- 3.1: Safeguarding Lead.
- 3.2: Safeguarding Training Lead
- 3.3: Safeguarding Recruitment Lead
- 3.4: Incumbent, Church Wardens and PCC members
- 3.5: Pastoral Lead/ Prayer Team Lead
- 3.6: Children’s Group Lead
3.1: Safeguarding Lead
The Church of England requires all churches to have a Safeguarding Lead who sits on the PCC. The role includes:
- Overseeing all safeguarding work in the church.
- Preparation and implementation of a safeguarding policy and its annual review.
- Ensuring safeguarding policies and procedures are followed.
- Keeping accurate records relating to safeguarding concerns.
- Regularly informing the Leadership on good practice issues.
- Working in partnership with statutory and other agencies.
- Working in partnership with Diocesan Safeguarding team.
- Informing the Charities Commission in the case of the reputation of St. Nicholas Church being adversely affected due to disclosure matters.
- Ensuring that the correct recruitment policies are followed for the appointment of paid staff.
At St Nicholas Church, we have expanded the title to help bridge the significant gap between Pastoral Care and the more acute ‘Care & Protection’ Safeguarding responsibilities with the introduction of the term ‘Pastoral Plus’. The role is referred to as the Pastoral Plus and Safeguarding Lead with the aims of:
- Clarifying what support the church can and cannot offer.
- Pointing people to professional help should they wish.
- Managing situations better when statutory agency thresholds for involuntary involvement are not met.
We believe that Safeguarding Leads in many churches carry out these functions, but these realities are not well recognised, meaning confusion arises and mistakes easily made.
Contact: safeguardinglead@stnicholaschurch.org.uk
3.2: Safeguarding Training Lead
The Safeguarding Training Officer is responsible for all aspects of training. The role covers:
- Keeping records of all the roles carried out by different staff, volunteers and helpers and who needs which type of training.
- Guiding people to the required training for helpers, leaders, recruitment and refresher courses.
- Sharing any concerns with the Safeguarding Lead as required.
- Liaising with the Safeguarding Recruitment Officer to help provide regular PCC updates on the numbers of people who have undertaken training or DBS clearances which are ‘completed’, ‘in progress’, ‘out of date’.
Contact: safeguardingtraining@stnicholaschurch.org.uk
3.3: Safeguarding Recruitment Lead
The Safeguarding Recruitment Lead is responsible for DBS checks and that the Safe Recruitment processes are followed. Note that the Incumbent, Church Wardens and the PCC have overall responsibility for the recruitment decisions.
The role covers:
- Liaising with the lead for Children and Young People and Incumbent so they are aware of who needs to go through the safe recruitment process.
- Ensuring that the correct recruitment policies are followed for the appointment of volunteers.
- Guiding people to complete all the correct forms when becoming a volunteer.
- Keeping a record of applications, references and DBS checks.
- Liaising with the Safeguarding Training officer to help provide regular PCC updates on DBS numbers which are ‘completed’, ‘in progress’, ‘out of date’.
- Sharing any concerns with the Safeguarding lead as required.
The role includes overseeing all DBS applications, including:
- Checking hard copies of each applicant’s personal details against ID documents.
- Inputting information onto the CofE DBS system.
- Log the response from the DBS system, take note of the number, put this onto the Church google docs recording form.
If a DBS is flagged on line with a query, it is to be scrutinized and discussed with the incumbent and safeguarding lead to agree appropriate action.
Contact: safeguardingdbs@stnicholaschurch.org.uk
3.4: Incumbent, Church Wardens and PCC members
Additional information and details of responsibilities for other leaders can be found in section 3 of the House of Bishops document Key Roles and Responsibilities of Church Office Holders and Bodies Practice Guidance. October 2017.
3.5: Pastoral Lead/ Prayer Team Lead
The Pastoral Team & Prayer Team Leads are NOT part of the safeguarding team, but have some related responsibilities:
- Liaise with the Rector to agree any spiritual, emotional and practical support a church family member needs.
- Agree the boundaries of any support given.
- Coordinate all of the Pastoral Care which is done in the church.
- Coordinate and support a team who make up the Pastoral Team.
- Liaise with the Safeguarding Lead as required.
- Liaise with the Safeguarding Training and Recruitment officers to encourage volunteers to complete all related forms and required training
- Sign off the role applications when completed and again after the probation period (noting that it is the incumbent who has final appointing responsibility)
Contact rector@stnicholaschurch.org.uk
3.6: Children’s Group Leads
Each Children’s group Lead is NOT part of the safeguarding team, but has some related responsibilities which are to
- Liaise with the Safeguarding Training and Recruitment officers to encourage volunteers to complete all related forms and required training
- Sign off the role applications when completed and again after the probation period (noting that it is the incumbent who has final appointing responsibility)