The requirements
- Level 3 certificate (adult and child) in date from the start of ST1; a new Level 3 course once 36 months have passed.
- Annual knowledge update covering adults and children, in every 12-month period in which you did not complete a full Level 3 course. Do it early in the training year. Not pro rata for LTFT.
- Applied reflection: each training year, a learning log entry showing you applied safeguarding knowledge in an adult case and one in a child case. The RCGP allows an exception for the child entry in some circumstances (for example no exposure to children); deaneries differ, so check with your ES.
The numbers by year
| Requirement | ST1 | ST2 | ST3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding Level 3 (adults and children) certificate | in date from the start of ST1 | in date | in date |
| Annual safeguarding knowledge update (adult and child) | 1 per year | 1 per year | 1 per year |
| Safeguarding reflection in practice (adult and child) check current RCGP guidance | 1 adult + 1 child | 1 adult + 1 child | 1 adult + 1 child |
Full time, per training year unless stated. Less than full time: per-year totals stay the same and each 6-month review needs a pro rata share; 6-monthly ESRs and 12-monthly certificates are not pro rata. Check with your deanery and educational supervisor.
Notes on these numbers
- Safeguarding Level 3 (adults and children) certificate, LTFT: Time-based (36 months), not pro rata.
- Annual safeguarding knowledge update (adult and child), LTFT: Not pro rata: every 12 calendar months.
- Safeguarding reflection in practice (adult and child), LTFT: Per training year.
- Safeguarding reflection in practice (adult and child), confidence: medium. Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
Writing a safeguarding reflection
- The case can be indirect: a child in the household of an adult patient with alcohol dependence, domestic abuse or mental illness.
- Show the steps: what raised the concern, what you checked (records, alerts), who you discussed with (practice lead, health visitor, social care), what you did and what you documented.
- Reflect on information sharing and consent, the voice of the child or adult, and your own feelings.
- Link to Holistic practice, health promotion and safeguarding, and the group "People with health disadvantage and vulnerabilities".
- Anonymise rigorously: safeguarding cases are often recognisable from small details.
Common ARCP pitfalls
- A certificate with no reflection on application.
- The annual update left to the last month of the year.
- Level 3 lapsing during an LTFT or extended programme.
The Requirements Tracker warns you before certificates expire.