Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training
Know what the designated safeguarding lead role asks of you, from building a safeguarding culture to making a referral and keeping sound records.
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Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training
You can do DSL training online in the UK with Lift College's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training course. It is 6 hours of learning in 8 short modules, covering the DSL role and the law behind it, building a culture of safeguarding, recognising abuse, neglect and exploitation, responding to concerns and disclosures, making a referral to children's social care, working with other agencies, recording and sharing information, managing allegations against staff, and how the role works in early years settings, colleges and organisations outside education. It costs £19.99, pay once, and your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass. Lift College recommends a refresh every 2 years, which matches the update interval Keeping Children Safe in Education sets for DSL training, and the refresher is free.
The designated safeguarding lead is the person every member of staff turns to when they are worried about a child. Keeping Children Safe in Education says the DSL should be a senior member of staff, that lead responsibility for safeguarding cannot be delegated, and that the DSL needs training to understand the local safeguarding arrangements, recognise harm, make referrals and support colleagues. The Early Years Foundation Stage asks every early years provider to name a practitioner who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding. Outside schools and nurseries, sports clubs, youth groups, charities and training providers name a safeguarding lead for the same reason: concerns only lead to protection when someone with the knowledge and the authority acts on them.
This course covers what that person needs to know. You learn the legal framework in England and how it differs in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, how to build a culture where staff raise concerns early, how to recognise the full range of harm including exploitation, online harm and child-on-child abuse, how to respond to a disclosure, when and how to refer to children's social care or the police, what happens after a referral, how to record and share information lawfully, how to handle an allegation against a member of staff, and what the role looks like in early years, further education and non-education settings. It is written for new and existing DSLs, deputies and lead practitioners across the UK.
- Explain the designated safeguarding lead role, its lead responsibility and the statutory guidance that shapes it in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Describe how to build a culture of safeguarding where every member of staff recognises and reports concerns early
- Recognise the signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, online harm and child-on-child abuse, and the children most at risk
- Respond to a concern or disclosure in a way that keeps the child at the centre and preserves the account
- Apply the local threshold document to decide between early help, a referral to children's social care and an immediate call to the police
- Carry out a referral, follow it up and contribute to strategy discussions, child protection conferences and plans
- Keep safeguarding records that are accurate, confidential and transferred correctly, and share information lawfully with other agencies
- Plan how to handle an allegation against a member of staff and how the role is adapted for early years, colleges and non-education settings
8 short modules, 6 hours in total.
The DSL role and the law
What the designated safeguarding lead does, lead responsibility and deputies, the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Keeping Children Safe in Education and the local safeguarding children partnership. How the role is named and set out in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Knowledge checkLeading a culture of safeguarding
The safeguarding policy, staff induction and the annual training cycle, Part one of KCSIE, the code of conduct, whistleblowing, and how a DSL makes it normal for staff to raise a small worry rather than wait for proof.
Knowledge checkRecognising abuse, neglect and exploitation
Physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect, child criminal and sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, online harm, child-on-child abuse, radicalisation and the Prevent duty, and the extra risks for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Knowledge checkResponding to concerns and disclosures
How to receive a disclosure without leading questions or promises of secrecy, what to write down and when, assessing immediate risk, talking to parents and carers and when not to, and supporting the member of staff who raised the concern.
Knowledge checkMaking a referral and working with other agencies
Using the local threshold document, early help, referring to children's social care, calling the police, what happens after a referral, strategy discussions, section 47 enquiries, child protection conferences and core groups, and escalating when you disagree with a decision.
Knowledge checkRecording and sharing information
What a good safeguarding record contains, chronologies, keeping child protection files secure and separate, transferring files when a child moves, data protection and the lawful bases for sharing, and the seven golden rules of information sharing.
Knowledge checkAllegations against staff, safer recruitment and online safety
Low-level concerns and allegations that meet the harm threshold, the role of the local authority designated officer, suspension and referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service, safer recruitment checks, and the DSL's lead responsibility for filtering and monitoring.
Knowledge checkThe DSL in early years, colleges and other settings
The lead practitioner under the Early Years Foundation Stage, childminders, further education and sixth form colleges, sports clubs, youth groups, charities and training providers, supervision and support for the DSL, and planning your own update programme.
Knowledge checkFinal test and your certificate
Multiple choice, 80% to pass, unlimited attempts. Your CPD certificate is issued by Lift College the day you pass.
This course is for you if
- You have been appointed designated safeguarding lead or deputy in a school, college or alternative provision
- You are the lead practitioner for safeguarding in a nursery, pre-school or out of school club, or you are a childminder
- You are the named safeguarding lead for a sports club, youth group, faith group, charity or training provider
- You are a headteacher, governor or trustee who wants to understand what the DSL role demands
- You are an experienced DSL who needs a knowledge update between formal training courses
Your CPD certificate, issued the day you pass.
Your certificate records that you completed Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training with Lift College. It shows 6 hours of learning, your completion date and a recommended refresh date 2 years on.
- One price, £19.99. One payment, one learner, no subscription.
- Short modules with a knowledge check after each one and a final test. Instant results.
- 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
- A CPD certificate issued by Lift College as a PDF the same day you pass, with a unique number and a verification link.
- Access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years from the day you buy.
- A free refresher when your recommended refresh date arrives. Changed your mind? Ask within 14 days of paying and we refund you in full.
CPD certificate
liftcollege.co.uk/verify/LC-CPD-000000The law this course supports
Children Act 2004
Section 11 places a duty on councils, the NHS, the police and other named bodies in England to carry out their functions with regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 places the equivalent duty on schools and colleges, which is why they appoint a designated safeguarding lead.
Read the legislation →Working Together to Safeguard Children
Statutory guidance for England on how organisations and agencies work together to protect children. It sets out the role of local safeguarding partners, the thresholds for early help and children's social care, and what every practitioner must do when they have a concern. It is updated periodically and the DSL needs to work from the current edition.
Read the legislation →Keeping Children Safe in Education
Statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England, updated each September. Annex C describes the designated safeguarding lead role: a senior member of staff with lead responsibility for safeguarding, with training updated at least every two years and knowledge refreshed at least annually. Wales has separate guidance, Keeping learners safe, and names a designated safeguarding person; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own child protection guidance.
Read the legislation →Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework
The statutory framework for early years providers in England. It requires every provider to designate a practitioner to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children in the setting, to attend child protection training and to provide support, advice and guidance to other staff. Childminders take the lead responsibility themselves.
Read the legislation →Children Act 1989
The foundation of child protection law in England and Wales. Section 17 covers children in need, and section 47 requires the local authority to make enquiries when it has reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. A DSL's referral is often what starts those enquiries.
Read the legislation →£19.99. Pay once, nothing added.
One payment for one learner. You keep access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years. Changed your mind? Ask within 14 days and we refund you in full.
- PaySecure card payment, one time only.
- Sign inYour learner account is ready straight away.
- StartBegin module 1 the same minute.
Free refresher when it is due
We recommend a refresh every 2 years. We email you 30 days before, and from the refresh date you can retake the latest version free and download a new certificate.
Buying Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training for a team?
Open a free organisation account, buy places and give each person their own login. Your first place is free with a work email, and the price falls the more places you buy.
Multiple enrolment discounts
The price of a place is set by the places in one order, on this course or any mix of our CPD courses. Saving against the £19.99 single place.
| Places in one order | Price a place | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| Your first place | £0 | Free with a work email |
| 1 to 9 places | £16.99 | 15% off |
| 10 to 49 | £14.99 | 25% off |
| 50 to 99 | £12.99 | 35% off |
| 100 to 249 | £10.99 | 45% off |
| 250 or more | £9.99 | 50% off |
What would your team cost?
Training each person on several courses? A sector pack or the annual plan can cost less. Your quote compares all three for you.
Prefer to talk first? Request a call back
- 1
Your own training portal in 2 minutes
Open a free account with your work email. No sales call, and your first place is free.
- 2
See where everyone stands
A progress dashboard, a training matrix and an Excel progress report for your records.
- 3
Reminders sent for you
Welcome emails, nudges for anyone who stalls, and refresher dates so nobody goes out of date.
- 4
Pay by card or invoice
Card, or invoice on 30-day terms with your PO. Places stay valid for 3 years.
- 5
A human tutor with every course
Real tutor support for your staff, unlimited free retakes and a certificate the day they pass.
- 6
CPD Standards Office accreditation in progress
Provider 51289.
What our learners say
Stories from Lift College learners on our qualifications, in their own words.
“I had been a care assistant for four years without a formal qualification. Lift College made the whole process straightforward, my assessor visited regularly and I completed my Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care in just over a year. I was promoted to senior care worker the month after I qualified.”
“My employer was clear, I needed GCSE English to move into a supervisory role. Lift College helped me find the right exam board and an exam centre five minutes from home. Passed grade 4. Got the promotion.”
“My employer needed me to have Level 2 maths before they could register me on the Level 3 apprenticeship programme. Lift College was fast, the tutor was brilliant, and I resit my maths once after a near-miss and passed the second time. The whole thing took twelve weeks.”
Questions about Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training
Does this course make me a designated safeguarding lead?
No single course does. Your headteacher, principal, manager or governing body appoints the DSL, and Keeping Children Safe in Education expects the DSL to undertake training that covers the local safeguarding arrangements, which many local safeguarding children partnerships deliver themselves or ask the DSL to take from a provider they choose. This course gives you the knowledge the role demands and works as induction before a local course, as a knowledge update between formal courses, or as the main training for settings outside KCSIE such as clubs, charities and training providers. Your employer or local authority decides what else is needed.
Who needs DSL training?
Anyone appointed as designated safeguarding lead or deputy in a school or college in England, the lead practitioner for safeguarding in an early years setting, and the named safeguarding lead in a sports club, youth group, charity or training provider. Headteachers, governors and trustees who oversee the DSL also benefit from understanding the role.
How often does a DSL need to update their training?
Keeping Children Safe in Education says DSL training should be updated at least every two years, with knowledge and skills refreshed at regular intervals and at least annually through briefings, bulletins or meetings. Lift College recommends refreshing this course every 2 years to match, and the refresher is free.
What does this course not cover?
It does not cover your own local safeguarding children partnership's procedures, contact numbers and threshold document, which you need to learn from the partnership itself. It does not replace safer recruitment training, Prevent training or first aid, and it is not a regulated qualification. It also does not cover the detail of Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish procedures beyond explaining how they differ from England.
How do I make a referral to children's social care?
You check your local threshold document, gather what you know including names, dates, what was said and seen and what action you have taken, and contact the local authority's front door, often called the MASH or children's advice and support service, by phone for urgent concerns and then in writing. If a child is in immediate danger you call 999. The course walks through each step, what to expect afterwards and how to escalate if you disagree with the outcome.
How long do I keep access?
You keep your access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years from the day you buy. Your certificate PDF is yours to keep.
What is the free refresher?
Lift College recommends refreshing this course every 2 years. When your date comes round, you can retake the latest version free and get a new certificate. We email you 30 days before.
Does it count towards my CPD?
Yes. The course is 6 hours of learning, shown on your CPD certificate issued by Lift College, so you can log the hours in your CPD record.
Can I get my money back?
Yes. Ask within 14 days of paying and we refund you in full.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. Your receipt shows the course, the date and the amount paid, and you can pass it to your employer. Buying for a team? Open a free organisation account: every course is £16.99, and you can pay by card or invoice with your PO.
Can my team do this course in another language?
Yes, on an organisation account with 10 or more places. Your team can study Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training in Polish, Romanian, Punjabi, Urdu or Welsh, prepared within 1 working day of your order. The final test and the certificate stay in the English course name, so the certificate is the one every employer recognises. Tell us the languages you need when you order or ask for a quote.
Where can I do DSL training online in the UK?
Lift College offers Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training online for £19.99, pay once. It is 6 hours of learning in 8 short modules, written around the law and statutory guidance in England with notes on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass.
How long does online DSL training take?
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training is 6 hours of learning in 8 short modules, each with a knowledge check. You can finish it in one sitting or across several and pick up where you left off on any device. The final test needs 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
How much does Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training cost online?
Lift College's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training is £19.99, pay once, with no subscription. Training a team? It is £16.99 a course on a free organisation account.
How is Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training assessed?
By a short knowledge check after each of the 8 modules and a final test. You need 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes, and your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass.
Can I start Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training today?
Yes. You start the moment you pay, on any device, and you can finish the 6 hours of learning in one sitting or across several. Your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass. Buying for a team? Open a free organisation account.
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