A healthy Christian community is one which ensures and nurtures the wellbeing of all, and the Diocese of Norwich continues to work toward ensuring a church which is safer for everyone. Safeguarding therefore, needs to be embedded in all aspects of the life and ministry of the Church in order to ensure that the culture of safeguarding is integral throughout all of our church communities.
Active engagement with safeguarding training is instrumental in shaping the culture, and in supporting all those who have a role within the Church to effectively recognise and respond to possible situations of abuse, as well as implement best safeguarding practice. The facilitation and delivery of safeguarding training and development within the Diocese of Norwich is seen in this context.
The Church of England’s Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework (hyperlink) was significantly revised and updated in April 2021, and is again being updated in 2024. This document provides the framework for safeguarding learning and development across all Church of England communities. This also sets out the core safeguarding learning pathway training modules which are a mandatory requirement determined for individual and particular church roles and responsibilities.
Accessing online training modules
A number of the safeguarding modules are accessed via the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team’s training portal which can be found here: safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org
To access the training you will need to create a new free User Account (look for ‘create a new account’ below the Church of England logo on the left of the screen)
Safeguarding pathways such as these, which are often done by one person working on their own, can trigger painful memories. It is okay to pause the pathway until it feels comfortable to start again.
Mandatory training:
Recommended for anyone wanting or needing a Basic Awareness of safeguarding.
Required for:
- All Church Officers
- Anyone going on to complete any other Church of England safeguarding course
Access the Basic Awareness training
Required for:
- Anyone in a role which involves work (paid or unpaid) with children and/or vulnerable adults
- Pre-ordination or license students, prior to BAP or selection Panel
- Vergers
- PCC Members/Lay Chapter Members
- Staff at Theological Education Institutions with student facing roles
- Members of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel
- Anyone going on to complete any other Church of England safeguarding course
Completion of the Basic Awareness Course is a pre-requisite.
Access the Foundation training
Required for Line managers and anyone involved in the recruitment of Church Officers* (employees, elected members, and volunteers). Including, but not limited to:
- Those with responsibility for administering DBS
- Safeguarding Officers in all Church bodies
- Ordinands during IME 1
Completion of the Basic Awareness Course and then the Foundation Course is a pre-requisite.
Access the Safer Recruitment and People Management training
Recommended for persons holding a pastoral role within the Church
Required for:
- Anyone holding the Bishop’s licence, commission, authorisation, or permission (clergy, PtO, Readers, LLMs)
- Bishops’ Visitors/Pastoral Visitors
- Safeguarding Officers
- Ordinands during IME 1.
- PCC Members/Lay Chapter Members.
- Staff at Theological Education Institutions with student facing roles.
- Members of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel.
Completion of the Basic Awareness Course and then the Foundation Course is a pre-requisite.
Access the Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse training
Further optional online training:
This course, from the Clewer Initiative, aims to provide a general understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking, and how concerns relating to it may be recognised and responded to. As yet this module is not mandated as a requirement to be completed, but is recommended for Clergy, Church Community Leaders and Volunteers.
Once again, this may be accessed online via safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org The link for the course is on the home page and can also be found under the Courses tab, and then Other Courses.
Training Delivered by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team
Our Diocesan Safeguarding Team are here to facilitate and support you with your safeguarding training. We deliver the pathways detailed below via Zoom; using the resources provided by the National Safeguarding Team.
Leadership Training is required for people who significantly influence the culture of their parish. Including, but not limited to:
- All Clergy holding the Bishop’s licence, commission, authorisation, or permission (including PtO where exemption has not been given) including Honorary/Assistant Bishops and Chaplains.
- All Readers and Licensed Lay Ministers holding the Bishop’s licence
- Those with PtO (Permission to Officiate) whose roles involves a high level of work, regularly.
- Honorary/Assistant Bishops and Chaplains
- Churchwardens at a Parish currently without an Incumbent
- PSOs (Parish Safeguarding Officers)
- anyone leading activities in their church role with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
This may also include, for example, lay ministry staff employed by a PCC or BMO, locally appointed leaders of new worshipping communities and focal ministers.
The Leadership module is facilitated Zoom, and involves interactive participation in a course of two consecutive two-hour sessions, a week apart, with some preparation in advance as well as follow-up activities to support your learning.
Dates are listed below – you will need to attend both the sessions that you are booked on to receive your certificate.
- Wednesday 3 and Wednesday 10 April, 10am – 12 noon
- Tuesday 23 and Tuesday 30 April, 2 – 4pm
- Wednesday 1 and Wednesday 8 May, 6 – 8pm
- Wednesday 15 and Wednesday 22 May, 10am – 12 noon
- Tuesday 28 May and Tuesday 4 June, 2pm – 4pm
- Tuesday 11 and Tuesday 18 June, 10am – 12 noon
- Thursday 13 and Thursday 20 June, 2pm – 4pm
Please be aware when selecting a date, that two weeks prior to the training event you will be sent a workbook which will include some preparatory work. It is a requirement of attendance that this is completed and returned no later than four working days prior to the first session.
To book a place on a course, please email brenna.wells@dioceseofnorwich.org
This course is for anyone holding PTO or who is a Reader Emeritus whose role does not meet the Leadership Pathway criterion. (Where individuals hold more than one role, or serve more than one Church body, they should train at the highest required level).
The Permission to Officiate module is mainly facilitated via Zoom unless otherwise stated on dates below. The pathway involves interactive participation in a single session; there is some preparation required in advance as well as follow-up activities to support your learning.
Safeguarding Basic Awareness and Safeguarding Foundations modules must be completed by participants in advance of attending the training.
- Thursday 4 April, 10am – 12.30 – in person at Diocesan House
- Tuesday 16 April, 2 – 4.30pm – CANCELLED
- Tuesday 14 May, 10am – 12.30
- Wednesday 5 June 2pm – 4.30pm
- Thursday 27 June, 10am – 12.30pm – in person at Diocesan House.
Please be aware when selecting a date, that three weeks prior to the training event you will be sent a workbook which will include some preparatory work. Please can this be completed and returned no later than four working days prior to the first session.
To book a place on a course, please email brenna.wells@dioceseofnorwich.org
This course is recommended for existing PSOs (Parish Safeguarding Officers) and/or persons taking on the role of PSO.
The Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction will involve interactive participation in a three-hour inclusive session. Preparatory material will be sent two weeks prior to the session, and there will be an evaluation task to complete, using materials shared within the induction session. The training is usually delivered in person, and is held at Diocesan House, Easton. Occasionally the session may be held via Zoom. Everyone who attends this course must have completed the Safeguarding Basic Awareness and Safeguarding Foundations modules in advance of attending the training.
- Saturday 13 April, 10am – 1pm
- Saturday 15 June, 10am – 1pm
To book a place on a course, please email brenna.wells@dioceseofnorwich.org
The Safeguarding Team are facilitating quarterly PSO Networking & Briefing sessions, on a Saturday morning, 10am – 1pm at Diocesan House, Easton. The intention is to offer all PSOs the valuable opportunity to meet with other PSOs, as well as be able to communicate any Safeguarding updates, current issues or ‘topics of the moment’. Indeed, as a Team, we would welcome in advance, topics or queries from individuals they may wish to raise, and you can do this by emailing safeguarding@dioceseofnorwich.org
- Saturday 11 May, 10am – 1pm
- Saturday 13 July, 10am – 1pm
- Saturday 21 September, 10am – 1pm
To book a place on a course, please email brenna.wells@dioceseofnorwich.org
Booking and contact information:
If you would like to book a place on one of our training sessions, please email brenna.wells@dioceseofnorwich.org