Qualification Structure

The ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management is an Ofqual-regulated qualification accredited on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). The qualification has a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 500 hours and 260 Guided Learning Hours (GLH).

Assessment is assignment-based only and is conducted on a Pass/Fail basis. Assignments are internally assessed and verified by centre staff, with external quality assurance provided by ProQual Verifiers to ensure compliance with national standards.

To achieve the qualification, learners must successfully complete all five mandatory units.

Core Study Units

Unit 1: Risk-based Safety Management Systems

• Develop and implement current ISO standards for occupational health and safety.
• Evaluate strategic risks using quantifiable risk assessment systems.
• Develop effective risk communication strategies for different situations.

Unit 2: Safety Culture, Sustainability and the Global Effect on Performance

• Evaluate the effects of global issues on safety culture.
• Evaluate the benefits of sustainability in the workplace.
• Measure safety performance and calculate safety return on investment.
• Understand the effects of psychological health and injury management in the workplace.
• Lead a whole-organisation approach to occupational health and safety

Unit 3: Digital Technologies and Incident Investigation

• Understand the effects of digital technologies on strategic and operational occupational health and safety management.
• Implement biohazard risk assessments and workplace control measures.
• Understand ecological risk assessment and control measures.
• Implement engineering solutions for ergonomic hazards and control measures.
• Understand risk assessment requirements for biological outbreaks and control measures.
• Understand likely failure scenarios for chemical hazards and control measures.
• Implement accident causal analysis models for physical hazards.

Unit 4: Development as a Strategic Manager

• Identify personal skills required to achieve strategic ambitions.
• Manage personal leadership and management development to support strategic organisational and personal ambitions.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of leadership and management development plans.
• Advocate an employee welfare environment that supports organisational values.
• Maintain and record professional development.

Unit 5: Establish Business Risk Management Processes

• Understand business risk management models and techniques.
• Develop effective business risk management processes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of business risk management processes.

Who Is This Qualification For?

The ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management is suitable for:

• Health and safety managers seeking senior strategic roles.
• Occupational health and safety professionals responsible for organisational safety.
• Health and safety leaders developing strategic safety policies and systems.
• Safety consultants supporting organisations with risk and compliance.
• Compliance managers overseeing workplace health and safety requirements.
• Senior managers responsible for integrating safety into business strategy.
• HSE professionals seeking advanced leadership and management knowledge.
• Risk managers involved in strategic risk identification and control.
• Professionals responsible for developing occupational health and safety management systems.
• Managers seeking to strengthen safety culture and organisational performance.
• Professionals involved in incident investigation and risk management.
• Leaders managing health and safety across complex or multi-employer workplaces.
• Professionals responsible for business risk management and organisational resilience.
• Experienced managers seeking career progression within health and safety leadership.
• Learners aiming to develop advanced strategic health and safety management capabilities.

The qualification is particularly relevant to individuals already involved in developing or applying health and safety procedures and managers seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Career Opportunities

The ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management provides learners with advanced knowledge and strategic skills required to pursue senior roles within health and safety, risk management, compliance, occupational safety, and organisational leadership. As organisations place increasing importance on workplace safety, effective risk governance, and regulatory compliance, professionals with advanced strategic health and safety expertise are increasingly valued across public, private, industrial, construction, and commercial environments.

Future Progression

Upon successful completion of the ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management, learners can progress towards senior professional roles and advanced career opportunities within health and safety, risk management, compliance, and organisational leadership. The qualification provides a strong foundation for developing strategic expertise in occupational health and safety management, leadership, governance, risk control, and organisational performance.

Learners may choose to pursue advanced professional development, enhance their competence through continuing professional development (CPD), or undertake specialist training in areas such as strategic risk management, occupational health and safety leadership, safety management systems, incident investigation, sustainability, and organisational resilience.

The qualification can also support progression into senior positions including Health and Safety Manager, Health and Safety Director, Head of Health and Safety, HSE Manager, Occupational Health and Safety Consultant, Risk Manager, Compliance Manager, Safety Management Systems Manager, and Corporate Safety Manager. The knowledge and strategic skills gained are valuable across industries where effective health and safety leadership, risk governance, and regulatory compliance are essential.