Domestic Abuse & Violence Online Training Course

This course has been updated to comply with and include changes from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 and Working Together to Safeguard Children (WTSC) 2026 legislation. This legislation came into force on 1st September 2026 and was published by the Department for Education.

This course covers a wide range of information and guidance for anyone working with individuals who are vulnerable to domestic abuse or already experiencing it, including how to safeguard both children and adults at risk.

It walks through the different types of domestic abuse, using the Duluth Power and Control Wheel to explain the behaviours an abuser uses to gain control, and covers the risk factors that can make abuse more likely. It looks in detail at the impact on children at different ages and stages of development, as well as the particular risks faced by adults at risk, using real-world case studies to bring this to life.

The course also covers the systems in place to protect people, including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare's Law), the government's Freedom from Violence and Abuse cross-government strategy, and the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process, supported by the DASH risk assessment tool and the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) role. It closes with practical guidance on best practice for supporting someone experiencing abuse, including how to handle a disclosure and share information safely.

Throughout, the course uses statistics, infographics and interactive scenarios to help learners apply what they've learned, including two full case-study scenarios covering both a child and an adult at risk.

Who should take this course?

This course is for anyone who works closely with children, young people or adults at risk, and needs a strong level of domestic abuse awareness to identify and safeguard potential victims. This includes:

• Social workers
• Teachers and education staff
• Healthcare workers and nurses
• Youth workers
• Safeguarding teams

What does this training cover?

• Types of domestic abuse, and the Power and Control Wheel
• Risk factors, and situations which can make domestic abuse more likely
• The impact of domestic abuse on children, young people and adults at risk
• Barriers to seeking help, and how to address them
• Systems to protect people at risk, including the MARAC process and the DASH risk assessment tool
• Civil and criminal legal protections, including injunctions and protection orders
• Key principles and best practice for supporting someone experiencing abuse

Understanding the Impacts of Domestic Abuse Course Certificate and Assessment

After completing all the course materials and passing the online assessment, learners will be able to download and print a Virtual College certificate, which they can keep for their records.

At the end of this understanding the impacts of domestic abuse course, you will need to complete a test that consists of 15 multiple choice questions. Learners are required to achieve a 75% pass mark, and - if necessary - may attempt the test six times at no extra cost. If learners do not achieve the 75% pass mark, further attempts may be given by contacting our support team.

Duration

This course takes around 1-2 hours to complete. As it's all online, you can complete it at your own pace, in stages, with your progress recorded throughout and as long as you like spent on each section.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this online course.