Designated Safeguarding Lead DSL Course for Children Level 3

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Children Level 3 – Online Course

Course overview
This online course develops the knowledge needed to lead and coordinate safeguarding procedures within an organisation. It explores the responsibilities of a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), including recognising abuse, responding to disclosures, managing referrals, maintaining accurate records and working with external agencies. Learners will examine safeguarding risks, relevant legislation and guidance, and approaches to promoting children’s safety and wellbeing. The course takes approximately three hours to complete and is CPD accredited.

Please note: This course provides Level 3 safeguarding leadership knowledge for those with relevant responsibilities. It does not replace practical, regulated or role-specific training that an employer may require.

What the course covers
• The role and responsibilities of a Designated Safeguarding Lead
• The importance of DSL appointments and ongoing training
• Statutory safeguarding guidance and relevant regulations
• Significant harm, vulnerability and factors that influence risk
• Recognising signs and indicators of abuse, harm and neglect
• Physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect
• Bullying, its characteristics and anti-bullying policies
• Supporting LGBTQ+ children, young people, parents and caregivers
• Female genital mutilation (FGM), its effects, legislation and support
• Forced marriage and the Prevent duty
• Vetting and barring arrangements and the Sex Offenders Register
• Online safety and helping children protect themselves
• Safeguarding policies, procedures and organisational responsibilities
• Multi-agency working and information sharing
• Channel panels and relevant safeguarding arrangements
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
• Recording concerns, maintaining notes and documenting decisions
• Threshold documents, assessments and early help
• Responding to disclosures and taking appropriate follow-up steps
• Common Assessment Framework (CAF) principles and assessment considerations
• Personal safety and protecting professionals in safeguarding situations

Who is it for?
This course is designed for professionals who hold, or are preparing to hold, safeguarding leadership responsibilities in organisations working with children and young people. It is suitable for:
• Designated Safeguarding Leads and Deputy DSLs
• Headteachers, deputy headteachers and school leaders
• Nursery managers and early years leaders
• Special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs)
• School governors and trustees
• Childminders who supervise assistants
• Healthcare safeguarding leads, nurses and dentists
• GP practice managers and mental health professionals
• Social care managers and safeguarding officers
• Youth service managers and sports club welfare officers
• Leaders and managers in voluntary and charitable organisations

It is particularly relevant to settings where designated staff coordinate safeguarding procedures, manage records and referrals, and support colleagues who raise concerns.

Practical benefits
• Build understanding of the DSL role and its core responsibilities
• Improve awareness of signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding risks
• Strengthen knowledge of referral management and safeguarding record keeping
• Develop a clearer understanding of information sharing and multi-agency collaboration
• Support the consistent application of safeguarding policies and procedures
• Understand the importance of early help and appropriate assessments
• Promote a proactive safeguarding culture within the organisation
• Support professional practice in line with relevant UK safeguarding guidance
• Gain a CPD-accredited digital certificate after successfully completing the assessment

What learners will be able to do
• Explain the purpose and principles of safeguarding
• Recognise indicators and patterns of abuse or neglect
• Identify factors that may increase a child’s vulnerability to harm
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and disclosures
• Maintain clear, accurate and objective safeguarding records
• Follow appropriate reporting, referral and escalation procedures
• Understand confidentiality and information-sharing considerations
• Apply person-centred safeguarding principles in everyday practice
• Understand the importance of coordinating safeguarding procedures across an organisation
• Recognise the role of multi-agency working in managing safeguarding concerns
• Understand how early help, assessments and threshold considerations contribute to safeguarding decisions

Is this training a legal requirement?
The supplied course information states that UK legislation does not require every individual to complete this specific Designated Safeguarding Lead training course. However, organisations have legal safeguarding responsibilities, and statutory guidance sets expectations for appropriate training for those appointed to lead safeguarding. For schools and colleges, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) addresses the appointment and training of Designated Safeguarding Leads. The course also references the Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. Suitable training and continuing professional development help safeguarding leads maintain their knowledge and carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Assessment and certificate
The course is delivered online and takes approximately three hours to complete. Learners complete an online multiple-choice test and receive an instant digital CPD-accredited certificate after successfully passing the assessment. Training can be accessed on a phone, tablet or computer, allowing learners to study at their own pace.