Designated safeguarding officer (DSO) training in England

Designated safeguarding officer training (core)

During this training course, you’ll learn how to:

• describe the role and main responsibilities of the DSO
• state your own values regarding child abuse and diversity factors, and explain the impact of these on professional practice
• describe the key legislation and guidance underpinning child safeguarding
• identify factors that can render children more vulnerable to abuse and neglect, including their families who might be accessing your services
• demonstrate an awareness of the emotional dimension of safeguarding work
• describe a set of key standards essential for the development of a safeguarding culture
• assess and strengthen your organisation’s safeguarding arrangements and create a safer culture
• confidently apply your organisation’s safeguarding and child protection procedures when dealing with concerns or allegations
• explain what happens following a referral to the relevant investigating agencies, as well as your role in the multi-agency child protection process
• support children, young people, staff and volunteers and identify tools and resources you can use to protect children and young people.

Book core training

Designated safeguarding officer (advanced) training

During this advanced training course, you’ll learn how to:

• state the elements involved in creating and maintaining a safeguarding culture, including the role management committees and trustees have
• describe the part values play in our understanding of and response to safeguarding issues
• deal with complex safeguarding and children protection concerns
• respond to situations you may find challenging such as talking to adult family members
• describe different forms of child sexual abuse and neglect, their impact and how they can be recognised
• describe the link between good organisational safeguarding and good governance
• plan, implement, audit and evaluate the effectiveness of your organisation’s safeguarding arrangements and put in place an effective training strategy
• define trauma-informed practice and the concept of resilience
• recognise the impact of traumatic experiences on children and young people’s health and development
• contribute to multi-agency assessments and identify ways to address the dimensions of the Framework for Assessing Children in Need
• apply learning from child safeguarding practice reviews, inquiries and research to your organisation.
• network with other designated safeguarding officers and share safeguarding practice initiatives.

Book advanced training

Our training courses are for anyone who is currently a designated safeguarding officer (DSO) in England and works with children and young people in the voluntary, charity, social enterprise or private sector.

The DSO core training course is aimed at individuals who want to familiarise themselves with the DSO’s responsibilities. Whether this is because you are new to the role or looking to undergo training to better understand the part you play in protecting children and young people.

The DSO advanced training course is for experienced DSOs who are looking to build on their existing skills and maintain a strong safeguarding culture within their organisation. It is also useful for individuals who work in organisations that regularly deal with complex needs or encounter safeguarding and child protection concerns frequently.

People who have taken this course include:

• youth services
• faith organisations
• community-based organisations.

This course doesn’t provide full training for people who work in a statutory agency. See our Designated safeguarding lead training for those working in the education sector.

Note for health professionals: Our DSO courses sit outside the intercollegiate documents levels required for health care staff. If you’re looking for a similar course, you can take a look at our Level 4 safeguarding training for named health professionals.

All NSPCC Learning courses are up-to-date with the latest information about legislation, guidance and best practice and provide a certificate of achievement.

And it doesn’t stop there. As experts in safeguarding and child protection, we have a range of further information, training and downloadable resources to help you protect the children you work with.

Live virtual training benefits

• Remote sessions delivered live by expert trainers.
• Share your ideas, experience and learning virtually with participants from a wide range of sectors and organisations.
• Receive real-time feedback.
• Learn from the comfort of your own home or office.
• No travel costs.
• Participate in interactive exercises and get direct support and guidance as you learn.

Book virtual training now

Benefits of face-to-face training on location

• Delivered by expert trainers.
• Share your ideas, experience and learning with participants from a wide range of sectors and organisations.
• Learn in a dedicated learning space, without distractions.
• Participate in interactive exercises and get direct support and guidance as you learn.

Book face-to-face training now 

We use Zoom Pro to deliver our live virtual training.

• You’ll need to sign up to Zoom and agree to the Zoom Privacy Notice in order to attend virtual training.
• No confidential or sensitive data should be shared during the virtual event.
• In order to take your training securely and for the best possible experience please use Zoom version 5.0 or above.
• We recommend installing the latest version of your web browser before beginning your course. Prior to the event, you can test your internet connection at https://zoom.us/test
• Your trainer will contact you prior to your training date with details of how to login on the day of your session and setting up Zoom. You can also visit the Zoom website for technical support.

At the NSPCC, we work to keep children and young people safe from abuse and neglect every day.

As experts in safeguarding and child protection, we understand the issues organisations and people working with children can face. That’s why professionals trust us to provide the support, training and resources they need to help protect the children and young people they work with.

Our highly-rated training courses are developed by experts. We work with a number of organisations, experienced consultants and subject matter experts in a range of sectors to develop courses that are clear, easy-to-use, up-to-date and in line with the latest statutory guidance, and tailored to your needs.

And as a charity, income generated from the sale of our training courses is reinvested back into the NSPCC to help protect children.