Documents and Policies

This section of the website provides links to documents to assist Church Officers of the Diocese of Durham with their safeguarding responsibilities. 

All authorised clergy, bishops, archdeacons, licensed readers and lay workers, churchwardens and PCCs must have ‘due regard’ to safeguarding guidance (both policy and practice guidance) issued by the House of Bishops. (This duty is set out in section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.)

Policy and practice guidance 

Policies

• Promoting a Safer Church – House of Bishops Policy Statement 

Guidance and Resources

• Key Roles and Responsibilities of Church Officer Holders and Bodies
• National Safeguarding Standards 
• Code of Safer Working Practice
• Safer Environments and Activities
• Safer Recruitment and People Management
• Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework
• Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

Responding Well: Practice and Policy Guidance

• Responding to Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations that relate to Children, Young People or Vulnerable Adults
• Responding to, assessing and managing concerns or allegations against Church Officers
• Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse

Parish Safeguarding Resources

• Records Retention Schedule: Safeguarding
• Safeguarding Guidance for Local Ecumenical Partnerships
• Safeguarding Serious Incident Reporting to the Charity Commission
• Model Activity Risk Assessment Template

• How to Recognise Signs of Abuse