Course and certificate
Safeguarding Level 2 — Children and Adults at Risk
For staff and volunteers who work directly with children or adults at risk in the UK: school support staff, care and health workers, youth and community workers, sports coaches, and hospitality and leisure staff in contact roles. Nine lessons in plain English cover the legal framework, adult safeguarding and mental capacity, categories and signs of abuse, exploitation and online harm, Prevent and FGM, responding to a disclosure, referral routes, information sharing, and allegations, boundaries and whistleblowing, followed by a 25-question test. It goes beyond a Level 1 awareness course but is not Designated Safeguarding Lead training.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Languages
- English, Български, Español, Italiano, Polski, Português, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 9
- Time needed
- About 50 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 25 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 2 years
- Content updated
- 27 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- £15.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- School and college support staff, such as teaching assistants, mentors, lunchtime supervisors and pastoral staff
- Care, health and support workers who have regular contact with children or adults at risk
- Youth, community and sports workers and volunteers, including coaches and activity leaders
- Hospitality, leisure and transport staff in contact roles, such as holiday clubs, swimming pools and taxis
- Anyone whose employer asks for a safeguarding course beyond Level 1 awareness
02Syllabus
- 01What Level 2 covers and the legal framework
- 02Adults at risk: the Care Act and mental capacity
- 03Categories of abuse, indicators and domestic abuse
- 04Exploitation, county lines, modern slavery and online harm
- 05Prevent, FGM and other specific duties
- 06Responding to a disclosure and recording what you hear
- 07Referral routes, the safeguarding lead and escalation
- 08Sharing information, consent and UK GDPR
- 09Allegations, boundaries, DBS referrals and whistleblowing
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.
- KCSIE 2026, Part 1
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Information Sharing Duty guidance 2026
- KCSIE 2026, Part 4
- Care and Support Statutory Guidance, chapter 14
- Domestic Abuse Act 2021
06Questions
How is Level 2 different from the Level 1 awareness course?
Level 1 explains what safeguarding is and what to do if you are worried. This course goes further: the Care Act and mental capacity, more kinds of harm such as county lines and online harm, Prevent and FGM, how to handle a disclosure and record it, referral routes, information sharing, allegations against staff and whistleblowing.
Is this Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training?
No. It is not DSL training and does not prepare you to take that role. A DSL needs further training set by their employer and by statutory guidance such as Keeping Children Safe in Education.
What must my employer still do?
Your employer must have its own safeguarding policy, a named safeguarding lead, safe recruitment and induction, and procedures that follow the arrangements of the local safeguarding partnership. This course does not replace any of those. Your employer decides what further training your role needs.
Is this certificate accredited?
No. It is a certificate of completion: it shows that 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 needs.
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.
Is the guidance up to date?
The lessons were checked against gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk in October 2026, including Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 and the Information Sharing Duty guidance. Guidance changes, so always read the current edition.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the nine lessons and the 25-question test in about one and a half hours. 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: £15 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 training. Many employers expect a refresher every two to three years, so the certificate shows a renewal date 24 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.