Safeguarding Learning Pathway for Ministers

The Ministers' Safeguarding Learning Pathway is set out below.

'Ministers' for the purposes of the Safeguarding Training Learning Pathway means parish ministers, Interim Ministers, Transition Ministers, auxiliary ministers, probationers, OLM, readers, locums and Armed Forces chaplains. The Learning Pathway for Deacons and MDS will be identified through their job descriptions; advice should be sought from the Safeguarding Service.

Completion of the full pathway is considered necessary for those holding a leadership position, so they have the breadth of understanding required to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

Introductory Safeguarding Training (approx. 2.5 hours)

  • Delivered locally by volunteer safeguarding trainers and the safeguarding training officer where necessary.
  • Learning includes understanding what safeguarding means (and child/adult protection), national guidance and policy, types of harm and abuse, the four R's and your role in reporting.

Advanced Safeguarding Training (approx. 2.5 – 3 hours)

  • Replaces Safeguarding Coordinator Training and Safeguarding Panel Training
  • Delivered locally by volunteer safeguarding trainers and the safeguarding training officer where necessary.
  • Learning includes understanding the role of the Safeguarding Coordinator and Safeguarding Panel, raised awareness of resources available for ensuring best practice in safeguarding, understanding responsibilities regarding training, management and support of workers, understanding responsibilities regarding Safeguarding referrals and raised awareness of the Church Safeguarding Policies for example in relation to Managing those who pose a risk and Responding to Domestic Abuse.

Leadership Safeguarding Training (approx. 3 hours with some reflective work)

  • Delivered nationally by the Safeguarding Service
  • Learning will be reflective and collaborative and will seek to include content such as analysing the leadership behaviours needed to promote a healthy safeguarding culture (including how to involve and empower others) and feel confident and determined to demonstrate them, reflecting on the kind of healthy culture that is protective, preventative, healing, and restorative, reflecting on the impact that abuse and trauma has on individuals' lives, relationships, and interaction in a community setting and looking at lessons learned.

Order and timescales for the training pathway

Moving forward, the pathway should be completed in this order:

  1. Introductory Safeguarding Training: Undertaken before or within 6 months of starting training
  2. Advanced Safeguarding Training:
    1. Ministers: Within the first half of full-time probationary placement
    2. Readers: Before being set apart
  3. Leadership Safeguarding Training: Within the first 2 years of your training for ministry ending. It is recommended that this training is refreshed every 3 years. It is a mandatory requirement every 5 years.

In relation to relevant Safeguarding refresher training, it was agreed at GA 2022 that the highest level of training previously completed is undertaken as a mandatory requirement every 5 years (recommended every 3 years).

Courses recommended for MDS staff and Deacons

  • Introductory Safeguarding Training
  • Advanced Safeguarding Training (This course may be recommended, depending on the person's Job Description. Please seek advice from the Safeguarding Service/HR.)
  • Leadership Safeguarding Training (This course may be recommended, depending on the person's Job Description. Please seek advice from the Safeguarding Service/HR.)

You can find out where you should start your journey under Training Compliance or by seeking information from the Presbytery and/or Safeguarding Service.