STA’s Designated Safeguarding Officer qualification is designed for individuals who currently work with children or adults at risk and who have, or are preparing to take on, responsibility for safeguarding within their organisation.
As part of safeguarding best practice, organisations are encouraged to have a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) in place to oversee safeguarding arrangements, provide guidance and support, and ensure that any safeguarding concerns are handled appropriately.
STA has developed this qualification to support the sport and leisure industry by providing individuals with the knowledge and skills required to undertake this important role effectively.
How will the Qualification Benefit You?
- Created by STA’s safeguarding experts, providing you with quality, industry relevant training
- Regulated by Ofqual
- Developed specifically for the sport and leisure industry, reflecting the responsibilities and challenges faced by DSOs
- Provides a recognised qualification to support your role and responsibilities as a DSO
- Provides a strong foundation for continuing professional development within safeguarding
- Gives you greater confidence in carrying out the DSO role and supporting a positive safeguarding culture within your organisation.
Who Is This Qualification For?
This qualification is ideal if you:
- Have responsibility for safeguarding within a sports, activity or leisure-based organisation or club
- Are undertaking, or preparing to undertake, a Designated Safeguarding Officer, Safeguarding lead, or Welfare Officer role
- Want to develop your career in safeguarding within the sport and leisure industry
- Hold an existing DSO role and want to formalise and evidence your knowledge and competence
- Have safeguarding responsibilities as part of your wider role and want to strengthen your professional knowledge
- Want to gain a regulated qualification that demonstrates your commitment to safeguarding
How to Take Your Qualification Further
- Continue developing skills and knowledge through additional safeguarding CPDs and professional development
- Progress into more senior safeguarding or management roles within the sector, taking on greater responsibility for safeguarding within their organisation
- Broaden knowledge and take on more varied roles within the sport and leisure industry by completing additional STA aquatics and lifesaving qualification
- Share knowledge and experience with others by becoming an STA tutor.
Learners can explore the full range of STA qualifications and courses available to support their professional development and career progression. Click for further information.
Interested? Before You Get Started…
You’ll need to make sure you’ve met the following requirements before you attend your course:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
It is advisable that learners:
- Hold STA Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk CPD certificate (or acceptable equivalent).
Learners must have all pre-requisites in place before the start of the course. Qualification certificates cannot be issued if all pre-requisites are not met before the start of the course, post course submissions will not be accepted.
Are you wishing to become a Designated Safeguarding tutor to deliver the STA Designated Safeguarding Officer qualification?
To deliver the STA Designated Safeguarding Officer qualification, learners must:
- Be at least 19 years of age
- Hold current membership of STA
- Meet one of the following criteria:
- Be a current STA tutor in another discipline; or
- Hold a formal teaching and assessing qualification such as Level 3 Award in Education and Training (or an acceptable equivalent) and have completed the STA Tutor Status CPD
- Hold the STA Designated Safeguarding Officer qualification (or an STA approved acceptable equivalent)
- Provide evidence of acting as a Designated Safeguarding Officer within the last 5 years
- Provide evidence of maintaining occupational competence through relevant continuing professional development (CPD)
- Completed the STA Designated Safeguarding Officer Tutor Upskill
For more information click here.