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SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Course — professional training UK

SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Course

Accredited SafeCert Level 3 Award

2 Days
Accredited
£395 + VAT

Last Updated:

SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Course Overview

SOVA safeguarding of vulnerable adults trainer course participants learning adult protection and care legislation UK

This accredited SOVA (Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults) Trainer Award is designed for healthcare and social care professionals who want to teach the ten types of abuse, safeguarding legislation under the Care Act 2014, reporting procedures, and the role of the Safeguarding Adults Board in care homes, NHS settings, and social care organisations.

Upon completion, you will receive a SafeCert Level 3 SOVA Trainer Award and a complimentary PDLSG teaching qualification, enabling you to deliver accredited safeguarding training and issue certificates to your delegates.

The course is available at venues across the UK and via live Zoom. In-house delivery is available for care organisations and NHS trusts with 6 or more delegates.

What You'll Learn on the SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Course

Care Act 2014 and Safeguarding Legislation
The 10 Types of Abuse
Signs and Indicators of Abuse
Safeguarding Reporting Procedures
Section 42 Enquiries
Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs)
Mental Capacity Act and Safeguarding
Training Delivery and Assessment

Who Should Attend the SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Course

Care Home Managers and Senior Carers
NHS Healthcare Professionals
Social Workers and Care Coordinators
Domiciliary Care Supervisors
Mental Health Support Workers
Learning Disability Support Workers
Housing and Support Workers
Any Professional Working with Vulnerable Adults

Available Course Dates

SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer course booking

SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Booking

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Why teach Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults?

Adult safeguarding protects vulnerable people from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Qualified SOVA trainers ensure care and health staff understand their legal duties under the Care Act 2014.

2.1 million

Adults in England are estimated to be at risk of abuse or neglect

500,000+

Safeguarding referrals made to local authorities in England each year

£2.5 billion

Annual cost of adult safeguarding to public services in England

80%

Of abuse is perpetrated by someone known to the victim — training is essential

Source: NHS England / ADASS 2023

Why Choose Abertay Training for Your SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Qualification

Recognised Qualification

Accredited course meeting UK regulations. Accepted by employers across the UK.

Complete Training Resources

Full trainer pack including PowerPoint presentations, delegate workbooks, and assessment forms.

Expert Instructors

Learn from experienced professionals with extensive backgrounds in their specialist field and adult education.

Flexible Locations

Available at 10+ UK venues and fully online via live Zoom. In-house training available for groups of 6 or more.

SOVA Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Trainer Course FAQs

Safeguarding of vulnerable adults (SOVA) means protecting adults who have care and support needs from abuse or neglect, and preventing the risk of abuse or neglect occurring. Under the Care Act 2014, a 'vulnerable adult' is defined as an adult aged 18 or over who has care and support needs (whether or not the local authority is meeting those needs) and is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect.
The Care Act 2014 identifies ten types of abuse: (1) Physical abuse — including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint. (2) Domestic violence — including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse. (3) Sexual abuse — including rape, sexual assault, sexual acts without consent. (4) Psychological/emotional abuse — including threats, humiliation, isolation. (5) Financial/material abuse — including theft, fraud, exploitation. (6) Modern slavery — including trafficking, forced labour. (7) Discriminatory abuse — including harassment based on protected characteristics. (8) Organisational/institutional abuse — including neglect in a care setting. (9) Neglect and acts of omission — including ignoring medical needs, withholding food. (10) Self-neglect — including hoarding, failure to self-care.
The Care Act 2014 is the primary legislation for adult safeguarding in England. It places a duty on local authorities to make enquiries when an adult with care and support needs is at risk of abuse or neglect, and to establish Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs) in each local authority area. It also places duties on NHS bodies, the police, and other organisations to cooperate with safeguarding enquiries.
A Section 42 enquiry is an investigation carried out by a local authority under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014. It is triggered when the local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in its area has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves. The enquiry determines what action, if any, is necessary to protect the adult.
Your SOVA Trainer certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. Safeguarding legislation, guidance, and best practice are updated regularly, so renewal training ensures your knowledge remains current and legally compliant.
SOVA (Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults) focuses on protecting adults aged 18 or over who have care and support needs. Child safeguarding covers the protection of children and young people under 18, governed by the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance, and the statutory framework for Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (LSCPs). The principles are similar but the legislation, thresholds, and processes differ significantly.
A Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) is a statutory multi-agency body established under the Care Act 2014 in each local authority area. Its core duty is to assure itself that local safeguarding arrangements and partners act to help and protect adults in its area. The SAB must include the local authority, NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, and the police as core members, and may include other organisations.
All health and social care professionals have a professional and ethical duty to report safeguarding concerns. The Care Act 2014 places a specific duty on local authorities to investigate concerns about adults at risk. The Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Human Rights Act 1998, and various professional codes of conduct (NMC, HCPC, Social Work England) also impose duties to report. In practice, any person who has concerns about an adult at risk should report them to their local authority adult safeguarding team or the police.

What Our Students Say

4.8(5 verified reviews)
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"Excellent course, very well structured and the trainer was knowledgeable and engaging. I feel fully prepared to deliver training in my workplace."

Sarah Mitchell

HR Manager, NHS Trust

Edinburgh · November 2024

✓ Verified

"Outstanding training experience. The practical elements were particularly valuable and I now have the confidence to train my colleagues effectively."

James Robertson

Health & Safety Officer, Construction Ltd

Glasgow · October 2024

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"Very professional and thorough. The course exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend Abertay Training to anyone looking to become a qualified trainer."

Emma Thompson

Team Leader, Care Home Group

Dundee · September 2024

✓ Verified

"Great course content and delivery. The materials provided are excellent and will be very useful when I deliver training to my team."

Michael Chen

Operations Manager, Manufacturing Co

Aberdeen · August 2024

✓ Verified

"Brilliant experience from start to finish. The online booking was easy, the venue was excellent, and the training itself was first class."

Lisa Anderson

Training Coordinator, Local Authority

Perth · July 2024

Venue Information

Choose your preferred training location. All venues offer the same high-quality course with full certification.

Online Zoom

Location

Learn from anywhere in the UK

Contact

0333 500 5000

Course Hours

10:00 AM - 4:30 PM (2 days)

✓ Online Course Benefits

  • • No travel costs - save time and money
  • • Same Level 3 SafeCert certification
  • • Live instructor via Zoom (not recorded)
  • • All trainer resources included
  • • Interactive practical demonstrations
Online Zoom training session with professional instructor
Request a Quick Callback - One of our friendly team will be in touch within 2 working hoursSOVA Trainer - Course Details and Dates - Click to view and download
Course Information
Duration2 Days
LevelSafeCert Level 3
Price£395 + VAT
Certificate3 Years
DeliveryClassroom / Zoom
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Based on 113 reviews
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Resources
Gov.uk — Care Act 2014 Statutory GuidanceSCIE — Safeguarding Adults ResourcesCQC — Safeguarding Adults Guidance

Accreditations

Abertay Training is accredited and certified by the UK's leading health, safety and quality bodies.

  • SafeCert Awards

    Abertay Training is an approved SafeCert Awarding Centre, delivering nationally recognised trainer qualifications accredited by SafeCert Awards — the UK's leading awarding body for health and safety training.

  • SafeCert CPD

    All Abertay Training courses are CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accredited by SafeCert, meaning delegates can count their training towards their annual CPD requirements.

  • IOSH Managing Safely

    Abertay Training is an approved provider of IOSH Managing Safely, the world's most popular health and safety qualification for managers and supervisors, awarded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

  • IOSH Working Safely

    Abertay Training is an approved provider of IOSH Working Safely, the internationally recognised health and safety qualification for all levels of the workforce, awarded by IOSH.

  • IFE Affiliate

    Abertay Training is an affiliate organisation of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), confirming that our fire safety trainer courses meet the professional standards set by the IFE.

  • ISO 9001 Quality

    Abertay Training holds ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification, independently audited by ISOQAR and accredited by UKAS, demonstrating our commitment to consistent, high-quality training delivery.

  • ISO 14001 Environmental

    Abertay Training holds ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification, demonstrating our commitment to minimising environmental impact across all our training operations.

  • ISO 45001 Safety

    Abertay Training holds ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certification, the international standard for workplace health and safety, independently audited by ISOQAR and accredited by UKAS.

  • Backcare Member

    Abertay Training is a Professional Member of Backcare, the UK charity for back and neck pain. This membership confirms that our manual handling and patient handling trainer courses meet Backcare's professional standards.

  • RoSPA Member

    Abertay Training is a member of RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), the UK's leading safety organisation, reinforcing our commitment to the highest standards of health and safety training.

Abertay Training holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications, is a SafeCert Approved Centre, an approved provider of IOSH Managing Safely and IOSH Working Safely, an IFE Affiliate, and a professional member of Backcare and RoSPA.

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