The role and responsibilities of the Minister

The Church requires that ministers must:

• Be aware of the Church's Safeguarding policy and procedure and encourage the implementation of it
• Attend an in-service Safeguarding Training Day as a candidate
• Become a member of the PVG Scheme

The minister's role is to help the Kirk Session and Safeguarding Coordinator fulfil their safeguarding remit and to establish good pastoral practice for the care and support of Church members whose lives are (or have been) affected by harm and/or abuse.

Ministers may also be members of Safeguarding Panels.

The decision as to whether an individual minister wants to be a member of a Safeguarding Panel is entirely at their own discretion. However, please consider whether this may present a conflict of interest if the minister is also identified to provide pastoral support to a victim or perpetrator of abuse.

Ministers who have to manage disclosures of abuse (both current and historical) should initially discuss them with their Safeguarding Coordinator and Safeguarding Panel for support and advice.

Similarly, the Safeguarding Service must be contacted.