The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 introduces a new legal duty on employers to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. For health and social care organisations, where staff work closely with colleagues, service users, patients, and members of the public, understanding and meeting these duties is essential.
This free Worker Protection Act online course provides a clear and practical overview of the Worker Protection Act 2023. It explains what the law requires, how it applies in health and social care settings, and what employers and managers must do to protect staff and remain compliant.
Why Take This eLearning Course?
Sexual harassment has serious consequences for staff wellbeing, retention, and workplace safety. The Worker Protection Act shifts the focus from reacting to complaints to actively preventing harassment before it occurs.
This free course will help you to:
- Understand the law: Learn the background, purpose, and scope of the Worker Protection Act 2023.
- Clarify employer duties: Understand the new legal requirement to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment.
- Protect staff wellbeing: Recognise how harassment affects safety, morale, and retention in care settings.
- Reduce organisational risk: Learn how tribunals assess compliance and when compensation can be increased.
- Apply best practice: Develop effective policies, training, reporting, and risk assessment processes.
- Prepare for enforcement: Understand the role and powers of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain the background and purpose of the Worker Protection Act 2023.
- Describe how the Act relates to and amends the Equality Act 2010.
- Understand the relevance of the Act to health and social care workplaces.
- Define sexual harassment as set out in legislation.
- Identify common situations where harassment may occur, including off-site and social events.
- Explain what “reasonable steps” mean in practice.
- Understand employee rights and tribunal processes under the Act.
- Recognise the enforcement role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
- Identify the consequences of non-compliance for employers.
Worker Protection Act Training Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to the Worker Protection Act 2023
This module introduces the background and purpose of the Worker Protection Act 2023. It explains how the Act links to the Equality Act 2010 and why it is particularly relevant to health and social care settings.
Module 2: Legal Framework and Employer Duties
Learners explore the new legal duties placed on employers, including the requirement to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. This module also covers how the Act applies to a wide range of workplace situations, including off-site work and social events.
Module 3: Sexual Harassment
This module explains the legal definition of sexual harassment under the Act and provides examples relevant to health and social care environments. It also examines the impact of harassment on staff wellbeing, safety, and service quality.
Module 4: Prevention and Best Practice
Learners focus on practical prevention measures, including anti-harassment policies, staff training, clear reporting systems, and support arrangements. The importance of risk assessment in health and social care settings is also covered.
Module 5: Employee Rights and Tribunal Claims
This module outlines employee rights and protections under the Act. It explains how claims can be made, the role of evidence, and how employment tribunals assess employer compliance, including potential increases in compensation.
Module 6: Enforcement and the Role of the EHRC
The final module explains the enforcement powers of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It covers the consequences of non-compliance and how investigations and action plans may be used to improve workplace practice.
Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
- Health and social care employers and providers.
- Registered managers and senior leaders.
- HR professionals and people managers.
- Team leaders and supervisors.
- Anyone with responsibility for staff wellbeing, policies, or compliance.
The course is also useful for employees who want to understand their rights under the new legislation.
FAQ
What does the course cover?
The course covers the Worker Protection Act 2023, employer duties, sexual harassment prevention, employee rights, tribunal processes, and enforcement.
Is this course relevant to UK health and social care settings?
Yes. The course is written specifically for UK workplaces, with a focus on health and social care environments.
Does this course explain what “reasonable steps” mean?
Yes. The course explores practical examples of reasonable steps, including training, policies, reporting systems, and risk assessments.
How long does the course take?
The course is self-paced and typically takes 1 hour to complete.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. A certificate is provided on successful completion.
Is this course CPD accredited?
Courses are not currently CPD accredited, but accreditation is planned.
The Worker Protection Act 2023 represents a significant change in how organisations must prevent sexual harassment. By understanding your responsibilities and applying best practice, you can create safer, more respectful workplaces and reduce legal risk.
Join this course today and strengthen your organisation’s compliance with the Worker Protection Act.
Worker Protection Act 2023 Training Course CPD Accredited and Government Funding
We’re working on getting this Worker Protection Act 2023 Training Course CPD accredited, and any course that’s approved will be clearly labelled as CPD accredited on the site. Not every health and social care course has to be accredited to help you meet CQC expectations – what matters is that staff are competent, confident and properly trained for their roles under Regulation 18. Our courses are built to support those requirements, and because they’re not government funded there are no eligibility checks or ID needed – you can enrol and start learning straight away.
