Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training
Description
Course Overview
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training provides focused knowledge for professionals responsible for safeguarding children in education and early years settings across schools and educational organisations. Learners explore DSL duties, child-centred practice, professional curiosity, safeguarding culture, and recognising signs of abuse and neglect.
The course covers responding to disclosures, recording concerns, referrals, information sharing, confidentiality, escalation, and complex safeguarding risks. Key topics include child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, online abuse, domestic abuse, peer-on-peer abuse, bullying, radicalisation, and the Prevent Duty.
Learners also examine UK safeguarding law, Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children, multi-agency working, safeguarding audits, staff training, safer recruitment, policy development, and inspection preparation. This training supports confident safeguarding leadership and stronger organisational safeguarding practice.
Key Topics Included
- Designated Safeguarding Lead roles, responsibilities, leadership, and professional curiosity
- Recognising physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, and behavioural indicators
- Managing disclosures, recording concerns, referrals, confidentiality, and information sharing
- Complex safeguarding risks including exploitation, online abuse, bullying, and radicalisation
- UK safeguarding legislation, KCSIE, Working Together, Prevent Duty, and data protection
- Safeguarding audits, staff training, safer recruitment, policies, and inspection preparation
Entry Requirements
No formal qualifications are required to enrol in this training. It is particularly suitable for professionals working with children or involved in safeguarding responsibilities within educational or early years settings. Learners should have sufficient English language skills to understand safeguarding guidance and course materials.
Who is This Course For
This course is ideal for designated safeguarding leads, deputy DSLs, teachers, school leaders, pastoral staff, childcare professionals, and education managers. It is also suitable for professionals who support safeguarding procedures, staff training, case management, or child protection within schools and early years organisations.
Course Curriculum
- Module 01: Foundations of Safeguarding Leadership
- Module 02: Recognising Abuse and Neglect
- Module 03: Managing Safeguarding Concerns
- Module 04: Managing Complex Safeguarding Risks
- Module 05: Safeguarding Procedures and Multi-Agency Working
- Module 06: UK Safeguarding Law and Compliance
- Module 07: DSL Leadership and Quality Assurance
Frequently Asked Questions
The training covers DSL responsibilities, recognising abuse and neglect, managing safeguarding concerns, referrals, information sharing, complex safeguarding risks, and multi-agency working. It also covers UK safeguarding legislation, quality assurance, staff training, and safeguarding policies.
It is designed for professionals who hold or support safeguarding responsibilities within schools, colleges, early years settings, and other organisations working with children. Teachers, school leaders, pastoral staff, childcare professionals, and DSLs can all benefit.
You will develop knowledge of responding to disclosures, assessing concerns, maintaining safeguarding records, making referrals, managing information, and escalating unresolved concerns. You will also learn about safeguarding audits, staff supervision, safer recruitment, and multi-agency practice.
Yes. The curriculum includes Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children, the Children Act, education and early years safeguarding requirements, data protection, and local safeguarding arrangements.
Yes. The course develops knowledge relevant to leading safeguarding processes, maintaining effective records, supporting staff, reviewing policies, conducting audits, and preparing organisations for inspection. It can strengthen professional development for those undertaking safeguarding leadership responsibilities.