From £162.50 A Month

Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management

A strategic, portfolio-based ProQual Level 7 Diploma for senior health and safety managers, consultants and directors.

4.7 (49 Reviews)

Run by Nigel Lewis

Nigel Lewis BA (Hons) CMIOSH OSHCR PIEMAShec Logo
Elcas Logo

Awarding Body

ProQual

Skill Level

Advanced

Diploma

Level 7

Course Type

Portfolio

About Course

This Level 7 Diploma is specifically designed for experienced senior health and safety managers, group health and safety directors, and senior consultants. Focused on high-level policy change and tactical implementation, it is designed for professionals working at senior or strategic level. It can support progression toward advanced professional recognition, subject to the requirements of the relevant membership body. There are no examinations, making it a flexible learning pathway. You are assessed based on your competence, skills, knowledge, and understanding, and will provide evidence showing how and why you perform your work.

Accredited Certification

IOSH-approved CertIOSH pathway.

Flexible Study

Start anytime. Learn at your own pace.

15 Months Access

Complete your work when it suits you.

For Senior Professionals

CertIOSH approved Pathway.

Vocational Course

Work Based Learning

Career Progression

Industry Standard

Download Syllabus for Complete Details

Course Content

Our fully supported, assignment-based approach, helps you build a portfolio of work across 5 units.

Course Syllabus

5 Mandatory Units – Level 7

Risk-based safety systems management

Level 7

Safety culture, sustainability, and the global effect on performance

Level 7

Digital technologies and incident investigation

Level 7

Development as a strategic manager

Level 5

Establish business risk management processes

Level 5

ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management

Career Progression

This course is for you if...​

You’re in a Health & Safety Role

Ideal for professionals tasked with overseeing company-wide safety protocols and policies. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to implement effective health and safety strategies at a senior level.

You're looking for advancement to strategic management levels​

Perfect for those aspiring to elevate their career to a strategic management role, focusing on high-impact health and safety leadership. Gain insights and tools necessary to drive organisational change and enhance safety culture at the highest levels.

Skill Focus

Pro Qual Logo

Advanced Diploma for Experienced Health & Safety Professionals

Secure a recognised qualification and formalise your expertise to progress in senior health and safety roles.

Learn from Industry Experts

Our assessors are experienced health and safety leaders who bring current industry knowledge and practical insights. They don’t just assess—they mentor and guide you.

Real-World, Evidence-Based Learning

Complete practical assignments and build a professional portfolio based on your existing workplace experience. Apply what you learn immediately to improve business performance.

Tailored One-to-One Support

Receive dedicated support from enrolment to completion. Our assessors work with you to ensure you understand each module and meet your goals.

CertIOSH Pathway

Level 7 can support CertIOSH progression. CMIOSH is achieved through IOSH's own approved assessment route.

Are you ready to start your journey?

FAQs

What are the prerequisites for enrolling in the Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health & Safety Leadership and Management?

This course is specifically designed for individuals in senior health and safety roles, such as Senior Health & Safety Managers, Group Health & Safety Directors, and Senior Consultants. It is aimed at professionals with a background in health and safety, looking to advance their careers to strategic management levels. The course is suitable for those who have achieved or are working towards a Level 6 NVQ and are aiming to progress to Level 7. It can support CertIOSH progression, while CMIOSH is achieved through IOSH's own approved assessment route. Prior experience in high-level policy change and tactical implementation within health and safety is expected.

How is the Level 7 Diploma assessed, and what does the course entail?

What are the benefits and career progression opportunities after completing the diploma?

What’s the difference between eLearning, blended learning, and digital assessments?

Advanced strategic health & safety leadership

ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health & Safety Leadership and Management

SHEC Learning® delivers the ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health & Safety Leadership and Management for experienced professionals with strategic responsibilities. Study remotely with assessor guidance, knowledge workbooks and a portfolio of genuine workplace evidence across five mandatory units. We review your role, experience and evidence access before enrolment.

ProQual Level 7 Diploma · RQF Level 7 · Strategic leadership and management

Is Level 7 right for you?

For professionals influencing organisational direction

This Diploma is designed for experienced professionals whose responsibilities extend beyond day-to-day operational safety management. Typical learners include heads of health and safety, group managers, directors, senior HSEQ professionals, consultants and strategic risk leaders.

Executive influence

Advise directors, influence organisational policy and communicate complex risk to senior stakeholders.

Strategic systems

Develop organisation-wide arrangements, contribute to governance and manage significant business risks.

Culture and leadership

Lead cultural change and connect safety, sustainability and organisational performance.

Technology and change

Evaluate data, innovation and emerging technology to inform strategic decisions.

Your responsibilities matter more than your title.We review your experience, professional context, decision-making authority and access to suitable evidence before enrolment.
Qualification at a glance

Advanced judgement, analysis and professional responsibility

RQF Level 7Strategic Diploma
ProQualAwarding organisation
5 unitsAll mandatory
15 months Enrolment period

Total Qualification Time: 500 hours. Guided Learning Hours: 260. Assessment is through an internally assessed portfolio, graded pass or fail. The qualification is for learners aged 19 and over.

ProQual specifies no formal entry qualification requirement. That does not make this a beginner programme: substantial experience, knowledge and a credible strategic context are essential to a suitability decision.

Level 7 is a framework level, not a master’s degree.The Diploma sits at the same level as master’s-level qualifications, but differs in purpose and qualification type. It is not an NVQ.
The strategic shift

Connect health and safety with business decisions

From professional controls

Understand hazards, select suitable controls, manage systems and evaluate health and safety performance.

Towards organisational influence

Ask how risks affect business objectives, who owns them, what the board needs to understand, and how leadership should respond to financial, cultural, reputational and operational implications.

Strategic leadership considers organisational resilience, global influences, risk appetite and long-term performance alongside effective operational controls.

The qualification structure

Five mandatory units

UNIT 01

Risk-Based Safety Systems Management

Evaluate advanced occupational health and safety systems, strategic risk, recognised management standards, risk quantification and communication. Consider how the organisation manages risk beyond individual assessments.

UNIT 02

Safety Culture, Sustainability and the Global Effect on Performance

Explore the relationship between safety culture, sustainability, global influences, psychological health and organisational performance. Connect safety with wider behaviour and business priorities.

UNIT 03

Digital Technologies and Incident Investigation

Evaluate digital technology, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, incident investigation and occupational risks, including biohazards, ecological and ergonomic risks. Consider strategic opportunities and unintended consequences.

UNIT 04

Development as a Strategic Manager

Develop the leadership and management capabilities needed to influence people, decisions and organisational direction beyond technical health and safety knowledge.

UNIT 05

Establish Business Risk Management Processes

Connect health and safety leadership with wider business risk, governance and organisational decision-making.

Assessment and evidence

Demonstrate genuine strategic capability

Build a professional portfolio

Use strategic reports, organisational risk work, policies, systems, senior-management presentations, business cases, projects and strategic plans to demonstrate the required outcomes.

Explain your decisions

Complete knowledge workbooks and provide genuine strategic workplace evidence. Your assessor maps your answers and work products to the relevant outcomes and provides feedback. Evidence must be sufficient, valid and authentic; professional discussion and witness testimony are not used for competence outcomes.

No traditional end-of-course examinations are specified. Your assessor still needs to establish that every required outcome and assessment criterion has been achieved.

Remote portfolio management and assessor contact support flexible study. The knowledge, competence and professional context being assessed must be genuine.

Plan your evidence

Draw on the strategic work you actually undertake

Leadership and governance

Board reports, executive presentations, governance documentation and stakeholder communications.

Organisational risk

Business risk registers, strategic risk assessments, system reviews and policy development.

Culture and sustainability

Culture-improvement programmes, sustainability initiatives and organisational change projects.

Technology and innovation

Technology implementation projects, risk evaluations and evidence of decisions about new systems.

Performance and investment

Dashboards, incident trend analysis, strategic plans and business cases.

Professional development

Leadership development, consultancy reports and evidence showing how you improve your own strategic capability.

Authentic evidence and responsible AI use.Where permitted, AI may help structure information, analyse genuine data or improve communication. It must not invent board meetings, strategic decisions, reports, investigations, stakeholder interactions or responsibilities. Protect confidential information appropriately.

Discuss My Level 7 Evidence →

Choose the right professional level

Level 6 or Level 7?

Level 7 · Strategic leadership

For those influencing governance, strategic risk, culture, sustainability, technology, business performance and executive decisions.

Level 6 is not formally required before Level 7. Your experience, qualifications, authority, evidence and career objectives determine which route fits. If you are new to the profession or mainly performing operational activities, compare the Level 3 routes and other qualifications.

Help Me Compare Level 6 and Level 7 →

Professional progression

Strategic development and the route towards Chartered practice

CMIOSH is a separate process

Completing this Diploma does not automatically award Chartered membership. IOSH sets its own requirements for qualifications, experience, professional competence, ethics, CPD and assessment.

Build your wider professional capability

Use strategic development alongside senior responsibilities and continuing professional development. Your route depends on your existing membership grade, qualifications and experience.

Read IOSH’s Professional Development Assessment guidance →

The Diploma can support development towards head of function, director, senior consultant, corporate safety lead and strategic risk responsibilities. Employment, promotion and salary depend on wider experience, performance and opportunity.

Explore the health and safety career pathway →

A wider leadership perspective

Four themes that shape organisational performance

Strategic risk

Connect risk ownership, appetite, business continuity, organisational change, third-party risk and reputation with corporate objectives.

Safety culture

Consider leadership behaviour, structure, incentives, competence, workload, psychological factors and employee engagement.

Sustainability

Understand the connections between health, safety, environmental, social and business priorities over the long term.

Digital technology

Evaluate opportunities alongside human factors, psychological risks, operational dependencies, failure modes and change risks.

Study with SHEC Learning®

Support designed around senior professional responsibilities

Senior suitability review

Discuss your organisational influence, policy responsibility, board exposure, strategic risk, leadership and long-term objectives.

Professional assessor support

Your assessor helps you interpret the criteria, map genuine evidence to the five units and use feedback to address gaps.

Evidence mapping

Identify relevant existing work and genuine areas for additional learning, analysis or strategic activity.

Flexible portfolio development

Manage study and assessment alongside your working responsibilities through remote support.

15-month completion period

Agree a realistic development and assessment plan within your enrolment period.

Career and funding guidance

Discuss professional progression and confirm ELCAS eligibility and current arrangements before enrolment.

Fees and payment options

Confirm suitability before choosing your payment plan

£1,695 full payment

Discounted full-payment price. VAT may apply.

3 × £650

£1,950 total. VAT may apply.

6 × £325

£1,950 total. VAT may apply.

12 × £162.50

£1,950 total. VAT may apply.

The shop also lists an £850 upfront option, with the balance due on completion or within 12 months under its published terms. VAT may apply. Confirm the final balance, total price and current terms before selecting this option.

Current checkout terms are authoritative. Purchase after SHEC Learning® confirms suitability; applicable fees must be paid in full before certification.

After enrolment

From strategic induction to completion

1. Induction and profile review

Understand the requirements and review your experience, qualifications and strategic context.

2. Mapping and development

Identify relevant evidence across the five units and plan genuine learning or assessment gaps.

3. Portfolio and assessment

Complete the knowledge workbooks, submit genuine strategic workplace evidence and use assessor feedback to address gaps against the criteria.

4. Quality assurance

Complete all requirements before the portfolio proceeds through quality assurance and certification.

Choosing your next health and safety qualification

Is this the course described as an NVQ Level 7 in health and safety?

The qualification on this page is the ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management. It is not an NVQ. If you are comparing work-based routes, review the Level 6 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice alongside this strategic Diploma and choose according to your responsibilities and evidence.

Do I need workplace evidence, and how long should I allow?

Yes. You need genuine strategic workplace evidence as well as knowledge workbooks. Your assessor reviews evidence against the five units. The 500-hour Total Qualification Time describes qualification size; the 15-month completion period is your enrolment window, not a promise that every learner finishes at the same pace. Discuss evidence gaps and a realistic plan before enrolment.

Does Level 7 automatically give me CertIOSH or CMIOSH?

No. Completion does not automatically award either designation. Membership depends on IOSH eligibility, relevant experience, CPD and the application or professional assessment requirements for the grade. Read the CertIOSH membership guide and CMIOSH progression guide to understand the separate steps.

For an earlier stage of your career, compare the IOSH Level 3 Certificate, the Level 3 Health and Safety NVQ and the health and safety qualification pathways. The workplace evidence guide explains general evidence principles; agree the specific strategic Diploma requirements with your assessor.

Request a Level 7 suitability and evidence review

Frequently asked questions

Before you enrol

Does SHEC Learning offer the ProQual Level 7 Diploma?

Yes. SHEC Learning® offers the ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health & Safety Leadership and Management, qualification number 603/6851/2. You study remotely with assessor guidance, complete knowledge workbooks and provide genuine strategic workplace evidence across five mandatory units. We review your experience, responsibilities and evidence access before confirming suitability.

Who is it for?

Experienced managers, senior consultants, heads of function and professionals operating at or progressing towards strategic leadership responsibility.

Is it a master’s degree?

No. It is at the same framework level as master’s-level qualifications, but it is a different qualification type and is not a master’s degree.

Is this qualification an NVQ?

No. Its regulated title is the ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health & Safety Leadership and Management.

How many units are there?

Five mandatory units: risk-based safety systems; culture, sustainability and global performance; digital technologies and incident investigation; strategic management development; and business risk management processes.

How is the Diploma assessed?

Through knowledge workbooks and a portfolio of genuine strategic evidence, such as projects, reports and workplace products. Your assessor checks each required outcome and criterion. Professional discussion and witness testimony are not used for competence outcomes.

Are there exams?

The ProQual assessment model does not specify traditional end-of-course examinations. You must demonstrate the required learning outcomes and assessment criteria.

Do I need Level 6 first?

ProQual does not specify Level 6 as a formal prerequisite. Substantial experience, suitable knowledge and an appropriate strategic context remain important for realistic Level 7 study.

Do I need to be a senior manager?

Your actual responsibilities and ability to engage with strategic issues matter more than your job title. We review your experience, influence and access to evidence before confirming suitability.

Is workplace evidence required?

Your portfolio must contain valid, sufficient and authentic evidence demonstrating your knowledge and professional competence. Agree an evidence strategy that reflects your genuine responsibilities.

Can I complete it online?

SHEC Learning® supports flexible remote study, portfolio submission and assessment. Your competence and strategic professional context must still be genuine.

Can AI create my portfolio?

AI must not fabricate professional activity, meetings, decisions, reports or workplace evidence. Any permitted support must preserve the authenticity of your own work.

Does it automatically give me CMIOSH?

No. Chartered membership is awarded separately by IOSH through its own eligibility, experience, competence, CPD and assessment requirements.

Can it support Chartered progression?

It can strengthen strategic professional development. Your IOSH progression route depends on your current grade, qualifications, experience and the requirements in force when you apply.

How is Level 7 different from Level 6?

Level 6 recognises broad professional health and safety practice. Level 7 extends into strategic leadership, organisational risk, governance, culture, sustainability, technology and business performance.

How long do I have?

You have 15 months to complete the Diploma. Agree your development and assessment plan at induction. A free extension of up to three months is available if you are at least 40% complete; otherwise, a paid 12-month extension is available under the enrolment terms.

What is the current price?

Full payment is £1,695; VAT may apply. The three-, six- and twelve-month plans each total £1,950; VAT may apply. Check current payment terms after suitability approval.

Is ELCAS funding available?

The programme is advertised as ELCAS approved. Confirm your eligibility, the current course listing and funding arrangements with SHEC Learning® before enrolment.

Your next professional step

Move from professional practice to strategic influence

Tell SHEC Learning® about your current responsibilities, organisational influence and professional objectives. We will help you decide whether this Diploma is the right next stage.

Send a WhatsApp Enquiry →