The Parish Safeguarding Officer is a vital role in building a strong safeguarding culture within our parishes.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, but in line with the House of Bishops' policy, every parish must appoint a Parish Safeguarding Officer. This is a vital role and we are grateful for all those within the Diocese who step forward to take on this responsibility.

If you are a Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), this page aims to help you understand your role, signpost you to key resources, and highlight other support available to help you carry out your responsibilities.

You will find sections on: 

Your role as a Parish Safeguarding Officer
Key Church of England and Diocesan guidance and resources
The Safeguarding e-manual
Parish Safeguarding Dashboard
Supporting you

Elsewhere on the website, you will find pages on:

Safeguarding help for parishes
Safeguarding training modules
Serious incident reporting
Frequently asked questions
Reports and reviews commissioned by or carried out on behalf of the Diocese in relation to safeguarding

Your role as a Parish Safeguarding Officer

The Parish Safeguarding Officer is the key link between the diocese and the parish/s, concerning safeguarding matters. You will have an overview of all church activities involving children, young people and vulnerable adults, and will seek to ensure the implementation of safeguarding policy. The role can be taken by one person or shared, for example with one person covering children the other, for vulnerable adults.

The key tasks of the parish safeguarding officer are to:

1. Have an overview of all church activities involving children and vulnerable adults and keep a record of these activities.
2. Be familiar with diocesan safeguarding guidance and ensure that leaders of activities are fully aware of, and are implementing, this guidance.
3. Liaise with the incumbent over safeguarding issues.
4. Keep in touch with the leaders of all activities and offer them advice and support over safeguarding matters.
5. Liaise as necessary with the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers. Report all concerns or allegations against church officers to the DSA.
6.  Attend diocesan safeguarding training offered for PSOs.
7. Assist with safeguarding training in the parish as appropriate.
8. Attend a meeting of the church leadership (PCC) at least annually to ensure safeguarding issues are discussed and that the church leadership adopt the annual Church Safeguarding Policy.
9.  Ensure that the Church Safeguarding Policy and contact details is displayed in all Church premises.
10.  Keep good records of any safeguarding concerns that may arise, and ensure that others do the same.
11. Promote inclusiveness in places of worship and within church activities.
12. Keep the church leadership informed of good safeguarding practice.
13. Undertake a regular parish safeguarding self-assessment in the format offered by the Diocese.

Key Church of England and Diocesan guidance and resources

Listed below are links to the key guidance and resources you will need to access as PSO:
 

Alongside the guidance listed above, The Church of England is developing a Safeguarding e-manual, which we explain more about below.

Safeguarding E-manual

This Church of England's e-manual is a work in progress that aims to constitute in one place, all the House of Bishops Safeguarding guidance. 

As of June 2021, the e-manual contains the following Chapters listed below, with the remaining guidance available on the Church of England's website and will be transferred to the e-manual in due course.

The chapters are:

• Safer Recruitment and People Management
• Safeguarding in Religious Communities
• Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework
• Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse
• Declaration of Conflict of Interest Policy 
• Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

Chapters are designed to be read online, but there is the option to download a PDF of specific sections or the entire guidance. 

Access the Safeguarding e-manual
 

Parish Safeguarding Dashboard

The Diocese has subscribed to the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard online tool to make it easier for our churches to manage their safeguarding requirements.

It is free for parishes to register, update and receive action plans on demand. The Dashboards also enable the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and senior clergy to ensure each parish is up to date with its safeguarding administration and offer support to those who may be struggling.
 
The Dashboard system has been adopted by 25 other dioceses and others are coming online all of the time. It has been developed by professionals within the church community with a view to helping churches easily know the state of play in regards to compliance with policy and also removes the need for time-consuming audits as well as producing action plans for PCC to identify areas for improvement.

Key features include:

• The Dashboard has been designed to display a clear and simple dashboard on a computer, mobile phone or tablet.
• Each dashboard can have one ‘owner’, who can update and amend it, and multiple ‘viewers’ who are able to see it’s progress.
• The dashboard overview page allows the owner and viewers to see the current status of compliance at a glance. A green light would mean all is well, amber would mean that action is needed and red would mean urgent action is required.

Parishes were initially contacted, inviting them to join. If you have not received an invite, or would now like to consider using the Dashboard in your parish, please contact Caroline Smith or Alison Jones.

If you need technical assistance with your Safeguarding Dashboard, please visit: www.safeguardingdashboards.org.uk

Supporting you

We know that those who take on positions like Parish Safeguarding Officer are volunteers, often balancing these responsibilities with other work and commitments. It can be hugely demanding. 

Safeguarding can be particularly demanding. Thank you for all you do

The Diocesan Safeguarding Team is here to help and support you. Please don't hesitate to contact them if you need any help or guidance. You can find their details below. 

Key Contacts