Adults
Adult Safeguarding. Buy in our course store and start straight away: about 1 hour 15 minutes.
ONLINE COURSE
Safeguarding Training Online for Adults and Children
Our safeguarding training online comes in two CPD-accredited versions: Safeguarding Adults, for anyone with a duty of care to adults with care and support needs, and Safeguarding Children, for anyone who works with children. Each covers the types of abuse, how to recognise the signs, what to do if you suspect abuse and the law. Certificate on completion, and the first module is free to try.
- IOSH Approved Training Provider 4301
- Highfield Approved Centre 17588
- Reply within one working day.
The Short Answers
What is safeguarding training?
Safeguarding training teaches people how to protect adults and children from abuse and neglect: what abuse looks like, the signs to watch for, how to respond and who to tell. It also explains the law and your own role, so concerns are reported quickly and the person at risk stays at the centre of every decision.
Who needs safeguarding training?
Anyone whose work brings them into contact with adults who need care and support, or with children. For CQC-registered services it’s expected: CQC’s guidance on Regulation 13 says staff must receive safeguarding training as part of their induction, relevant and at a suitable level for their role, and updated at appropriate intervals.
Is online safeguarding training enough?
For the core knowledge, yes: the types of abuse, the signs, how to report and the law. Your organisation must also make sure staff know its own policy and the local safeguarding procedures, including who to contact and the timescales. Cover that in induction and supervision, alongside the course.
Course facts
- Format
- E-learning approved by CPDonline, self-paced, on any device
- Duration
- About 1 hour 15 minutes3 CPD units
- Who it’s for
- Anyone who works with adults or childrencare, health, community roles and volunteers
- Certificate
- Certificate on completion
- The law
- Care Act 2014 and CQC Regulation 13plus Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Price
- £35 + VATper learner. Team pricing available.
- Versions
- Adults (£35)
Children (£35) - Free trial
- First module freetry it before you buy
What the Safeguarding Courses Cover
Both versions have five video modules, each with a short test (70% to pass). Choose Adults, Children, or both.
Introduction and Definitions
What safeguarding means and the key terms, for adults with care and support needs (Adults) or for children (Children).
Types of Abuse
Adults: the ten types of abuse and the rights of adults at risk. Children: the types of abuse, who may carry it out and why children may not tell.
Recognising the Signs of Abuse
How to recognise the signs that an adult or child may be experiencing abuse or neglect.
What to Do if You Suspect Abuse
How to identify and report a concern about abuse or neglect, and your own role, responsibilities and boundaries.
Safeguarding Legislation
The main laws behind safeguarding and why they were put in place.
Choice, Consent and Safer Environments
Adults: supporting people to make their own decisions and give informed consent, and managing the environment to reduce the risk of abuse.
Adults or Children: Which Version Do You Need?
Safeguarding Adults is for anyone with a duty of care to adults in need of care and support, paid or voluntary: home care, care homes, the NHS, community centres and family carers. Safeguarding Children is for anyone who comes into contact with children in their work.
Care teams often need both. Skills for Care’s statutory and mandatory training guide lists adult safeguarding and child safeguarding as training all adult social care workers need, and both are part of the Care Certificate standards. A carer may meet children when visiting a family home, or when relatives visit a care home.
For the full list of training care staff need, see our guide to care home training and what CQC expects.
What the Law Says About Safeguarding
Adults (England). Under section 42 of the Care Act 2014, a local authority must make whatever enquiries it thinks necessary when it has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in its area has needs for care and support, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs can’t protect themselves. The Act’s statutory guidance sets out six principles for all adult safeguarding work: empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and accountability.
Care providers. CQC’s Regulation 13 requires registered providers to protect people from abuse and improper treatment, with systems that prevent abuse and investigate any allegation as soon as they become aware of it. CQC can prosecute for some breaches that result in avoidable harm.
Children (England). Working Together to Safeguard Children is the government’s statutory guidance on how organisations and agencies work together to help, support and protect children. It was last updated in March 2026. If you think a child is at immediate risk, call 999. Otherwise, contact the children’s social care team at the child’s local council.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own safeguarding laws and procedures, so check your local arrangements.
Try before you buy
Try the First Module Free
See how the Adult Safeguarding course works before you pay. Tell us where to send it and we’ll give you free access to the first module straight away.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Care Act 2014, section 42 (enquiry by local authority)
- GOV.UK: Care and support statutory guidance, chapter 14 (safeguarding)
- CQC: Regulation 13, safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment
- GOV.UK: Working together to safeguard children (statutory guidance)
- GOV.UK: Report child abuse
- Skills for Care: Statutory and mandatory training guide for adult social care employers (December 2025)
Choose Your Version
Buy for one person in a couple of minutes, or talk to us about a team.
CLARITY
Common Questions
Is this Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 safeguarding training?
Neither course is labelled with a level. Safeguarding levels come from frameworks that some employers and commissioners use, not from the law. CQC asks for training at a level suitable for each person’s role. If your employer or commissioner asks for a specific level, check with them that this course meets it before you buy.
How often should safeguarding training be refreshed?
The law doesn’t set an interval. Skills for Care advises adult social care employers to refresh adult safeguarding at least every three years, or sooner when people’s needs change or a new risk appears, and child safeguarding at least every three years unless the worker has completed the Care Certificate standards or a recognised qualification in that time.
What are the six principles of safeguarding adults?
The Care Act statutory guidance names six: empowerment (people make their own decisions and give informed consent), prevention (act before harm occurs), proportionality (the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk), protection (support for those in greatest need), partnership (local services and communities working together) and accountability (transparency in delivering safeguarding).
What are the ten types of abuse of adults?
The Care Act statutory guidance lists physical abuse, domestic violence or abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, financial or material abuse, modern slavery, discriminatory abuse, organisational abuse, neglect and acts of omission, and self-neglect. It also says abuse can take many forms, so the circumstances of each case should always be considered.
What should I do if I’m worried about a child?
Follow your organisation’s safeguarding procedure and tell the person it names, such as your manager or safeguarding lead. GOV.UK advises calling 999 if a child is at immediate risk, and otherwise contacting the children’s social care team at their local council. You don’t need to be sure abuse is happening: it’s fine to report a suspicion.
Can we train our whole team on safeguarding?
Yes. With a team licence on our e-learning platform you can enrol everyone on the Adults version, the Children version or both, track who has finished and download certificates for your records. Tell us how many people need training and we’ll send team pricing within one working day.
Get Team Pricing
Training more than a few people on Adult Safeguarding? Tell us how many and we’ll send team pricing within one working day.
- IOSH Approved Training Provider 4301
- Highfield Approved Centre 17588
- Reply within one working day.
Related Courses
Ready to Train Your Team in Safeguarding?
Try the first module free, buy the Adults or Children version online, or tell us how many people need training and we’ll send team pricing within one working day.
Buy OnlineWe reply within one working day.