Understanding the Purpose of Safeguarding Training Levels
Implementing safeguarding courses is a great way to create a safe and compliant workplace. However, different roles within an organisation require different levels of understanding and safeguarding skills. Some employees only need a basic awareness of safeguarding principles to recognise and report concerns, while others, particularly those responsible for leading teams or managing safeguarding procedures, require deeper knowledge and training to confidently handle safeguarding incidents and meet legal obligations.
By structuring safeguarding training into levels, organisations can match the right training to the right responsibilities. This approach helps ensure that all employees, whether new employees or senior managers, receive the correct training they need in order to protect people at risk, respond confidently to safeguarding concerns and support a safer workplace culture, without overwhelming staff or leaving critical safeguarding gaps.
What Safeguarding Level 1 Training Covers
The Level 1 Award in Awareness of Safeguarding provides essential foundational awareness for individuals who may encounter safeguarding concerns in the workplace. It equips staff to recognise risks to children, young people, vulnerable adults, or members of the public and take appropriate first steps.
This course is ideal for employees across a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, voluntary organisations, customer service roles and public-facing industries. It is particularly suited for those who do not hold designated safeguarding responsibilities but must still act if concerns arise.
Key topics covered include:
- Understanding safeguarding legislation and guidance
- Recognising signs of abuse and neglect
- Identifying safeguarding concerns and disclosures
- Accurately recording information and following internal reporting procedures
The Level 1 safeguarding training takes approximately half a day to complete. It concludes with a short written test that includes both open-ended and multiple-choice questions. Upon successful completion, learners receive an Ofqual-regulated safeguarding certificate, demonstrating competence in safeguarding basics.
By building a common baseline of safeguarding understanding across the workforce, Level 1 training helps create a workplace culture where protection and vigilance are part of daily thinking and behaviour.
What Safeguarding Level 3 Training Covers
The Level 3 Award in Principles of Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Young People, or Vulnerable Adults offers advanced knowledge and skills in safeguarding. It is designed for individuals responsible for protecting children, young people, and vulnerable adults, equipping them to handle safeguarding issues effectively, respond properly to disclosures, and ensure that safeguarding protocols are accurately followed throughout the organisation.
This course is ideal for managers, supervisors, Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and staff members with leadership, safeguarding or supervisory responsibilities across sectors such as education, healthcare, voluntary organisations and customer-facing businesses.
Key topics covered include:
- Understanding safeguarding legislation and professional responsibilities
- Recognising complex indicators of abuse and neglect
- Dealing with and reporting allegations, complaints and safeguarding disclosures
- Sharing information appropriately and maintaining confidentiality
- Making informed safeguarding decisions and managing concerns at a leadership level
The safeguarding Level 3 training is delivered over a full day and assessed through a written assessment combining open and multiple-choice questions. Successful learners receive an Ofqual-regulated safeguarding certificate, demonstrating advanced safeguarding competence.
Level 3 safeguarding training builds deeper safeguarding capacity across your workforce, ensuring those in key positions can lead, support and manage safeguarding processes confidently and lawfully.
Key Differences Between Safeguarding Level 1 and Level 3
| Aspect | Level 1 Training | Level 3 Training |
| Purpose | Builds general awareness of safeguarding issues | Equips staff to lead safeguarding procedures and manage complex concerns |
| Audience | Suitable for all staff, especially those in public-facing or general roles | Intended for DSLs, managers, team leads and those with safeguarding duties |
| Scope | Focuses on recognising signs and knowing how to report concerns | Covers managing disclosures, responding to allegations and ensuring legal compliance |
| Terminology | Introduces safeguarding in the workplace broadly | Specifically addresses safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults |
| Legal & Professional Expectation | Provides foundational understanding for compliance | Meets expectations for those with formal safeguarding responsibilities |
How to Choose the Right Safeguarding Training for Your Team
When selecting safeguarding training, it’s important to match the course level to the responsibilities of each employee. Start by evaluating:
- The level of safeguarding responsibility the employee holds
- Whether they supervise or lead others
- Whether they may need to manage safeguarding reports or investigations
Entry-level, public-facing and newly appointed employees are often best served by a safeguarding level 1 course. Those with leadership or safeguarding-specific roles should undertake a level 3 safeguarding course, preparing them to manage concerns and lead safeguarding procedures effectively.
Safety at Work Solutions helps organisations make informed training decisions through collaborative consultation and bespoke training delivery. By aligning safeguarding training with role requirements, organisations not only prepare staff appropriately but also support safer recruitment practices, ensuring all employees understand safeguarding expectations from day one.
Ofqual-Regulated Safeguarding Training: Why It Matters
Ongoing professional development is key to maintaining safeguarding standards and staying aligned with evolving responsibilities in the workplace. Safeguarding Level 1 and Level 3 courses from Safety at Work Solutions are Ofqual-regulated, meaning they meet nationally recognised standards for training quality and compliance, as outlined by First Aid Awards.
These qualifications follow a standardised national framework, giving both employers and learners confidence that the training content is robust, current, and formally assessed. Learners who complete an Ofqual-regulated course receive a recognised certificate that can support future career development, demonstrate professional competence, and fulfil regulatory requirements.
Although online safeguarding courses are available, many organisations choose in-person or blended formats for greater engagement and understanding, especially when delivering safeguarding training for children or adults. With support from Safety at Work Solutions, organisations can embed safeguarding into wider development strategies and ensure learning stays active across roles and responsibilities while promoting psychological safety at work.
Further Reading on Safeguarding Training and Workplace Culture
If you’re building a safeguarding training programme for your organisation, you may also find the following resources helpful:
- Why Safeguarding Courses Are Crucial for Workplace Safety and Compliance – Understand your legal responsibilities and the essential role of safeguarding in compliance.
- Safeguarding Courses: Practical Steps to Embedding a Culture of Protection at Work – Discover how to move from policy to daily safeguarding practices across your team.
Together with choosing the right training level, these guides will help you create a safer and stronger workplace safeguarding culture. Whether you are exploring safeguarding training for children, young people and vulnerable adults or workplace-focused safeguarding adults programmes, building a proactive safeguarding strategy strengthens overall resilience.
Conclusion: Making an Informed Safeguarding Training Choice
Choosing the correct safeguarding course empowers your team to create a safer environment for everyone. Whether staff members require basic awareness or advanced safeguarding capabilities, matching the right training to the right responsibilities ensures they can act confidently when concerns arise. Accredited safeguarding training supports a proactive approach to workplace safety, compliance and culture across all roles..
Explore Safety at Work Solutions’ safeguarding training courses today to ensure your workplace is compliant, confident and prepared for the responsibilities that come with safeguarding others.