The information on this page is aimed specifically at those who are recognised as Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSO).

It includes links to resources and information which are directly relevant to the roles and responsibilities of a PSO, and to training courses which are specifically for PSOs or DBS Administrators within a parish and are not applicable to other members of a church.

The Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Team is based at the Parish Support Office, Derby Church House. The team work both from the office and from home (or other locations) through the week. You can meet the team at; Derby Diocesan Safeguarding Team.

Policies and Practice Guidance

The Diocese of Derby has elected to follow the National Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance since 2018.  All associated documents, including the current Parish Safeguarding handbook, Key Roles and responsibilities of church office Holders and bodies practice guidance, Responding Well, Safer Recruitment, Training Guidance documents and Policy Statements can be found here.

Safeguarding for Bellringers in the Diocese of Derby

The Diocese of Derby Safeguarding team in partnership with the Derby Association of Church Bellringers (the Assiociation) has developed guidance which applies to all Bellringers in Church of England towers in the Diocese of Derby, whether or not they belong to the Association.

The Guidance can be downloaded here

Resources and Templates

This link will take you to The Church of England National Safeguarding Resources Page which shows resources published by Church House Publishing, and a list of wider reading published independently and contain the authors own views; these are mostly recommended in the different safeguarding training modules as it is important everyone understands the challenges and criticisms facing the Church, and learns from them.

National Templates and Resources can be downloaded from this link - Templates and Resources

The Diocese of Derby has created this template policy for the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders download here and then completed for Benefice and Parish use.

The Safeguarding department has created a number of example role definitions which must be adapated for local use.  These are to assist Parish Safeguarding Officers in the creation of role defintiions within parishes and include indications on when DBS checks may be required.  Note that these must always be reviewed against the specific circumstances of any paid employee or volunteer.  These can be downloaded for use here: Caretaker,  Childrens Leader, Childrens Worker, Creche Helper, Creche Leader, Driver for At Risk Adults, Elders Lunch Club Helper, Flower Arranger, Food Bank Helper,  Food Bank Leader,  Hospitality (Tea, Coffee, Refreshments), Messy Church Helper,  Messy Church Leader, Open the Book Volunteer, Parent and Toddler Helper,  Parent and Toddler Leader, Parish DBS Administrator, Parish Safeguarding Officer, Verger, Welcomer, Youth Club Helper, Youth Club Leader, Youth Club Minibus Driver.

Code of Conduct template for volunteers

The Code of Conduct template has been written by PSO Jacqueline Haywood from St Alkmunds, Derby (thank you so much for this Jacqueline) the safeguarding team have viewed it and agreed it is a great tool, it can be download here for editing for local use.

Training

For details of Core Safeguarding Training and who in the Diocese requires what training please see our page Who needs to have Safeguarding training? / Book a course  All Parish Safeguarding Officers are also required to attend the Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction Course and the DBS Streamlining Education Session

Diocese of Derby Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction Course
Parish life is the heart of the Diocese and is the most important context to get our safeguarding right. The Parish Safeguarding Officer role is a vital one – the ‘champion’ of safeguarding in the parish. This induction/refresher course aims to help PSOs understand the role, responsibilities, and key working relationships of the Parish Safeguarding Officer, identify a variety of approaches to raising awareness and improving safeguarding practice, and evaluate safeguarding information reported by members of the church or community and determining an appropriate response.

PSOs are also required to follow the Core Pathway of Safeguarding training – Basic Awareness, Foundation, Leadership, Domestic Abuse Awareness and Safer Recruitment training.  Please book on to Parish Safeguarding Officer course using Eventbrite following the links below.

2024

Cohort PSO/06 Monday 2 December - 9.30-11.30am - Zoom - Book Here

If you are not able to join any of the courses above please email amanda.sandland@derby.anglican.org to be placed on a waiting list to be contacted about future courses.

Support For Churches in Vacancy

If your Parish is in Vacancy, or soon will be, the document Support for Parishes in Vacancy download here outlines how the Safeguarding team can help during the period of the vacancy.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Checks)
From January 2021 it became the responsibility of each Parish to apply for and administer the process of verification for DBS checks for Volunteers and paid staff working within a parish other than Ordained Clergy, Licenseed Lay Ministers and Readers and those seeking ordination, following the process as defined by the Diocese of Derby and working with our agreed supplier Access Personal Checking Services (APCS).  All Parish Safeguarding Officers and DBS Administrators where applicable must attend a DBS streamlining training session prior to being registered with APCS by the Diocese Safeguarding Administrator as approved verifiers.  To book an education session which takes about 1.5 hours using zoom, please contact dbs@derby.anglican.org.

If you are a member of Laity who needs to make a new DBS check, other than a Lay Minister, Lay Reader, or someone seeking Ordination or Ordination Training, please speak to your Parish Safeguarding Officer .  For all others please follow the guidance for as published for Licensed Clergy / Lay Minsters and Readers, including those seeking Ordination / Ordination Training which can be found here.

Parishes who complete Laity DBS within Parish using the APCS system

You must amend the following documents to make them appropriate for your parish:

• Privacy Notice this is a word document and you must edit this prior to it be given out.  A privacy notice with comments and a completed example (PDF documents) are also available to assist you.

• There are also minor amendments to be made to the Confidential Declaration form to make that local to your parish – these are highlighted in the document.

The parish CDF and privacy notice must be issued when providing information to DBS applicants. They may also be provided with the laity ID verification form (amended May2023), to prepopulate prior to meeting with you so you can verify thier identity documents and sign the form for your use at the stage of completing the online verification / position check.  To assist with this please see the notes on completing the ID Verification form and Documentary Evidence Details documents.

Parishes who send Laity DBS to be processed at Derby Church House

You will need to amend this Privacy Notice and insert your Parish Church and name of your Data Controller (usually the PCC) to make it appropriate for your parish.   A privacy notice with comments and a completed example (PDF documents) are also available to assist you.  Please use this version of the Confidential Declaration form going forward. 

Once the Privacy notice has been amended, the Parish CDF and Privacy Notice must be issued when providing DBS information to DBS applicants.  They may also be provided with the laity ID verification form (amended May2023), to prepopulate prior to meeting with you so you can verify their identity documents and sign the form.  To assist with this please see the notes on completing the ID Verification form and Documentary Evidence Details documents

Before returning the forms to Church House, please ensure full name, date of birth, role, parish and church name are complete, regulatory barring checks (if required) are clearly marked with work force needed, and that all questions have been answered on the CDF and that it and the ID verification form have been signed and dated by the applicant and yourself respectively.  Please return forms addressed for the attendtion of DBS administrator, Safeguarding Department, Derby Church House, 1, Full Street Derby, DE1 3DR or by email to dbs@derby.anglican.org. 

Please find a link below to a short film produced by the Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board which provides some helpful information on how to identify the indicators of adult abuse.

It is very short so please take the time to watch it if you can.

Here also is a link to their newsletter which contains some additional information about various topics.

Please note the contact details in the video relate to Derbyshire.

The contact details for Derby City are:

During office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) - 01332 642855

Outside office hours - 01332 956606

If something needs to be done straight away to protect someone from abuse or harm, call 999 (24 hours).

Finally:

• If you have a concern about a child, young person or adult who may be at risk of harm please speak to one of the parish safeguarding coordinators or the priest within the parish.
• If you have concerns about a member of the clergy or an employee of the diocese please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser on 01332 388678 or one of the archdeacons.

 If a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention, you must dial 999.

Please note that we aim to address all concerns raised with respect, trust, empathy, appropriate skills and advice and within the boundaries of confidentiality.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm.

To report or request advice regarding a safeguarding concern, there are many ways of contacting the diocesan safeguarding team.

• You can complete the form below and this will be responded to as a priority at the first opportunity. If the form is submitted after 5pm it will be responded to the next working day. If your concern escalates and someone is in danger, call 999. 
• You can email the safeguarding team safeguarding@derby.anglican.org  with your concerns and someone from the team will get back to you.
• You can call 01332 388678 and ask to speak to the safeguarding co-ordinator or a safeguarding advisor.

Out of hours cover is in place during evenings, weekends and over bank holiday periods for urgent advice from thirtyone:eight, on 0303 003 1111.

Please tell them you are calling from Diocese of Derby.

Safeguarding Concern Form

Name

Organisation

Phone

Email

Message

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submit

 Your message has been received, Thank you

You can also report any concerns to the Police or Social Care.

Derby City                                                           Derbyshire (Adults and Children)
Children  01332 641172                                      Call Derbyshire 01629 533190 
Adults      01332 642855                                     or out of hours 01629532600
or out of hours call Careline 01332 956606

The important thing is that your concerns are shared with someone in a position to help.

If you have landed here by mistake, then please refer to our updated safeguarding training page 

Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Policy documents

Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Strategy 2022 - 2025
>> Download a copy of the strategy [PDF]

PCR2 (Past cases review 2)
For complete information on PCR2, please see this page.

Promoting a Safer Church
This poster should be completed and displayed in all churches and is used to direct people to someone they can contact if they have a safeguarding concern. 
Diocesan and local authority safeguarding contacts are pre-filled and the poster can be printed in either A3 or A4 size.
Download: Promoting a Safer Church poster [PDF updated October 2023]

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders
This template policy may be downloaded and completed for all Benefice and Parishes who require a policy on the recruitrment of Ex-Offenders. Download Recruitment of Ex-Offenders here.

Parish Safeguarding Handbook
This national guide was adopted by Synod at the annual meeting in October 2019.  
Download: Parish Safeguarding Handbook 2019 [PDF]

Practice Guidance: Safeguarding Training and Development, July 2019
Download: Practice Guidance: Safeguarding Training and Development July 2019

Parish Audit Tool 
Please refer to the Parish Dashboard.

Practice Guidance: Responding to Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations that relate to Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults, November 2018
Download: Practice Guidance: Responding to Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations that relate to Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults November 2018 

Practice guidance: How to make a Safeguarding Serious Incident report to the Charity Commission, October 2018
Download: Practice guidance: How to make a Safeguarding Serious Incident report to the Charity Commission October 2018

Diocese of Derby Safeguarding Complaints Policy
A guide to the procedure in dealing with complaints about the way a safeguarding issue has been handled.
Download: Safeguarding Complaints Policy 2023 [PDF]

House of Bishops Policy on Granting Permission to Officiate
Download: House of Bishops Policy on Granting Permission to Officiate October 2018 PDF

Clergy File Access Policy
This document explains who can access clergy files and under what circumstances - and how they are controlled.
Download: Clergy File Access Policy [PDF]

Whistleblowing Policy
This policy seeks to enable staff to alert the organisation to any potential problem or wrongdoing reasonably believed to exist, without fear of any negative reprisal in response to the revelation.
Download: Whistleblowing Policy [PDF]

Dignity at Work Policy
Abuse, harassment and bullying – however rare - will not be tolerated in the Diocese.
Download: Dignity at Work Policy [PDF]

Download a copy of the Parish Safeguarding Handbook 2019. [PDF]

SUPPORT SERVICE CONTACTS

Safe Spaces – 0300 303 1056 www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales. If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have to have told the Police or 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.

Childline (0800 1111) www.childline.org.uk

Childline gives advice and support to children who need advice and support, to whom they can share issues and problems and find a listening ear.

Derbyshire Mental Health helpline (0800 028 0077)

24 hours a day service offering support and a listening ear.

Galop (0800 999 5428) Galop - the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity

Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti abuse charity. They work with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence.

MACSAS (Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors – 08088 01 03 40) https://macsas.org.uk

MACSAS supports women and men who have been sexually abused, as children or adults, by ministers, clergy, or others in the guise of the Church. Telephone and email support for survivors and their families.

Mankind (01823 334244) www.mankind.org.uk

Support for male survivors of domestic abuse, they provide an information, support and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. This can range from physical violence or object throwing to abuse such as constant bullying or insults.

Mind (0300 123 3393) www.mind.org.uk

Offer support for mental health problems, signpost to local support, raise awareness of treatment options and offer an advocacy service.

NAPAC (08088 0103 31) https://napac.org.uk

National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) An organisation supporting adult survivors of any form of child abuse.

Rape Crisis (08088 02 99 99) www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Rape Crisis is a national organisation with local contacts and groups, offering support and counselling for those affected by rape and sexual abuse.

Refuge (0808 2000247) Refuge – For women and children. Against domestic abuse.

Supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse offering place of safety, advice and support.

Samaritans (Derby and District - 0330 09 5717) https://www.samaritans.org

Offer a phone, email 1:1 and a self-help app to support individuals who are feeling suicidal and desperate.

Stop it now (0808 1000 900)   Stop It Now! UK and Ireland | Preventing child sexual abuse

Confidential help and support, via a helpline, live chat or secure email support

Survivors Voices Survivors Voices

Offer peers support and private support groups on facebook

SV2 (01773 746 115) SV2 - Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence - Home

A local 24 Hour service supporting victims of sexual violence in Derbyshire, advice, counselling and therapy available after assessment.

The Survivors Trust (08088 01 08 18)     helpline@thesurvivorstrust.org

The Survivors Trust is the largest umbrella agency for specialist rape and sexual abuse services in the UK and has been providing infrastructure support to our members for the past 20 years. We have 120 member agencies based in the UK and Ireland providing information, advice, support and therapy to over 80,000 individual survivors each year. Our services work with victims and survivors of all ages, all genders, of all forms of sexual violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, including support for partners and family members. The Survivors Trust and its members are committed to the fair treatment of people regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or physical/learning disability. 

Victim support (0808 16 89 111) www.victimsupport.org.uk

Offering those effected by any crime support and advise.

LOCAL SOCIAL CARE CONTACTS:

Derby City Social Care

Childrens 01332 641172

Adults   01332 642855

Out of Hours 01332 956606

Derbyshire (Adults and Children)

Call Derbyshire 01629 533190

Out of Hours 01629 532600

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) undertook an audit of the Diocesan Safeguarding arrangements in June 2017.

The report concluded that the safeguarding team is well-resourced and well-established with experienced staff with a good skill mix, who provide sound safeguarding advice and judgments.

They were particularly impressed with the level of decision making regarding case work, and complimented the Diocese on its own self-evaluation, which highlighted realistic areas of development.

The auditors felt the Diocese was committed to learning, and were impressed that a review commissioned by the Bishop had led to the expansion of the safeguarding team, which included a new Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Management Committee, who in addition to a number of other roles was the Head of Public Protection for Derby Constabulary.

The world of safeguarding nationally has been experiencing a period of important and sometimes rapid change and the Diocese of Derby along with the Church of England is determined to offer a secure environment in which everyone can thrive, and which earns the confidence of all who are entrusted to its care.

The report states that the Head of HR is supportive, considered and committed and understands the importance of safeguarding. The auditors found that safeguarding operates within a clear line management structure, and a well-functioning Diocesan Office.

The auditors noted that there are strong links between the Diocese and Derby Cathedral.  The DSA and safeguarding team provides training for the Cathedral, and a member of Chapter responsible for safeguarding is also a member of the Diocesan Safeguarding Management Team.

Some areas were highlighted for further development by the Diocese.

There remains a backlog in the numbers of people who require training and although there is a plan in place it will need close monitoring by the Diocesan Safeguarding Management Committee.

Since the audit took place, a new part-time Safeguarding Training Officer has been appointed to deal with the training backlog.

The report also highlighted that work was required to develop the overall functioning of the team so that everyone gets an appropriately prompt level of service. Again, since this audit took place, a part-time Safeguarding Administrator has been recruited to deal with general administrative queries.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has been commissioned to undertake an audit of the safeguarding arrangements of each Diocese of the Church of England. The aim of these audits is to work together to understand how safeguarding is working in each Diocese, and to support the continuing improvements being made.

The audit process in each Diocese involved examination of safeguarding leadership arrangements, local policies and practice guidance, the quality of case work, recruitment and training.

The auditors also looked at the progress being made in reaching nationally agreed standards, informed by central House of Bishops’ approved policies.

An action plan has been produced and agreed by the Diocesan Safeguarding Management Committee to address findings and considerations of the report.

To read the full safeguarding audit for the Diocese of Derby, click here.

To view the Action Plan for the Diocese of Derby, developed in 2017, click here.

Report a Safeguarding Concern

Protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults is the responsibility of us all, whether they are in the communities in which we live or part of our Christian family. If you have a concern about a child, young person or adult who may be at risk of harm please speak to one of the parish safeguarding coordinators or the priest within the parish. If you have concerns about a member of the clergy or an employee of the Diocese please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Julian Hodgson (07540 719447) or one of the Archdeacons. You can also report any concerns to the Police or Social Care. The important thing is that your concerns are shared with someone in a position to help.

For more information on safeguarding 

click here 

To confidentially report a safeguarding concern to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Julian Hodgson, please complete the form below:

Safeguarding Concern Form

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