Apprenticeship Overview

A work-based learning programme in safeguarding for employees who support their organisation in protecting vulnerable individuals from harm, abuse, and neglect. Key responsibilities might include: conducting initial risk assessments, triaging safeguarding concerns, maintaining accurate documentation, supporting staff with safeguarding practices, and collaborating with external agencies.

This programme is suitable for employees wanting to improve their safeguarding knowledge and skills and support career aspirations.

Apprentices will be required to have or achieve Level 2 English and maths, prior to taking their End Point Assessment. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

DEVELOPING CORE KNOWLEDGE:

• 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 individuals 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 through the use of 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.

DEVELOPING CORE SKILLS:

• 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 individuals 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 through the use of digital or paper systems in line with local and national policy and procedures.

• Identify when decisions are not in an individuals 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.

DEVELOPING CORE 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.

Progression Routes From This Apprenticeship

Upon completion, apprentices can advance to more senior safeguarding roles or specialise in areas such as child protection, adult safeguarding, or multi-agency coordination. This enhances their professional development and career prospects within safeguarding and welfare services.

*The End Point Assessment duration for this Apprenticeship is 3 months