3 Apprenticeship In Safeguarding Support
Level 3 Safeguarding Support Officer Apprenticeship | Level 3 | 21 Months (Including End Point Assessment)
Programme Overview
Our Safeguarding Support Officer apprenticeship is for staff who are working within roles which involve supporting and safeguarding individuals. These can include children, young people and adults. Safeguarding support officers can be found in education, health and social care, housing, police support, fire and rescue services, charities, religious groups, sports organisations or others.
A safeguarding support officer's role is to work with designated safeguarding leads to promote wellbeing and human rights within an organisation, implement safeguarding processes, helping others to understand risks, follow referral pathways, and apply safeguarding legislation at all times.
This apprenticeship provides learners with the specialist safeguarding knowledge ideal for individuals within this role, ensuring workplaces meet their regulatory safeguarding expectations, and reduce the pressure on management.
Our dedicated team of coaches have designed our apprenticeship delivery to provide apprentices with the safeguarding knowledge, leadership skills and practical experience necessary to make a real difference to their workplace. This programme strengthens professional safeguarding practices and cultures, and will also support the learner in becoming a strong advocate and leader in promoting safe environments for everyone.
Watch: An Interview With Our Safeguarding Coaches
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Who Is This Apprenticeship For?
The Safeguarding Support Officer qualification is aimed at individuals working in roles that involve supporting the safeguarding of children, young people or adults. This may include staff working in education, health and social care, housing, police support, fire and rescue services, charities, religious groups, or sports organisations.
It is ideal for those who are progressing from a Level 3 qualification and are taking on more responsibility within their current role.
The qualification supports those who are involved in preventing abuse, recognising safeguarding concerns early, and contributing to multi-agency decisions. Safeguarding Support Officers play a key role in promoting wellbeing and human rights, helping others understand risks, follow referral pathways, and apply safeguarding legislation. They also support colleagues in developing professional curiosity and knowing how to ask the right questions, especially when working with individuals who may be unable or unwilling to speak up for themselves.
It's vital that the learner has access to real-life safeguarding processes, as this will form the foundation for their practical learning and reflective development throughout the course.
Typical Job Titles
Safeguarding Advisor
Safeguarding Assistant
Safeguarding Co-Ordinator
Core Duties
- 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 that is undertaken within their own 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.
Watch: The Learner Experience On The Level 3 Safeguarding Support Officer Apprenticeship
The Apprenticeship Process
Apprentices are allocated a skills & development coach by a training provider such as Dynamic Training, who will support and guide them for the duration of their apprenticeship.
Training with the skills and development coach is delivered regularly throughout the length of the apprenticeship, both online and within the workplace itself. The training will always take place during the apprentice's normal working hours. The apprentice does not need to leave the workplace, or work additional hours, as part of their apprenticeship.
Apprentices will work to complete their portfolio of evidence for their apprenticeship, and submit assignments to the required standard, so that they can complete their apprenticeship and receive their qualification. The apprentice will also be learning and developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours within their workplace, and using this as evidence within their apprenticeship.
The skills and development coach will hold regular meetings with their learner and line manager, to see how the apprentice is developing and how much progress they are making with their portfolio of evidence. These meetings ensure that the learner is receiving the right support from both their employer and their training provider, and help move the apprentice forwards in their apprenticeship.
Being an apprentice requires access to a computer or other electronic device, as well a good internet connection, in order to complete their work and join online training sessions. Dynamic Training use Microsoft Teams for online meetings, and OneFile as our e-portfolio.
Frequently Asked Apprenticeship Questions
Apprenticeships are open to anyone aged 16 or over, entitled to live in England and who are no longer in full-time education.
Whether they are starting their working career or are already in the workplace looking to upskill or retrain, apprenticeships can provide an opportunity to increase skills and knowledge.
As there is no upper age limit, apprenticeships can be a great way for working professionals to help achieve career progression or for career changers to learn a new profession.
With an apprenticeship, employees have a fantastic opportunity to learn, gaining industry desired skills and knowledge and behaviours in the workplace.
Apprentices can be employed as a new apprentice on a fixed term contract or you they can be an existing member of staff who would like to upskill or retrain.
Once an apprentice starts their programme, they are allocated a Skills & Development Coach from Dynamic Training, who will support them for the duration of their training and ensure they are ready for end point assessment.
Additionally, employers are expected to provide apprentices with a workplace mentor who is normally a senior member of staff, but who is not the apprentices' direct manager.
Working hours vary depending on the employer, however the minimum duration of an apprenticeship (12 months) is based on an apprentice working 30 paid hours per week. For apprentices working less hours, the apprenticeship duration must be extended.
You can find out more about off-the-job training from the below page which fully breaks down how many hours an apprenticeship requires.
For existing staff members, their existing rate of pay will not be affected and you will not have to take a pay cut to become an apprentice.
For new entrant employed as an apprentice, you can view the minimum wages on the government's website.
You are able to search and apply for all apprenticeship vacancies using the National Apprenticeship Service website
Already Working: If you are looking to complete your apprenticeship with your current employer, first talk to your line manager about the opportunity to start an apprenticeship. We will gladly then talk to your employer about the options available to get you started.
Find out more about apprenticeships and answer your questions by exploring our comprehensive explanation of apprenticeships.
Functional Skills Information
Functional Skills are qualifications in English and maths, embeded within apprenticeships, ensuring learners develop practical skills in the workplace.
- Entry Level 3: Assessed through internally marked tests in reading, writing, and maths, with a focus on everyday practical applications.
- Level 1 & Level 2: Assessed through externally marked exams in English (reading, writing, and speaking & listening) and maths, testing problem-solving and real-world application.
For Apprentices Aged 16-18 At The Start Of The Programme:
For level 3 apprenticeships and above, apprentices must pass Level 2 Functional Skills if they have not already achieved a GCSE grade 4 or higher.
Apprentices with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, or a legacy equivalent (SEN statement or LDA), may be eligible to achieve Entry Level 3 Functional Skills in English and maths instead of the standard Level 1 or 2 requirements. This flexibility also applies if a thorough, evidence-based assessment by a qualified professional (such as the Head of SEN or an equivalent expert) identifies a learning difficulty or disability that presents a barrier to achieving the higher levels.
For Apprentices Aged 19+ At The Start Of The Programme:
Apprentices aged 19+ have the option to opt in or opt out of Functional Skills in English and / or Maths, with employer agreement.
If the apprentice opts in, they must undertake the assessments for the level they are working towards (e.g., Entry Level, Level 1, or Level 2). They can still complete their apprenticeship by proceeding directly to the End Point Assessment (EPA) without needing to pass Functional Skills assessments.
If the apprentice chooses not to opt in, they will complete the apprenticeship by proceeding directly to the End Point Assessment (EPA) without needing to upskill in maths and/ or English or pass Functional Skills assessments.
Please consider carefully, should you opt out, you may be affecting future progression opportunities.
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Still Want To Know More?
Join us on one of our apprenticeship information sessions where we can support you with any queries you have and help you make an informed decision about the programme.
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How To Get In Touch...
Address:
Unit 7, Brook Business Centre,
Cowley Mill Road,
Uxbridge,
UB8 2FX
Phone: 020 8607 7850
Our Safeguarding Support Officer Content Pack For Employers
The resources within our content pack have been provided for use by our partners and employers, to help promote our apprenticeship to their staff through your own communication systems, such as emails, intranets and social media platforms.
Feel free to use these systems as required, and link to our website from your own communication systems. If you require custom resources, please see the information on this page.
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