Below, you will find information about our Safeguarding Training Pathways, who is required to attend and how to book.  

Basic Safeguarding Awareness (formerly C0)

Foundations in Safeguarding (formerly C1)

Safeguarding Leadership Pathway Training (formerly C2)

Safer Recruitment and People Management (formerly S1)

Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction Training

Domestic Abuse Awareness Training

For a simplified table of training requirements by role please click here

Advice from the NST regarding training - Non-compliance of PCC members here

Basic Safeguarding Awareness (formerly C0) 

Who is this course for?

Basic Awareness is required training for:

• All Church Officers (A ‘Church officer’ is anyone appointed/elected by or on behalf of the Church to a post or role, whether they are ordained or lay, paid or unpaid)
• PCC Members/Lay Chapter Members
• Anyone going on to complete any other safeguarding learning pathway

Basic Awareness if recommended learning for:

• Anyone wanting or needing a Basic Awareness of safeguarding. .

What will I learn?

This course aims to provide learners with a basic awareness of safeguarding and enable them to integrate this into their Christian faith and the Church’s ministry. On completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Connect the core principles and practices of safeguarding to the Christian faith.
• Recognise issues of power and abuse as they present themselves in a range of contexts, including the church.
• Identify the barriers (emotional, psychological & theological) that can prevent the promotion of healthy church communities.
• Apply a clear process in the handling of concerns/safeguarding information whilst recognising the boundaries of their own role.

How is the course delivered and what must I do to pass?

Basic Safeguarding Awareness is an online course, so you can complete the course at a time that is convenient to you and take breaks when you need to. It takes around 75 minutes to complete. To pass, the learner must score 75% or above.

How do I access the course?

You can access the course by clicking here.  If you have not already registered with the Church of England Safeguarding Training Portal, you will be asked to register before to being directed to the online courses. 

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Safeguarding Foundations (formerly C1) 

Who is this course for?

Safeguarding Foundations is required training for:

• Anyone holding the Bishop’s licence, commission, authorisation, or permission (clergy, PtO, Readers, LLMs).
• Anyone in a role which involves work with children, young people, or vulnerable adults.
• Churchwardens.
• Anyone going on to complete any other safeguarding learning pathway.
• 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.

What will I learn?

• This course aims to enable learners to contribute to, and implement, good safeguarding practice within church and community contexts. On completion of this course, learners will be able to:
• Explore safeguarding within Christian communities with particular attention to the voice of victims and survivors.
• Recognise issues of power and vulnerability arising from the age or circumstances of those affected, and how these issues inform appropriate action.
• Apply some principles for safer ministry to a variety of case study scenarios.
• Identify wider support, accountability and governance arrangements relevant for safeguarding in their context.

How is the course delivered and what must I do to pass?

Safeguarding Foundations is an online course, so you can complete the course at a time that is convenient to you and take breaks when you need to. It takes around 90 minutes to complete. To pass, the learner must score 75% or above.

How do I access the course?

You can access the course by clicking here If, you have not already registered with the Church of England Safeguarding Training Portal, you will be asked to register prior to being directed to the online courses.

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Safeguarding Leadership Pathway Training (formerly C2) 

Who is this course for?

Leadership is required training for:

• 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 (under Canons E6 & E8), together with all others who hold the Bishop’s commission, authorisation, or permission to carry out similar ministerial functions (including PtO where exemption has not been given). (Ordinands need to have completed the Leadership Pathway before their diaconal ordination and lay ministers in training before they are licensed.)
• Non-executive members of Chapter (unless their role in the diocese requires a higher level).
• Safeguarding Officers/Leads in all Church bodies.
• Teaching staff at Theological Education Institutions who are delivering the Leadership Pathway
• Others who may also be required to attend Leadership training include those who significantly influence the safeguarding culture of that Church body. Such as, lay ministry staff employed by a PCC or Bishops’ Mission Order, locally appointed leaders of new worshipping communities, focal ministers, and sometimes Churchwardens (this list is not exhaustive, please contact safeguardingtraining@leeds.anglican.org for clarity about the requirements for your role if you are unsure).

What will I learn?

This Safeguarding Leadership Pathway is intended to be transformational. Participants will be encouraged to reflect deeply on their own values and beliefs and integrate these with the values and beliefs underpinning good safeguarding behaviour.

On completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Connect the Church’s mission and theological foundations with what good leadership behaviour looks like in a safeguarding context.
• Evaluate aspects of their own leadership practice and identify changes required which they then take forward with confidence.
• Analyse what healthy Christian communities look like, how healthy communities keep people safe, and their role as leaders in shaping Christian communities that are healthy and safe.
• Reflect on the impact that abuse and trauma have on individuals’ lives, relationships, and interaction in a community setting.
• Integrate their own faith, beliefs, and values with those underpinning good safeguarding behaviours.

How is the course delivered and what must I do to pass?

The Safeguarding Leadership Pathway is delivered in two (currently online) trainer-led sessions and several independent reflective learning tasks that learners must complete before, during and after the trainer-led sessions.

To pass the course and receive a certificate of completion delegates must successfully complete all of the course components (as above) including the evaluative tasks that follow the second training session. (Submitted work must meet a minimum required standard, as detailed within the delegate workbook).

How do I access the course?

To book a place on the Safeguarding Leadership Pathway or to discuss the training requirements/needs of your role please email safeguarding training  *Please note, completion of both Basic and Foundation level safeguarding training is required prior to attending Safeguarding Leadership Training.

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Safer Recruitment and People Management Training (formerly S1) 

Who is this course for?

Safer Recruitment and People Management training is required training for:

• Line managers and anyone involved in the recruitment of Church Officers (employees, elected members, and volunteers).
• Those with responsibility for administering DBS.
• Safeguarding Officers in all Church bodies.
• Ordinands during IME 1.

What will I learn?

This course specifically aims to equip participants with an understanding of both safer recruitment and people management, and the role these play in building a safer church community.

On completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Reflect theologically on people recruitment and safer people management.
• Understand the recruitment process, its intersection with relevant legislation, and how each stage contributes to safer people management.
• Understand good people management practice to be implemented once a person is in post/role.
• Be able to contribute to the development and implementation of a people management plan that reduces risks.

How is the course delivered and what must I do to pass?

Safer Recruitment and People Management is an online course. You can complete the course at a time that is convenient to you and take breaks when you need to. It takes around 1.5 - 2 hours to complete. To pass, the learner must score 75% or above on the final assessment. 

How do I access the course?

You can access the course by clicking here If you have not already registered with the Church of England Safeguarding Training Portal, you will be asked to register before to being directed to the online courses. 

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Parish Safeguarding Officers Induction Training 

Who is this course for?

Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction Training is required training for everyone newly undertaking the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer.

What will I learn?

• On completion of this course, learners will be able to:
• Understand the role, responsibilities, and key working relationships of the Parish Safeguarding Officer, including the Local Authority, Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and Parochial Church Council (PCC).
• Identify a variety of approaches to raising awareness and improving safeguarding practice.
• Evaluate safeguarding information reported by members of the church or community and determining an appropriate response.
• Create a development plan for safeguarding practice in your church body.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the functions of Safeguarding Dashboard and feel confident in using it to aid your role.

How is the course delivered and how do I pass?

The Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction training is delivered in one three-hour session (currently on Zoom) with a requirement to complete pre-training reading and post-training reflective discussion.

How do I access the course?

To book a place on Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction Training or to discuss the training requirements/needs of your role please email safeguarding training

*Please note, completion of Basic, Foundation and Leadership level safeguarding training is required for all new Parish Safeguarding Officers. But, you do not need to have completed Leadership level training in order to book onto the PSO Induction course. We do, however, ask that you have either booked a place or be on a waiting list for Leadership level training before attending Induction Training (as Leadership level training is a mandatory requirement for your role).

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Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse Training 

Domestic Abuse Awareness training is an online self-directed course. It will be available from the 1st of November 2021

Who is the course for? 

Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse is required training 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

Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse is recommended training for: 

• Anyone holding any other pastoral role within the Church

What will I learn? 

• On completion of the course you will be able to: 
• Identify the typologies of domestic abuse and survivor groups
• Explore myths, barriers, stereotypes and impacts of domestic abuse, particularly, in a faith context
• Reflect on how your own beliefs and values, and the stories and the stories and narratives that they bring, impact on your responses to survivors and perpetrators 
• Evaluate the needs of domestic abuse survivors to support them effectively, including referral pathways and the roles of supporting agencies 
• Identify safeguarding actions to protect victims and those at risk, whilst also understanding the limitations and boundaries of your role 

How do I access the course? 

You can access Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse training (from the 1st of November 2021) here  If you have not already registered with the Church of England Safeguarding Training Portal, you will be asked to register before being directed to the online courses. 

PtO Alternative Pathway Training 

The PtO Alternative Pathway is offered by exception only. 

Please contact safeguarding training on safeguardingtraining@leeds.anglican.org for further information.

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