Safeguarding Adults Level 3
For staff who assess risk and act on concerns: section 42 enquiries, capacity, protection planning and multi-agency work.
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Safeguarding Adults Level 3
At Level 3 you do more than report a concern. You help weigh risk, gather information for an enquiry and plan how to protect someone, while respecting their choices. Level here means safeguarding competency level, matched to roles that carry that responsibility.
This course is written around the Level 3 competencies in the adult Intercollegiate Document, 2nd edition. It covers section 42 enquiries, mental capacity in complex situations, and harder forms of abuse such as coercive control, modern slavery and self-neglect. You also learn about protection planning, multi-agency meetings, allegations against people in positions of trust, Prevent and Safeguarding Adults Reviews.
- Explain the section 42 enquiry duty and your part in it
- Assess safeguarding risk using the six principles and proportionate responses
- Apply mental capacity and best interests principles in complex cases
- Recognise coercive control, modern slavery, organisational abuse and self-neglect
- Contribute to protection plans and multi-agency safeguarding meetings
- Record decisions with clear reasons, separating fact from opinion
- Manage concerns about people in positions of trust
- Apply learning from Safeguarding Adults Reviews to your practice
10 short modules, 8 hours in total.
The legal framework across the UK
The Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005, with the Welsh and Scottish adult protection laws.
Knowledge checkMaking Safeguarding Personal in practice
Working with the person's outcomes, balancing choice and protection, and applying the six principles to real decisions.
Knowledge checkDomestic abuse and coercive control
Recognising coercive and controlling behaviour, risk to adults with care needs, and links to child safeguarding.
Knowledge checkExploitation and organisational abuse
Financial abuse, modern slavery and poor care cultures in services that lead to organisational abuse.
Knowledge checkSelf-neglect
Why self-neglect is a safeguarding matter, engaging people who refuse help, and working across agencies.
Knowledge checkMental capacity in safeguarding
Assessing capacity for specific decisions, best interests, least restrictive options, and recording your reasoning.
Knowledge checkSection 42 enquiries
When the duty applies, what an enquiry involves, and how you contribute evidence and views.
Knowledge checkRisk assessment and protection planning
Weighing risk, proportionate responses and building a protection plan with the person and other agencies.
Knowledge checkPositions of trust and Prevent
Allegations against staff and volunteers, whistleblowing, and the Prevent duty in health and care.
Knowledge checkLearning from reviews
Safeguarding Adults Reviews, transitional safeguarding for young adults, supervision and reflective practice.
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 are a registered nurse, nursing associate or allied health professional
- You are a registered manager, deputy manager or team leader in adult care
- You are a social worker, occupational therapist or community mental health practitioner
- You contribute evidence to section 42 enquiries or attend safeguarding meetings
- You are a senior support worker or health care assistant who acts on concerns
- Your employer has asked you for Level 3 safeguarding adults training
Your CPD certificate, issued the day you pass.
Your certificate records Safeguarding Adults Level 3, 8 hours of learning, your completion date and a recommended refresh date 3 years later.
- 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
Care Act 2014
In England, the council must make enquiries when it suspects an adult with care needs is at risk of abuse or neglect. This applies when the adult cannot protect themselves. Each council must also set up a Safeguarding Adults Board.
Read the legislation →Mental Capacity Act 2005
Sets out five principles. A person is assumed to have capacity, must be helped to decide and may make unwise decisions. Any decision made for them must be in their best interests and least restrictive.
Read the legislation →Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
Section 26 is the Prevent duty. Specified bodies, such as schools, councils and the NHS, must have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
Read the legislation →Adult Safeguarding: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff (Intercollegiate Document, 2nd edition, 2024)
Professional guidance, not law. It sets out what health care staff at each level should know and do, with suggested training hours over three years.
Read the legislation →Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
Part 7 sets out safeguarding duties for adults at risk and children at risk in Wales. Day-to-day practice follows the Wales Safeguarding Procedures.
Read the legislation →Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
The Scottish law on protecting adults at risk of harm, including inquiries by councils and protection orders.
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 3 years. We email you 30 days before, and from the refresh date you can retake the latest version free and download a new certificate.
Questions about Safeguarding Adults Level 3
Who needs Level 3 safeguarding adults training?
The adult Intercollegiate Document places registered health care staff with regular patient contact at Level 3. Its 2nd edition extends this to roles such as health care assistants. Your employer decides your level.
What is the difference between Level 2 and Level 3 safeguarding adults?
Level 2 teaches you to recognise, respond to and report concerns. Level 3 covers assessing risk, mental capacity in complex cases, section 42 enquiries, protection planning and multi-agency work.
What is a section 42 enquiry?
It is an enquiry under section 42 of the Care Act 2014. The council must make one when it suspects an adult with care needs is at risk of abuse or neglect and cannot protect themselves. Others may carry out parts of it.
Is this course based on the Intercollegiate Document?
The content is written around the Level 3 competencies in the adult Intercollegiate Document, 2nd edition, 2024. The document also expects some participatory learning, so your employer decides how you meet it in full.
How many hours of Level 3 safeguarding adults training do I need?
The adult Intercollegiate Document suggests 8 hours over 3 years at Level 3. This course is 8 hours of learning. Your employer decides what counts towards your total.
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 3 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 8 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. Lift College is not VAT registered, so no VAT is charged. Buying for a team? Ask about team enrolment and the team will help.
Safeguarding Adults Level 2
For staff in regular contact with adults at risk. Recognise abuse, respect capacity and report concerns under the Care Act 2014.
Safeguarding Children Level 3
For staff who work closely with children and help assess, plan and act on child protection concerns with other agencies.
Care Certificate
The knowledge for all 16 Care Certificate standards, ready for your employer to observe your practice and sign you off.
Leading a team or service? The Leadership and Management for Adult Care Level 5 Diploma is the next step.
See the course →Buying for a team?
Enrol several learners at once, one invoice, and a certificate for each person the day they pass. Tell us the courses and how many people and we will set it up.