PCC News

There really has been some tremendous participative interaction in many of the sessions we have facilitated, together with some positive feedback.

In addition to the introduction of the new ‘Safeguarding Leadership Pathway’ in 2021, in October 2021 we started to facilitate the new ‘Permission to Officiate Pathway’ for those valuable retired Clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers with PtO who greatly support our Church communities within the Diocese. The training sessions are undertaken via Zoom, with small groups led by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, and we also have a very small number of planned PtO Pathways planned during the year, to take place in person at Diocesan House.

In January 2022, the first of the new ‘Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction’ sessions was facilitated. These were Saturday morning sessions planned to be held in person at Diocesan House, but due to further Covid restrictions, the sessions necessitated being held as morning and afternoon sessions via Zoom in January and February. The inductions have evaluated well, and it was recognised that PSO opportunities such as this had previously been lacking, so were now found to be a valuable source of support, information and sharing of experience. From April 2022, these sessions are planned to be held in person at Diocesan House, and the continued very positive uptake has meant that bookings are being received months in advance!

Further details and forthcoming dates for the Safeguarding Leadership Pathway, Permission to Officiate Pathway and PSO Induction sessions are available on the Diocesan website: www.dioceseofnorwich.org/churches/safeguarding/training

When the Church of England’s Safeguarding Learning & Development Framework was updated in April 2021, it provided the framework for safeguarding learning and development across all Church of England communities. As a result, the Basic Awareness and Safeguarding Foundations Pathways (previously known as C0 and C1) underwent significant revision in their content and presentation, so that there are now online pathways hosted by the Safeguarding Training portal. Both modules continue to be accessed online via the Safeguarding Training Portal (cofeportal.org)

However, we are also mindful that there are those who either do not use a computer, or who do not feel themselves to be comfortable in the use of computers. That said, we have had some successful and creative work going on in many parishes. For example, in some cases there is the possibility of individuals seeking assistance from a family member or friend, and access through their computer, or with some support from their PSO, a Parish Administrator or computer at their Church. A further example is where a ‘buddy’ system has been initiated within their churches, where other church members who are comfortably computer literate ‘adopt’ an individual and guide those more nervous in the use of technology through the process.

In order to register additional users with the same email address, the Training Portal eLearning Helpdesk should be contacted via email by the ‘buddy assistant’, and a request made for an additional user(s). The email address is: ryrneavat@fnsrthneqvatgenvavat.pbsrcbegny.bet

Within our Diocese, we continue working on a journey towards ensuring a church which is safer for everyone. Active engagement in safeguarding training is essential in shaping the culture, as well as supporting all those who have a role within the Church to effectively recognise and respond to possible situations of abuse, as well as promote and implement best safeguarding practice. As a Safeguarding team, we remain committed to supporting you, so that we all may continue to work together to ensure that the culture of safeguarding is integral throughout all of our church communities.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing cooperation, participation and engagement.