The Derbyshire Carers Association has put together a list of useful helplines for Carers and others should they need help and support over the festive period, which can be downloaded here.  The details are also available on the Derbyshire Carers Association website

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service for anyone who has experienced abuse in relation to the Church of England, the Church in Wales, or the Catholic Church of England and Wales. This could be abuse by someone who holds any role in the church or is linked to participating in a church-led activity or group.

If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support.

You do not have need to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church.

Your information will not be shared without your consent, unless you or someone else is in immediate danger.  

Safe Spaces can provide a range of help, including advocating with authorities and other agencies, giving emotional support, providing information (including information on church and police procedures), understanding your needs and working together on individual support plans.

Tel: 0300 303 1056 (answerphone available outside of opening times)

Email: safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk

LiveChat - via the Safe Spaces website

The latest Safeguarding Newsletter has just been sent to all Parish Safeguarding Officers. If you do not receive a copy and would like to read more about the work happening in Safeguarding in the diocese and a little more about one of the safeguarding team you can download the newsletter here.

Our Safeguarding strategy for 2022 - 2025 has been published.  It sets out our aims as a team until 2025.

Please feel free to share it with your parish if you wish to do so. 

It can be downloaded here [PDF].

Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board have recently published their "Keeping Adults Safe" leaflet in Ukrainian. 

A copy of the leaflet is available here if you would like to download it to share.

The English version of the leaflet, and more information on the services the Board provides can be found on their website.

New role templates have been added to the Resources for Parish Safeguarding Officers page.  They must be tailored to each churches particular situation.

The Autumn Newsletter is available for download here.

For those who already have a DBS in place through the Diocese of Derby, or from elsewhere which was registered on the update service when first issued and has remained registered, then it may be possible to use it if it is has the required workforces and regulatory barring checks.

Note, all Clergy will be asked to make a full new DBS application even though they may have a certificate subscribed to the update service.

Note anyone who works from home will have to make a new application, even though they may have a certificate subscribed to the update service.

To use a certificate subscribed to the update service for roles in the Diocese of Derby:

1. The Parish Safeguarding Officer must have a recent, completed Confidential Declaration Form.

1. If any answers are yes / positive then a copy of this must be sent to dbs@derby.anglican.org with the completed DBS Update Service Check Form, and will be reviewed by the Diocesan safeguarding team.
2. If all answers are No, it should be retained by the Parish as part of standard policy.

2. Complete the top half of the DBS Update Service Check Form as you would for a standard DBS application and if the person is new to the Parish, also satisfy yourself that they are who they say they are by asking for identity documents other than the DBS Certificate, as you would usually when going through the recruitment steps checking:

1. Full Name
2. Date Of Birth
3. Role in Parish required now
4. If they will work from home now (often this will require a full new application)
5. Which Regulatory Barring Checks may be required
6. The Parish and Church the applicant will be working for
7. If this is for a Voluntary or Paid role

3. For the lower half of the form - From the certificate being checked on the update service – you must see the original certificate and then complete the following:

1. The disclosure (certificate) number which is subscribed to the update service (not the update service registration number) – this must include any leading zeros.
2. Date of Issue
3. Surname, Forenames and Date of Birth as they appear on the certificate if different from those already noted
4. Position applied for
5. The words in each of the 5 boxes e.g. e.g. Non Record, Not Requested, Certificate Contains no Information etc.

4. Send all the information obtained from 2, and 3 as documented on the form to us at dbs@derby.anglican.org. Do not send copies of the DBS certificate.

5. We will make the update service check and will then send you a notification of a successful DBS check, or advise that a new DBS application is required.

For any questions please contact dbs@derby.anglican.org 

If you need a DBS for your role please speak with your Parish Safeguarding Officer or group Leader. They will provide you with a copy of the

• Laity Confidential Declaration Form, and Privacy Notice.
• ID verification form.

Complete the Confidential Declaration Form (CDF), either online or a paper copy, ensuring the signature is a physical/wet ink or image of your signature.

Forward the CDF to the contact named on the bottom of the form who will complete an Identity Check with you.  At this point they will need to see three forms of identity: one should bear a recent photograph, one must confirm your date of birth, and at least one must confirm your current address. Notes and an example ID form can be downloaded and also a list of acceptable ID documents.

You will be provided with a unique user ID number and a link to create your online application using that user ID number (this may be immediately by your local contact, or may be emailed to you at a later date either by the local contact or from dbs@derby.anglican.org at the Diocesan Safeguarding Team).

Use the link and user ID to access the application form and complete the step-by-step application instructions. (We are often asked why the paper/electronic forms are needed - we use these to verify the online application you make.)

Once processed by the DBS service, your certificate will be posted directly to you. Keep your certificate in a safe place as it is a legal document, and you may be asked for it to show you are entitled to work with children or vulnerable adults.

The Diocesan Safeguarding Team will receive a notification of your DBS certificate and will inform your parish safeguarding officer and/or if appropriate departments within the diocese.

If there are any concerns shown on your certificate, a member of the DST will contact you to discuss what should happen next.

DBS updating service.

Once your application has been processed and you receive you DBS certificate you be able to apply for the DBS Updating Service. This means that you will no longer need to apply for renewals if your role remains the same or new role requires the same level of check. You will need to join the Updating Service within 30 days of the issue of your certificate. This service is free for volunteers. Please email dbs@derby.anglican.org and your parish safeguarding officer if you do subscribe so we can update our records that your DBS is subscribed. If you do not inform us, we are not notified otherwise and for volunteers it costs nothing.

These three documents are applicable for all Licensed Lay Readers / Lay Ministers as well as Clergy.

Clergy Confidential Declaration Form this must be completed and signed with either a physical/wet ink or image of your signature.

Privacy Notice (PDF).  Please read and retain a copy of this document for your reference.

ID Verification and Justification Form. For those already within the Diocese of Derby, the official signatory will need to see three forms of ID.  (parish safeguarding officer, churchwardens, a member of clergy, area dean or deanery administrator can be official signatory),

• one should bear a recent photograph,
• one must confirm your date of birth, and
• one must confirm your current address

For those yet to move to the diocese please have this countersigned by a senior member of clergy from your current diocese. Notes and an example ID form can be downloaded with a list of acceptable ID documents.

Once completed email both forms together to dbs@derby.anglican.org or post the original documents to DBS Administrator, Derby Church House, 1 Full Street, Derby, DE1 3DR.

(Do not include identity documents or copies to us)

On receipt of your completed forms,

1. You will be emailed a unique user ID number and a link to create your online application using that user ID number.
2. Use the link and user ID to access the application form and complete the step-by-step application instructions. (We are often asked why the paper/electronic forms are needed - we use these to verify the online application you make.)
3. On completion of the DBS process your certificate will be posted directly to you, this may take several months and is out of our control. Keep your certificate in a safe place as it is a legal document, you may be asked for it to show you are entitled to work with children or vulnerable adults.
4. The DST will receive a notification of your DBS certificate and will inform the Bishop's Office and / or Warden of Readers Office and as appropriate the parish safeguarding officer of your parish and the appropriate departments within the diocese.

If there are any concerns shown on your certificate, a member of the DST will contact you to discuss what should happen next.

There are three types of check:

Basic – this checks for unspent criminal conviction information only and incurs a charge to the Parish
Enhanced – this checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings plus any additional information held by the police that's reasonably considered relevant to the role being applied for
Enhanced with barring list checks – this is like the enhanced check, but includes a check of the DBS barred child and/or adult lists.

The House of Bishops has decided that criminal record checks must be renewed every three years.

The following flowchart will help you deciode on which DBS check is required: Regulated Activity Decision Making Guidance Flowchart

Should there ever be a delay in obtaining the criminal record check, the person is not approved by the Church to act and must stand down pending completion of the process.