Introduction

This course builds on existing safeguarding knowledge and focuses on the practical responsibilities of Level 2 non-clinical pharmacy workers when they come into contact with children, parents, carers, adults at risk, and members of the public who may need protection.^[4][5]

Safeguarding in pharmacy practice is not limited to obvious disclosure or crisis. Concerns may arise during routine conversations at the medicines counter, repeat collections, home deliveries, reception queries, telephone calls, or interactions where someone appears frightened, controlled, neglected, or unable to speak freely. Level 2 practice is about recognising a wider range of concerns, responding appropriately, recording clearly, and using the correct escalation or referral pathways.^[4][3]

What This Course Covers

• Understanding safeguarding: Learn what safeguarding children and adults at risk means in UK pharmacy settings and why non-clinical staff have an important role.^[1][2]
• Recognising indicators: Identify behavioural, physical, social, and contextual signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, coercive control, and wider vulnerability.^[6][7]
• Level 2 responsibilities: Understand professional curiosity, immediate safety action, responding to disclosures, and when to seek advice or escalate concerns.^[5][4]
• Recording and information sharing: Apply good practice in factual documentation, confidentiality, lawful sharing, and differentiating fact from opinion.^[1][2][3]
• Referral and escalation: Understand the role of the safeguarding lead, local safeguarding structures, emergency action, and when concerns may need referral outside the pharmacy.^[1][5]
• Pharmacy-specific practice: Explore how safeguarding can arise through counter service, reception work, deliveries, repeated contact, and interactions with parents, carers, and accompanying adults.^[4][3]
• Safer working: Reinforce professional boundaries, safe escalation, and the importance of speaking up if concerns involve a colleague or organisational practice.^[9][3]
• Practical, case-based learning to apply safeguarding in everyday pharmacy interactions: Practical examples and case-based learning for real-world application.^[8][4]

How You Will Learn

The course is tailored to situations that arise in pharmacy practice, where safeguarding concerns may become visible through short, everyday interactions rather than formal assessment or planned safeguarding review.^[4][8]

Practical examples and case-based learning are included throughout to help you apply the learning to real-world pharmacy settings with confidence, clarity, and care.^[8][4]

References (numbered in text) Why we include references

1. Department for Education. Working Together to Safeguard Children (statutory guidance) — 2026 (summary and guidance on inter-agency working to protect children). Find (opens in a new tab)
2. Department of Health and Social Care. Care and support statutory guidance (Care Act 2014) — statutory guidance on safeguarding adults with care and support needs. Find (opens in a new tab)
3. General Pharmaceutical Council. Standards for registered pharmacies — standards requiring governance, staff competence and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Find (opens in a new tab)
4. Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE). Safeguarding children, young people and adults: level 2 case studies for pharmacy professionals (e-learning and pharmacy-focused safeguarding resources). Find (opens in a new tab)
5. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC). Guidance for Commissioners: optimising health through community pharmacies (includes safeguarding requirements and contractual/Terms of Service expectations for community pharmacy). Find (opens in a new tab)
6. NSPCC Learning. Recognising signs and indicators of child abuse and neglect — guidance for professionals on behavioural and physical indicators and responding to concerns. Find (opens in a new tab)
7. Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Safeguarding adults: types and indicators of abuse — guidance on recognising and responding to abuse and neglect in adults at risk. Find (opens in a new tab)
8. Farahat S, Micallef R. The influence of pharmacist training on the safeguarding of children: a city-based study. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2021;13(3):213-219. Find (opens in a new tab)
9. Royal Pharmaceutical Society. RPS Pharmacy Guides — Safeguarding (children and young people; vulnerable adults) and professional guidance on raising concerns and professional boundaries. Find (opens in a new tab)