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, though during the ongoing Pandemic all members of the team are working in a safe manner so are not in the office. For details of who they are please see 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.
Resources and Template
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 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.
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 coursed using Eventbrite following the links below.
Cohort PSO/03 Tuesday 2nd May 7-8:30pm - Book Here
Cohort PSO/04 Tues 6th Jun 9:30-11am - 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.
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 other than Ordained Clergy working within a parish, 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 judie.fogarty@derby.anglican.org.
Where a parish submits applications to Derby Church House (see here for the process) and has not attended a session the submitter will be contacted and asked to attend a session.
