CSTF Safeguarding Children – Level 1

Who is the course for?

This level 1 CSTF safeguarding children e-learning course is designed for all staff working in healthcare settings who may come into contact with children or be involved in their care.

Aims

The CSTF safeguarding children – level 1 online course aims to:

• Increase awareness and understanding of child safeguarding responsibilities among healthcare staff.

• Promote a child-centred, rights-based approach to recognising, responding to, and reporting concerns about abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Learning objectives

To achieve the aims of this course, the CSTF safeguarding children – level 1 training course will:

• Introduce the different forms of child maltreatment, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and neglect.

• Explain indicators of grooming, radicalisation, trafficking, and modern forms of exploitation (e.g. FGM, county lines, online abuse).

• Highlight the increased vulnerability of specific groups, such as looked-after children, care leavers, disabled children, and young carers.

• Describe the impact of parental issues such as domestic violence, mental illness, and substance misuse on children’s well-being.

• Emphasise the importance of children’s rights and the principles of child protection.

• Clarify the reporting process, including who to report concerns to and where to seek support.

• Summarise the core legal and procedural frameworks underpinning child safeguarding in the UK.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Recognise potential indicators of child maltreatment in its various forms.

• Identify signs of grooming, radicalisation, trafficking, sexual exploitation, FGM, forced marriage, modern slavery, gang involvement, and online/media abuse.

• Understand the risks associated with the internet and social networking platforms.

• Acknowledge the specific vulnerabilities of children in care, those with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, young carers, and missing children.

• Explain how parental mental or physical health issues, domestic abuse, or substance misuse may affect a child’s safety and development.

• Recognise the importance of children’s rights in safeguarding and child protection practices.

• Know what to do, when to report and whom to seek advice if they have a safeguarding concerns.

• Be aware of the relevant UK legislation, including the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).

Why is this course important?

Children and young people have the right to grow up free from harm, abuse, and exploitation. This CSTF safeguarding children level 1 course equips healthcare staff with the essential knowledge and confidence to recognise maltreatment, respond appropriately, and act in line with UK safeguarding legislation.

Aligned with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and CSTF standards, it covers modern risks such as grooming, trafficking, radicalisation, and online abuse. Whether you work directly with children or in a supporting role, this course ensures you can help protect vulnerable children and uphold their rights in care.

Course assessment

• Multiple-choice knowledge assessment (minimum pass mark: 80%)

• Unlimited retakes allowed

• Instant access to a CPD-accredited digital certificate

• Certificates accepted by NHS Trusts, CQC-registered providers, and regulatory bodies

• Employers can verify certificates through our support team.

Course certification

• Receive a CPD-accredited certificate upon successful course completion.

• Certificates are available for immediate download upon passing the final assessment.

• Accepted by NHS Trusts, private healthcare providers, and regulatory bodies, meeting compliance requirements.

• Employers and organisations can verify the authenticity of certifications through the ComplyPlus™ platform.

Refresher requirements

• Refresher training recommended every 3 years

• Earlier refresher is required if the national policy or local safeguarding procedures change

• Pre-assessment may be used to determine if refresher training is required.

Course accreditation

• Accredited by the CPD Certification Service, ensuring high-quality training.

• Meets the UK Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) standards.

• Fulfils requirements set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Health Trust Europe (HTE), Crown Commercial Services (CCS) and NHS Collaborative Procurement Partnership (CPP).

• Informed by best practice frameworks from current legislation and regulations, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Bournemouth University National Competency Framework and NHS England’s Safeguarding Assurance Framework.

Course demo (video)

FAQ’s

Can this safeguarding children course be taken by volunteers or administrative staff in healthcare?

Yes. The course is suitable for anyone working or volunteering in healthcare who may encounter children or young people, even if they have no direct clinical responsibilities. It provides essential awareness to recognise concerns and know how to act.

Does this safeguarding children training cover how to talk to children about safeguarding concerns?

Yes. While this level 1 course focuses on awareness, it also offers practical tips on how to communicate sensitively and appropriately with children if they disclose information or show signs that raise concerns.

How will this online safeguarding children course help me understand online and digital risks to children?

The course includes an overview of how modern technologies, including social media and messaging platforms, can be used for grooming, exploitation, or bullying. It highlights key signs to watch for and outlines the steps to take if online risks are suspected.

How do I log on to the eLearning platform?

After purchasing a course, you’ll receive an email with your login details and a platform access link (optimised for Google Chrome). Your email address will serve as your fixed username. To avoid access issues, ensure your purchase information is accurate and up to date.

I haven’t received my login details. What should I do?

Your login details are emailed automatically right after purchase. However, some email providers (like Google or Yahoo) may send these to your Junk or Spam folder.

How do I download my certificate(s)?

Once you have successfully completed the end-of-course assessment with a passing score, your certificate will be made available online. It is issued in a quality-assured PDF format and can be downloaded directly from the platform.

Once available, you can:

• Download the certificate directly to your device

• Save a digital copy for your records

• Print a physical copy if needed.

No physical copy will be mailed, as all certificates are issued electronically for convenience and instant access.

Can I request name changes on certificates?

Learners are not allowed to change their names directly in the LMS. This is to ensure that the name reflected on the certificate belongs to the actual individual who completed the course and to prevent the risk of name forgery or transferring certificates to others.

If you need to request a name change, please contact our Support Team by submitting your concern through this form. Kindly include a clear reason for the change and any supporting documentation required for verification.

Do you give discounts for bulk purchases?

Yes, we offer competitive volume discounts for organisations enrolling multiple candidates in any of our online training courses. To view our current volume discount options, click here.

Safeguarding Children (Healthcare) – Level 1 | ComplyPlus™ LMS | The Mandatory Training Group UK –