Parish Safeguarding Checklist

There is a lot of information about parish safeguarding on our website and the national website. We offer here a streamlined snapshot of the minimum requirements.

You can find in-depth guidance about all the following steps and additional safeguarding issues elsewhere on this website and from the national Church of England.

As a MINIMUM, each PCC (or equivalent charitable body) must:

Appoint:

• At least one appropriately experienced, designated, lay Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) who cannot be the incumbent clergy person.   

Safer Recruit, Support and Train:

• Obtain DBS checks for all PCC members. The Diocese of Hereford expects all PCC members to get a 'Basic Level' DBS check.
• If a PCC sponsors and approves, in its own name, work with children, young people or vulnerable adults, the Diocese of Hereford expects all PCC members to get an 'Enhanced DBS check without barred list check'.
• Ensure all PCC members complete and sign a Fit and Proper Persons form.
• Ensure all PCC members complete the Diocese's Basic Awareness Safeguarding Training.
• Ensure that all church officers who work with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults:
  • Are recruited following the House of Bishops' Safer Recruitment practice guidance; 
  • Are aware of and work to House of Bishops' Safeguarding Guidance (this includes both policies and practical guidance);
  • Attend safeguarding training at the appropriate level at least every three years.
• Provide appropriate insurance to cover all activities undertaken in the name of the PCC which involve children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.

Display on the Website:

• Ensure safeguarding information (or a prominent link to it) is displayed on the front (home) page of your parish website, or parish web page in a benefice or deanery site, and on your parish profile on AChurchNearYou including:
  • The contact details of the PSO; and
  • The contact details of the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO), including phone number and email address.
• Also consider adding safeguarding information prominently to your parish's social media profiles and to any community websites where the parish is featured.

Display in Your Building:

• Display the required safeguarding information prominently and accessibly in your building; the Diocese provides convenient posters which meet these requirements when properly filled in by the parish. These notices come in the form of two posters. One poster details ‘who to contact if there are any safeguarding concerns’. Please choose the correct poster for your area: 
  • Herefordshire Poster (here is a Word version).
  • Shropshire Poster (here is a Word version).
  • Monmouthshire Poster (here is a Word version)
  • Worcestershire Poster (here is a Word version)
  • Powys Poster (here is a Word version) 

• Please also print this one-page summary ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ Policy and display it alongside.

• An optional third poster can be displayed alongside the two mandatory posters, explaining the five safeguarding standards. 

Respond:

• Create a welcoming and respectful environment which enables safeguarding concerns to be raised and responded to openly, promptly and consistently.
• Have a procedure in place to deal promptly with safeguarding allegations or suspicions of abuse in accordance with the relevant policy and practice guidance and in consultation with the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO).
• Report ALL safeguarding concerns or allegations against church officers to the DSO.
• Ensure that known offenders or others who may pose a risk to children and/or vulnerable adults are effectively managed and monitored in consultation with the DSO.
• Comply with all data protection legislation including the records of volunteers and any safeguarding records.
• Ensure that an 'activity risk assessment' is completed/regularly reviewed for each activity associated with children or vulnerable adults, run in the name of the parish.

Review and Report Progress:

• PSO to report regularly on parish safeguarding via a standing agenda item at each PCC meeting. At the APCM, the PCC should provide an annual report in relation to safeguarding progress and PCC compliance with the House of Bishops' safeguarding guidance.

Hiring Out Your Church Premises:

• Ensure any hire agreement for your church premises includes the required safeguarding provisions.

During a Clergy Vacancy:

• The PCC must follow diocesan guidance about the secure storage and distribution of safeguarding information to be passed to the new incumbent.

If you have questions or concerns about any of these actions and requirements, please contact the safeguarding team at the diocese.