Training
We are committed to the highest quality training and support for practice improvement.
Training update for Covid-19
Employers must ensure that staff, including volunteers, are trained in recognising the signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect, how to respond, and where to go for advice and assistance.
We have converted our face to face training to be delivered online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We also offer a Raising a Concern workbook and assessment.
Training Strategy
The DSAP Training Strategy is currently under review.
Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership Multi-agency training
Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership (DSAP) core multi-agency safeguarding adults training is aligned with national competency frameworks:
- Bournemouth University Research Online (BURO): National Competency Framework for Safeguarding Adults (concise version) (reviewed in 2018)
- Royal College of Nursing: Adult Safeguarding: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff (August 2018)
- Bournemouth University Research Online (BURO): National Mental Capacity Act Competency Framework
These frameworks are guides and do not replace contractual arrangements between commissioners and providers. Some employers may require certain staff groups to be trained to a higher level.
Training courses
Information about available courses, with links to more information and booking details. DSAP multi-agency safeguarding adults training offer is free to those working in County Durham, but cancellation charges may be incurred under the charging policy. Please read the charging policy before booking your place.
Raising a Concern
Raising awareness of safeguarding adults: the role everybody has in ensuring adults who may have needs for care and support are protected from abuse and neglect; how to recognise abuse and neglect; and what to do and who to tell. The course is delivered either online or through the workbook.
We recommend that this training is completed every three years.
Who should attend
- all staff and volunteers in health and social care settings
- all staff and volunteers in any service who may have contact with the public
- those who have a role in the governance of an organisation that provides health services or social care services.
Choose your course by delivery method.
Managing the Concern
This course is for Staff Group B1 and NHS Level 2 and Level 3, to ensure people responsible for managing safeguarding concerns in organisations understand decision making around concerns, whether they should be reported as adult safeguarding, and what to share appropriately using the correct internal and multi-agency procedures.
Who should attend
- This is typically managers and supervisors but may also include those who co-ordinate care.
It is expected that participants have completed the Raising a Concern course or equivalent safeguarding adults awareness during the three years prior to attending.
Choose your course by delivery method.
- Managing the Concern Online Training Course Dates
- Managing the Concern Face to Face Training Course Dates
Roles and Responsibilities for Practitioners
This course is for Staff Group B2 and NHS Level 2 and Level 3, for practitioners to understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding adults, specifically relating to:
- the Care Act 2014 and Care and Support Statutory Guidance
- procedures, processes and responsibilities in relation to Section 42 Enquiries in County Durham
Who should attend
- Practitioners who will undertake Section 42 enquiries, those who will undertake work for a Section 42 enquiry as directed by the DCC Adult Protection Lead Officer and those likely to attend an Adult Safeguarding Executive Strategy meeting.
It is expected that participants have completed the Raising a Concern course or equivalent safeguarding adults awareness during the three years prior to attending.
Choose your course by delivery method.
- Practitioners Roles and Responsibilities Online Training Course Dates
- Practitioners Roles and Responsibilities Face to Face Training Course Dates
Roles and Responsibilities for Providers
This course is for Staff Group B2 and NHS Level 3, for staff to understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding adults when taking part in a Section 42 enquiry in County Durham.
Who should attend
- Managers and safeguarding leads in organisations that provide services to adults with needs for care and support, for example in their own home, care homes, day centres, supported living, and hospitals; and who may be asked to contribute to a safeguarding adults section 42 enquiry and to complete actions by the local authority.
It is expected that participants have completed a Managing the Concern course prior to attending.
Choose your course by delivery method.
- Providers Roles and Responsibilities Online Training Course Dates
- Providers Roles and Responsibilities Face to Face Training Course Dates
Mental Capacity Act and Safeguarding Adults
This course will provide an understanding of:
- the Mental Capacity Act 2005, MCA Code of Practice, and related legislation
- how the Act applies to people caring for and supporting adults and 16 and 17 year olds
- assessing capacity and making decisions for people who are unable to make decisions for themselves
- how the Act can support safeguarding adults
Who should attend
- Staff and volunteers who either work with, care for, or come into contact with adults at risk of abuse and neglect who are unable to make some decisions for themselves.
Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Adults
This course will provide an overview of:
- Definitions and legal framework
- Domestic abuse in the context of safeguarding adults
- Some of the approaches and tools to support practice that are available
Who should attend
- Staff and volunteers who either work with or come into contact with adults who may have needs for care and support and who are experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse by partners, ex-partners or family members.
Modern Slavery 'Must Knows'
Aim
- To provide a brief overview of modern slavery, and the support available to potential victims, professionals, practitioner and volunteers
Who should attend
- Staff and volunteers who either work with or come into contact with the public, children, or adults including those who may have needs for care and support.
- Staff and volunteers working with adults and children who may be experiencing or at risk of exploitation, modern slavery, or human trafficking.
- Staff from First Responder organisations including the local authority, housing and police.
- Staff from service providers and those responsible for recruitment.
SARs Local and National Emerging Themes
Aim
To provide an understanding of:
- The key themes from local and national Safeguarding Adult Reviews
- Some of the actions taken locally to embed the learning
Who should attend
- Practitioners, staff and volunteers who either work with or come into contact with adults who may have needs for care and support and who are experiencing or at risk of abuse, neglect or self-neglect.
- Managers responsible for practice improvement and staff safeguarding supervision.
SAR Referrals and What 'Good' Looks Like
Aim
To brief multi-agency practitioners of the role of the Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership (DSAP) in Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) and related processes.
Who should attend
- Staff from an agency who can make a referral for a SAR e.g. social workers, NHS staff, Coroners, Members of Parliament, Elected Council Members, and family members.
- Managers and staff who either work with or come into contact with adults who may have needs for care and support and who are experiencing or at risk of abuse, neglect or self neglect and who may wish to make a SAR referral.
- Managers responsible for practice improvement and staff safeguarding supervision.
Charging policy
Our training offer is free to those working in County Durham, but cancellation charges may be incurred under the charging policy.
Charges may be made as follows:
- Cancellation of five or more days' notice: no charge
- Late cancellation, four or less days' notice: £25
- Non-attendance and no substitution: £50
If you are able to nominate the allocated place to another individual/staff member for the training session, there will be no charge.
To cancel a place on a course, please email safeguarding_training@durham.gov.uk with details of your cancellation.
If you wish to discuss your cancellation or there are extenuating circumstances, please call 03000 268870. Extenuating circumstances also need to be given in writing by email. Any waiver of charges is at the discretion of the DSAP Business Unit
We reserve the right to cancel or amend the date or time of any training, due to low bookings or for any other reason. Where we cancel or amend the date or time of any training, we will give you as much notice as possible of the change.
Workbook
For Staff Group A and NHS Level 1 and Level 2.
We also offer a Raising a Concern workbook and assessment which can be completed electronically as an interactive PDF.
In addition, there is guidance for managers providing the answers to the assessment questions and information on where to send completed and marked assessment sheets. This guidance is available by emailing safeguarding_training@durham.gov.uk.
Please note: The workbook was updated on 24 March 2022. If you require a new version of the marking guidance, please contact us on the above email.
Certificates will be sent to those who successfully complete the workbook.
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Safeguarding Raising a Concern Training Workbook (PDF, 2.9mb)
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Safeguarding Workbook Assessment Sheet (PDF, 164.4kb)
If you require information on how to type text into the Workbook, please email safeguarding_training@durham.gov.uk
A safeguarding adults recap
We have written this summary of safeguarding adults for people who completed their safeguarding adults training more than a year ago, or those new to County Durham who have completed safeguarding adults training in another area within the last three years. The recap will be regularly updated as new procedures and resources are published.
Safeguarding adults: messages for volunteers during Covid-19 pandemic
Waltham Forest Council have produced a three minute film for volunteers everywhere. The key message is: See something, Say something.
If you do not have a contact in your organisation for safeguarding adults, you can raise your concern directly with Social Care Direct. More information is available on our Reporting abuse page.
Additional resources whilst responding to current health and economic situation with Coronavirus
Virtual College has released a range of free relevant courses and resources around the current pandemic to support you and your colleagues during this current situation.
- Free course - Virtual College: free prepared to save a life course
- Infographic - Virtual College resources - How to reduce the spread of infection
- Poster - Virtual College resources - Poster on how to wash your hands
Train the Trainer
Our Train the Trainer programme enables professionals to deliver the Safeguarding Adults training in their own workplace to their staff. The Train the Trainer programme is currently suspended.
Easy read guides for members of the public and people receiving support and services
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Staying safe (PDF, 5.7mb)
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Stop abuse now (PDF, 10.0mb)
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What happens when abuse is reported (PDF, 3.9mb)
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Self-directed learning
Single topic briefings and articles to support good practice
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DSAP Self Neglect Briefing (PDF, 2.7mb)
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Covid-19 fraud factsheet (PDF, 354.2kb)
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DSAP Briefing: Domestic abuse and safeguarding adults (PDF, 364.7kb)
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Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership Home Invasion Briefing (PDF, 298.9kb)
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Durham Safeguarding Adults Board Easy Read Safeguarding Adults Resources (PDF, 272.4kb)
Elearning
The Safeguarding Adults elearning offer is currently under review and development.
Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
A half-day session with Susan Colclough (MARAC Chair) and Catherine Glass (MARAC Coordinator) is available every two months. To find out the next available dates and request a booking form email marac@durham.police.uk
Prevent awareness
Radicalisation is another form of abuse and has links to safeguarding. The Prevent duty aims to safeguard people from being radicalised or groomed into supporting terrorists or becoming terrorists themselves.
A new Prevent elearning course developed by the government offers an introduction to the Prevent duty. It will help you to respond appropriately if you become concerned about an individual - whether they are a member of the public, customer or colleague.
For more information and access to the elearning visit:
Please note: if you have access to the Durham County Council Learning and Development System (DLDS) you should access this elearning through that so that your training record is updated.
Learning and development resources
Domestic abuse training offer
There is a range of training available about domestic abuse commissioned by Durham County Council (DCC). DCC staff should access this training via the Council's intranet DLDs domestic abuse courses page. Staff from other organisations should book via the relevant link below.
Domestic Abuse Practitioner Standards Level 1 Basic Awareness - a rolling programme offered by DCC, suitable for everyone
Cyber Stalking and Domestic Abuse - Online training to increase participants awareness of cyber stalking
Financial control and domestic abuse - Financial Abuse in intimate relationships is a way of controlling a person's ability to acquire, use, and maintain their own money and financial resources.
Understanding LGBT+ experiences of domestic abuse - online training to increase awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on people from LGBT+ communities
Halo - Break the Silence: to increase knowledge and raise awareness of forced marriage, honour-based abuse, and female genital mutilation (FGM)
Harbour Support Briefing - Harbour Support Services offer a range of services designed to support families whose lives have been affected by Domestic Abuse
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
A wide variety of guidance, practical tools, films and elearning is available.
Free elearning for the health and social care workforce
Elearning for healthcare (e-LfH) is a Health Education England (HEE) programme working in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies providing elearning. Many courses are available including about safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty.
Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements elearning
This elearning tool should be used for staff development and training purposes. It will support people who attend Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) and anyone who works with violent or sex offenders to raise individual awareness of MAPPA, practice guidance and policy.
Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) elearning
Some people may work with both adults and children or need to consider the family situation of the adult they work with. Free Durham County Council courses:
Understanding domestic abuse and sexual violence
Free online basic awareness courses by IDAS
Open Clasp - what is coercive control?
Richinda Taylor - EVA, Redcar
Friends against scams
A short free online awareness session which asks you to take a stand.
Awareness of forced marriage
Developed with the Forced Marriage Unit of the Foreign Office, free online course.
Understanding animal welfare in violent homes
Understand the links between abuse of adults, abuse of children, domestic abuse, and animal abuse. The section on understanding canine communication, which covers understanding anxiety escalation and potential aggressive responses in dogs, is particularly useful for all staff and volunteers who make home visits. Free online course.
Suicide, let's talk
Zero Suicide Alliance and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust free course. Includes BSL for D/deaf learners.
We need to talk about suicide
Health Education England free learning tool to help spot early warning signs of suicide.
Skills for care
A wide variety of practical tools and support is also available via the website.
Safeguarding children
There are a number of Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership elearning courses available through MeLearning. Visit our page about Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership elearning for details.