This section of the website provides links to a number of documents to assist lay leaders and clergy of the Diocese of Durham with safeguarding work.
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.)
To summarise the main areas of work required of us:
Policy and practice guidance:
Every PCC must have a safeguarding policy, and we recommend adoption of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy, which is updated annually in line with national policy. National advice on good practice is found in the Parish Safeguarding Handbook, and the Parish Safeguarding Checklist is a useful tool.
DBS checks:
Everyone appointed to a church role involving significant contact with children young people or vulnerable adults – members of clergy with the Bishop’s licence/permission to officiate, employees and volunteers – must have a DBS check every three years. Guidance on DBS checks is found here.
Training:
Different levels of training are required for volunteers (including PCC members, Churchwardens and Parish Safeguarding Officers), employees and clergy, depending on the roles they hold. Online training is available for foundation and awareness courses, safer recruitment and domestic abuse awareness. Leadership training is provided in-person or via Zoom. A guide to the training modules required by people in different roles and further information can be found on the dedicated safeguarding training page of this website.
Safer Recruitment:
The appointment of all volunteers and employees in scope (that is, with significant contact with children young people or vulnerable adults) and all clergy must follow the guidance set out in the Safer Recruitment and People Management document. This guidance was revised in 2021 and is mandatory for all roles from 4th January 2022. Please also read our Safer Recruitment and Selection Policy.
Document library:
All these documents and others related to these areas of work are available in the document library below; the summary above is intended to explain how these all fit into the main areas of safeguarding policy and practice which every PCC is responsible for enacting.
Policies
Parish Safeguarding Support
- Parish Safeguarding Handbook
- Parish Safeguarding Checklist
- Code of Safer Working Practice
- Summary Guidance on Domestic Abuse for Parishes
- Parish Safeguarding Recording Template
- Parish Safeguarding Who’s Who Model
- Model Parish Safeguarding Policy
- Home Visiting Risk Assessment Checklist
- Volunteer Driver Agreement Model
- Activity Risk Assessment Template
- Children and Youth Consent Form
- Hazardous Activities and Residentials Consent Form
- Model Personal Risk Assessment Tool
- Key Roles and Responsibilities
- Promoting a Safer Church - House of Bishops Policy Statement
- Promoting a Safer Church Poster