Course and certificate
Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk — Awareness
For anyone who works or volunteers where they may meet children or adults at risk in the UK: schools' support staff, care, hospitality, leisure, retail, transport and charities. Eight short lessons in plain English cover what safeguarding means, signs of abuse and neglect, who may be at risk, exploitation and Prevent, responding to a disclosure, reporting, information sharing and professional boundaries, followed by a 25-question test. This is awareness training: it is not Designated Safeguarding Lead, Level 3 or Care Certificate training.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Languages
- English, Български, Español, Italiano, Polski, Português, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 8
- Time needed
- About 50 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 25 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 1 year
- Content updated
- 27 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- £12.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- School and college staff who are not teachers, such as cleaners, caterers, site and office staff
- Hospitality, leisure, retail and transport workers who may meet children or adults at risk
- Care and support staff starting a role and needing a first awareness course
- Charity workers and volunteers, including sports and youth group volunteers
- Anyone whose employer asks for safeguarding awareness before they start
02Syllabus
- 01What safeguarding means and the rules behind it
- 02Types and signs of abuse and neglect
- 03Who may be at risk
- 04Exploitation, grooming, online harm and Prevent
- 05Responding to a disclosure
- 06Reporting and recording concerns
- 07Sharing information and UK GDPR
- 08Professional boundaries and safe working practice
03Assessment
25 multiple-choice questions drawn from the whole course. The pass mark is 80%. The test is free and can be retaken as often as needed; wrong answers point to the lesson to read again.
04The certificate
- With your name, your score and the date you passed.
- A unique number, recorded in our register.
- Your employer or an inspector scans it to see that it is genuine.
- Download it, print it or show it on your phone.
05Sources
The course follows the published guidance below. We are not affiliated with the bodies that publish it.
- Keeping Children Safe in Education
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Care and Support Statutory Guidance, chapter 14
- DfE
- Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults
- Prevent duty guidance
06Questions
Is this Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Level 3 training?
No. It is a foundation awareness course, often called Level 1. It is not Designated Safeguarding Lead training, not Level 3 training and not Care Certificate training. If your role needs one of those, your employer will tell you.
Does this replace my employer's safeguarding training?
No. Every organisation has its own safeguarding policy, named safeguarding lead and induction. You must know who your lead is and how to report a concern in your workplace. Your employer decides what training your role needs.
Is this certificate accredited?
No. It is a certificate of completion: it shows you finished the course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification, and your employer decides whether this training meets its requirements.
Does the course cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
The lessons mainly describe the law and guidance in England, and they name the main laws of the other nations. Safeguarding is devolved, so always follow your employer's policy and local procedures.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the lessons and the 25-question test in about an hour. You can stop and come back at any time on the same device.
What if I fail the test?
Nothing is charged. You see which lessons to read again and can retake the test as often as you need.
When do I pay, and how much?
Only after you pass: £12 for the certificate. The course and the test are free.
How does my employer check the certificate?
Every certificate has a number and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the number on our check page, shows your name, the course and the date you passed.
How long is the certificate valid?
No law sets an expiry date for this kind of awareness training. Many employers expect a refresher about once a year, so the certificate shows a renewal date 12 months after you pass. Check what your employer requires.
The certificate confirms that you completed this course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification; your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.