Level 3 School Community Health and Wellbeing Champion*

Use preventative approaches to promote the health and wellbeing of students, staff, and the wider school community, addressing the social factors that affect health and the causes of ill-health.
Understand how social determinants of health influence physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing in a school environment, and identify causes of ill-health, long-term conditions, and premature death within the local school community, including strategies for prevention and risk factor management. Evaluate the positive and negative impacts of different agencies and school-based services on health and wellbeing. Analyse how psychological, behavioural, and cultural factors influence health, while addressing health inequalities within the school context. Support students, staff, and parents in recognising factors that influence their health, helping them identify their needs and strengths, overcome barriers, and access local resources to improve overall health and wellbeing within the school community.

Provide informed advice to students, staff, and parents about local services and projects that support health and wellbeing.
Understand the roles and funding of local and national statutory organisations delivering public services, such as education, housing, welfare, justice, health, and care, as well as the contributions of voluntary and charity organisations that address issues like debt management, crime reporting, domestic abuse, social isolation, bereavement, and mental health. Map community resources using a strengths-based approach, identifying gaps in provision and researching local and online services that support health and wellbeing. Ensure information on local and digital resources remains up to date, and identify barriers that prevent access to services, including how they are promoted or communicated to the school community.

Apply behavioural science to help students, staff, and families find practical solutions for better health and wellbeing.
Build rapport with individuals and groups, listening to their concerns about health and wellbeing while respecting their priorities and their right to refuse advice. Use ‘evidence-based behaviour change principles and tools’, such as capability, motivation, and action planning, to help individuals identify key issues, set goals, and make informed decisions about their health. Use person-centred, empowering approaches to support self-care behaviours that continue beyond engagement with services, promoting independence and avoiding dependency. Assist people in navigating health and service information, optimising access to relevant services, and addressing wider social, financial, or environmental factors affecting their wellbeing, while demonstrating compassion, empathy, and a non-judgemental attitude at all times.

Communicate public health messages and information to promote health and wellbeing at individual, group, and community levels.
Build rapport with students, parents, and staff to understand their health and wellbeing concerns and provide relevant, tailored information. Using evidence-based health messages, communicate complex public health information clearly and appropriately, adapting it for different audiences within the school community. Address communication barriers, such as sensory disabilities, neurodiversity, or language differences, and use various methods, including social media, newsletters, and digital platforms, to effectively promote health messages. Facilitate collaboration between the school, families, and external service providers to improve access to services, ensuring all communications are clear, consistent, empathetic, and culturally sensitive.

Operate within legal and ethical frameworks that support the promotion and protection of students’ health and wellbeing.
Understand the nature and boundaries of the role in representing the interests of students, parents, and the school community, adhering to safeguarding protocols and relevant legislation. Manage expectations about the scope and availability of school-based services, working ethically, transparently, and collaboratively with students, families, and staff to implement school policies and protocols. Escalate issues beyond the role, particularly when a student is at risk, ensuring timely and appropriate action. By applying ethical frameworks in practice, advocate for students’ best interests with honesty and integrity, while fostering a supportive and safe learning environment.

Help build local resilience by identifying strengths, capacities, and resources that support the health and wellbeing of students, staff, and families.
Apply the latest evidence to develop inclusive school-based approaches that enhance health and wellbeing, fostering partnerships with individuals, groups, and the wider school community. Follow national guidance on engaging and managing volunteers, ensuring their rights and welfare are protected. Assess the suitability of local voluntary groups to support health needs within the school environment, using protocols for service appraisal and risk assessment, and apply strengths-based approaches to empower the school community to make sustainable improvements. Collaborate with staff, parents, local authority and other organisations to address school-based health issues, ensure services are safe and sustainable, and build on successful partnerships. Identify conflicts or inefficiencies between services, working across boundaries to maximise the use of local assets and deliver shared solutions that benefit the school community.

Manage referrals from various agencies, professionals, and self-referrals to support students, staff, and families in accessing the appropriate services.
Within the scope of the role, apply local referral criteria, systems, and protocols to ensure individuals are signposted correctly, while adhering to relevant legislation and policies on information governance, data security, sharing, and record-keeping. Understand the boundaries of the role, follow safeguarding procedures, and escalate concerns appropriately. Develop and manage relationships with health and wellbeing service providers to ensure that both the service provider and those referred have clear expectations. Handle referrals, prioritise caseloads, manage waiting lists, and securely manage personal data. Recognise when someone is in distress or crisis and ensure they receive the appropriate support at the point of need.

Develop and implement strategies and policies to promote health and wellbeing at the school community level.
Create evidence-based, inclusive approaches that improve health and wellbeing, taking into account how cultural and faith-based factors may impact the effectiveness of interventions. Understand and apply national and local strategies to address health inequalities, while recognising the demands on services. Identify and promote public and voluntary sector agencies, including digital services, to meet the needs of the school community. Deliver interventions tailored to the specific needs of the school community, support the implementation of health improvement strategies and policies, and ensure evidence-based approaches are effectively applied to enhance overall health and wellbeing outcomes.

Manage data and information and contribute to the evaluation of projects and services.
Manage and handle personal data safely and securely, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, school policies, and protocols on information governance, data security, sharing, and record-keeping. Seek and record consent from students, parents, or guardians for data use, clearly explaining how their data will be stored and utilised. Using school and public health data, along with recognised tools, Identify priorities and measure health outcomes for individuals, groups, and the wider school community. Contribute to the evaluation of school-based projects and interventions to assess their impact and effectiveness, ensuring continuous improvement in promoting student wellbeing.

Take responsibility for personal and professional development in line with school protocols.
Stay informed about developments in student health, wellbeing, and education through continuous professional development, attending relevant training on safety policies and procedures, particularly when working independently or off-site. Actively participate in regular appraisals, training sessions, and reviews, using feedback to reflect on and improve practice in accordance with school policies. Maintain detailed records of training and development activities, demonstrating how these have enhanced their effectiveness in supporting students. Uphold the highest standards of professional and personal conduct, ensuring a duty of care for own safety and the safety of others.

Benefits of Having Level 3 School Community Health and Wellbeing Champion*

*This qualification results in achievement of the IFATE apprenticeship standard Community Health & Wellbeing Worker L3 and the UCAN certificate in School Community Health and Wellbeing Champion

Opportunity to develop roles: Such as Student Disability & Wellbeing Adviser, Family Liaison Officer and Health and Wellbeing Officer.

Enhanced Inclusion: Create a more inclusive learning environment where every student feels supported and able to reach their full potential.

Sustainable Workforce Development: Build a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to support your long-term goals. This approach fosters loyalty and reduces staff turnover.

Cost-Effective Training: Use the Apprenticeship Levy to cover the programme cost, making it a budget-friendly professional development option and an excellent way to upskill staff.