Quality, Safeguarding & Compliance Lead

Posted Date

November 2, 2026

About World Of Swimming

World of Swimming is a growing swimming lesson provider, delivering lessons to approximately 3,700 swimmers across multiple locations in Southern England. Our mission is to provide safe, enjoyable and progressive swimming lessons, supported by excellent teaching, strong safeguarding practices and consistent operational standards. As our organisation continues to develop, we are looking for an experienced swimming education and quality assurance professional to help us maintain high standards across our regional hubs.

Role Overview

Quality, Safeguarding & Compliance Lead

Commitment: 1–2 days per month (approximately 8–16 hours) | Part-Time Consultancy / Employment Opportunity

Location: Hybrid, with occasional visits to swimming pools across Wessex, Thames and Sussex

Reports to: Managing Director

Remuneration: Competitive, dependent on experience and qualifications

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Working Arrangements

This is a flexible appointment requiring approximately 1–2 days per month, with work planned around an agreed annual audit and quality assurance schedule. Activities will combine remote reviews of documentation and records with periodic site visits, teaching observations and meetings with relevant managers. The role is intended to provide independent professional oversight and support existing managers, rather than take over their operational responsibilities. Additional specialist work, formal investigations or extensive site audits may be commissioned separately by agreement.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a knowledgeable and proactive Quality, Safeguarding & Compliance Lead to provide independent oversight, quality assurance and practical recommendations across our swimming operations. This is a flexible role requiring approximately 1–2 days per month, ideal for an experienced STA Tutor, Internal Quality Assurer (IQA), swimming education professional or swim school compliance specialist.

The successful candidate will work alongside our Operations Managers, Swim Managers and HR team to review standards, identify improvements, support staff development and ensure appropriate compliance arrangements are maintained. The role is primarily focused on auditing, advising, supporting and improving, rather than managing day-to-day swimming operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Teaching Standards & STA Quality Assurance
• Review the quality and consistency of swimming lesson delivery across our locations.
• Conduct sample teaching observations and provide constructive feedback.
• Review lesson planning, swimmer progression and assessment standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve teaching quality and consistency.
• Support standardisation of teaching methods and assessment practices across hubs.
• Provide guidance on STA teaching qualifications, assessment and quality assurance requirements.
• Where appropriately qualified and authorised, undertake formal STA IQA activity for relevant qualifications delivered by the organisation.
• Recommend practical improvements to teaching and assessment procedures.
• Safeguarding & Child Protection
• Conduct periodic audits of safeguarding policies, procedures and staff awareness.
• Review the effectiveness of safeguarding reporting and escalation processes.
• Sample-check safeguarding training records and renewal requirements.
• Review safeguarding arrangements for new staff, volunteers and pool locations.
• Identify gaps and recommend improvements in safeguarding practice.
• Support the Designated Safeguarding Lead and management team with guidance on good practice.
• Review whether relevant safeguarding procedures remain aligned with current legislation and sector guidance.
  
  

The postholder will provide safeguarding assurance and advice, rather than automatically assume the responsibilities of the organisation's Designated Safeguarding Lead.

• HR Compliance & Staff Records
  
  

Working Alongside Our HR Team, The Successful Candidate Will

• Audit a sample of employee records to verify required documentation is complete.
• Review DBS checking and recruitment procedures, including appropriate safeguarding checks.
• Monitor systems for recording staff qualifications and expiry dates.
• Review mandatory training requirements and completion records.
• Check that induction and onboarding procedures are consistently followed.
• Identify gaps in training, documentation or employment-related compliance.
• Recommend improvements to HR processes and staff record keeping.
  
  

The role will focus on compliance assurance rather than routine HR administration, payroll or employee relations management.

• Health, Safety & Pool Compliance
• Conduct sample audits of swimming pool safety arrangements and relevant operating procedures.
• Review the availability and currency of site-specific risk assessments.
• Check appropriate arrangements exist for emergency procedures, supervision and incident reporting.
• Review the allocation of safety responsibilities between World of Swimming and pool operators.
• Sample-check relevant staff rescue, first aid and safety training records.
• Identify potential operational risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Support managers in maintaining consistent health and safety standards across locations.
• Staff Training & Development Audit
  
  

A key part of this role will be reviewing the training and development needs of our swimming workforce.

Responsibilities Will Include

• Conducting periodic staff training needs assessments.
• Reviewing the qualifications and professional development of swimming teachers, supervisors and managers.
• Identifying skills gaps and opportunities for further development.
• Recommending suitable STA courses, CPD workshops and other recognised training.
• Advising on progression pathways for teachers wishing to become senior teachers, mentors, tutors or assessors.
• Helping develop a practical annual staff training and development plan.
• Identifying opportunities to deliver training internally where appropriate.
• Advising on cost-effective training options and prioritising essential requirements.
  
  

The objective is to ensure our team remains appropriately qualified, confident, supported and able to deliver excellent swimming lessons.

• Policies, Procedures & Operational Standards
• Review key operational policies and procedures on a scheduled basis.
• Identify inconsistencies between regional hubs.
• Recommend standardised approaches where appropriate.
• Review relevant documentation when new pools or swim schools join the organisation.
• Support the development of practical compliance checklists and audit templates.
• Advise on opportunities to improve quality assurance and record keeping.
• Help prepare the business for relevant external quality reviews or accreditation.
• Reporting & Continuous Improvement
  
  

Following each monthly review, provide a concise report to the Managing Director covering:

• Compliance status and any significant risks identified.
• Teaching quality findings and recommended improvements.
• Safeguarding and HR compliance observations.
• Outstanding training requirements.
• Recommended staff development courses.
• Progress against previous audit actions.
• Prioritised actions, proposed owners and recommended completion dates.
  
  

The emphasis should be on clear, practical recommendations that help our management team improve standards without unnecessary administration.

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Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience within the swimming teaching, training or swim school sector.
• Recognised swimming teaching qualification.
• Strong understanding of swimming lesson standards and swimmer progression.
• Experience in quality assurance, staff development or operational auditing.
• Good knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities within children's activities.
• Understanding of staff training, qualification and compliance requirements.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to provide independent, constructive feedback and practical recommendations.
• Appropriate safeguarding and safer recruitment checks for the duties undertaken.
  
  

Highly Desirable

• Qualified STA Tutor.
• STA Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance qualification or equivalent.
• Experience managing or supporting a multi-site swim school.
• Experience auditing swimming lesson providers or training centres.
• Safeguarding leadership or relevant specialist training.
• Experience developing staff training programmes.
• Knowledge of STA Swim Star / STAmark standards.
  
  

Formal STA IQA work will only be undertaken where the individual meets the applicable qualification, competency, independence and authorisation requirements.

What Success Looks Like

The Successful Candidate Will Help World Of Swimming Achieve

• Consistent teaching and assessment standards across all hubs.
• Effective safeguarding and safety assurance arrangements.
• Accurate and up-to-date staff compliance records.
• Clear visibility of staff training and development needs.
• Improved consistency in operational procedures.
• Timely identification and resolution of compliance gaps.
• A practical, prioritised improvement plan that supports our management team.
  
  

Our guiding principles are Safe, Fun and Progress.

We want someone who shares these values and can help us build a swimming organisation where swimmers are safe, teachers are supported and standards continue to improve.

What We Offer

Competitive salary, dependent on experience and qualifications

To apply please complete the form below