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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between safeguarding adults training, staff knowledge and confidence.Design/methodology/approachA total of 647 responses from a cross sectional postal sample survey of the health and social care sector in Cornwall, were analysed.FindingsDifferences in knowledge and confidence around safeguarding were observed between staff groups and agencies. Training contributed to an approximately 20 per cent increase in knowledge and a ceiling effect was noted. Confidence linked knowledge and action. More confident staff offered more sophisticated responses regarding improving safeguarding processes.Research limitations/implicationsLow response rates and the specific context limit generalisability. Knowledge and confidence measures were simplistic. Further research is needed on the mechanism of action by which safeguarding adults training is effective.Practical implicationsSafeguarding adults training and a targeted approach to the analysis of learning needs should be debated in the context of training transfer. Training should be evaluated to ascertain its effectiveness.Originality/valueThis is the first major multi‐agency UK survey of its kind. Findings provide a baseline for further research.