For Parish Safeguarding Officers

If you are new to the PSO role, please start with the 'Appointing a PSO' and 'Getting started' sections below.

Appointing a Parish Safeguarding Officer

Every parish must appoint at least one Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). Preferably the PSO should be someone who is a lay person. The PSO cannot be the Incumbent or his or her partner.

Please notify us when a PSO retires from post or when a new PSO has been appointed, to ensure they receive our support and communications. Email: safeguarding@chelmsford.anglican.org

• View Church of England Key Roles & Responsibilities of Church Office Holders - pg 19–20

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Role and responsibilities

The PSO role requires a high degree of honesty, integrity and discretion. The PSO will have access to confidential and potentially sensitive information.

• View Church of England Model PSO Role Description (2024, PDF)

Core PSO responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the Incumbent to advise on all safeguarding matters relating to children, young people and vulnerable adults
• Receiving any concerns about children or adults with the Incumbent and making sure proper advice is sought and referrals made
• Reporting all matters relating to concerns and allegations of abuse against church officers, in liaison with the Incumbent, to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team
• Ensuring that any ex-offenders with relevant offences known to be in the church community are notified to the DST
• Promoting safer practices in all activities
• Seeking to ensure that Safer Recruitment practice is followed
• Attending diocesan safeguarding training at least every three years
• Maintaining safeguarding records
• Completing national, diocesan and parish safeguarding self-assessments as required
• Reporting on safeguarding at each PCC meeting - safeguarding should be a standing agenda item
• Providing an annual safeguarding report at the APCM

Training Courses/Sessions for Parish Safeguarding Officers

Church of England courses that every PSO is required to complete

• Basic Awareness (every 3 years)
• Foundation (every 3 years)

Then these 4 courses in any order:

• PSO (Parish Safeguarding Officer) Induction
• Leadership (every 3 years)
• Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse (every 3 years)
• Safer Recruitment and People Management (every 3 years)

(It is expected that the required 'core' courses are completed within 6 months of your appointment).
Please be aware: Regardless of your professional/secular background you are still required to complete all of the required Church of England Safeguarding Courses. The only other accreditation that the Church of England National Safeguarding Team will accept instead is from the Methodist Church as their training covers both child and adult safeguarding in a Christian Faith setting.

• Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (optional)
• PSO Extended Learning Modules for self-directed learning (optional)
• Navigating the Web: Keeping Church Communities Safe Online (optional)

We are providing a short optional safeguarding session presented by 'Jill Webb Training' that is available for you too book onto FREE of charge. Many of you might recognise Jill Webb from your completion of the Leadership course.

By attending Navigating the Web: Keeping Church Communities Safe Online you will Learn more about safeguarding in online church communities – identifying concerns and reporting them effectively.

It is a high-impact, 70-minute Zoom session to build your confidence and understanding. Attendees will need a device with a speaker, microphone and access to a reliable internet connection.

The session does not include a test/assessment, course work or pass grade. It explores:

• Safeguarding awareness in a digital world.
• Understanding risks online.
• Responding to safeguarding concerns which might arise online.
• Creating safe cultures online.
• Knowledge of relevant Policy/Practice Guidance. Accessing further support and resources.

The session is available to all PSOs that have completed the required Church of England Leadership Training within the last 3 years - but there are a limited number of places available on each session. See booking links below.

Please be aware: Attendees names and email addresses will be shared with ‘Jill Webb Training’ for the purpose of this session only:

The session Zoom link will be sent out, to those that have successfully booked, 48 hours before the session.  This will be sent out by someone with an email address ending in @jillwebbtraining.co.uk or @jwtassociates.co.uk.  If this has not arrived by 24 hours before the session, please check your junk mail.  If you still cannot find the link, contact info@jillwebbtraining.co.uk

Once the session is finished, your details will be deleted by ‘Jill Webb Training’ and only retained if you have given permission for this specifically on the end of course feedback form.  Data will always be handled in line with the Jill Webb Training Information Management and Privacy Policy found at https://jillwebbtraining.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/

To book your place on one of these sessions please click on the relevant eventbrite booking link below and follow the instructions:

Navigating the Web – Wednesday evening – 23/09/26 (19:00-20:15)

Navigating the Web – Friday afternoon – 09/10/26 (13:00-14:15)

Navigating the Web – Friday morning – 27/11/26 (10:00-11:15)

Navigating the Web – Thursday evening – 03/12/26 (19:00-20:15)

This is a unique opportunity, only available for a limited time, that we hope many of you will be able to benefit from.