Safeguarding Training 2023
The Diocese of Gloucester continues to work toward ensuring a church which is safer for everyone. Effective safeguarding learning is one of the key means by which we will become a safer church.
The Church of England’s Practice Guidance: Safeguarding Training & Development, published in July 2019, and updated April 2021, 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 particular church roles and responsibilities.
Click here for a checklist of which role needs to complete which training.
Becca Faal is now the strategic lead for all our diocesan training and learning. She is working closely with Laura Evans, our safeguarding administrator. Don’t hesitate to contact either of us if you have any queries or questions about the training.
There are also many opportunities for you in 2023. You can talk with us online on a bi-monthly basis at a safeguarding workshop, complete new e-learning on safer recruitment and domestic abuse, attend a Parish Safeguarding Officer induction workshop, learn more about Mental Health First Aid and become a Mental Health First Aider.
For dates of all the courses please click here.
An overview of all the courses is detailed below. More detailed information about all the courses including the aims of all the courses is available here.
If Parish Safeguarding Officers are struggling to get all relevant people to complete basic and foundation safeguarding training, here are some options to help your church officers to access the learning.
- Sit with one or two people over a cuppa and go through the e-learning with them on your account or create an account with them. Let us know who you did this with, and we can create a certificate.
- We do have slides and a script for this course. If you are interested in having these then you would be facilitating and leading the session and you will need a co-trainer. We would suggest the incumbent for this. If you let us know who attended and completed the course, we can issue certificates for them.
- Let people know about the face-to-face sessions led by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. These are all on the events page of the Diocesan website and can be accessed on the link below.
For more information on safeguarding training, visit the gloucester.anglican.org/about-us/safeguarding/core-training
Basic
This is an excellent introduction to safeguarding training that can be done online. 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.
It is open for anyone to complete, regardless of their role, including members of congregations. To create an account and to access the training click here.
If you wish to complete Basic or/and Foundation modules face to face, we are offering some dates. For dates please click here.
Foundation
This module builds on the Basic Awareness module and the aims are “To enable learners to contribute to, and implement, good safeguarding practice within church and community contexts.” It can also be completed online. To create an account and to access the training click here.
If you wish to complete Basic or/and Foundation modules face to face, we are offering some dates. For dates please click here.
Leadership
This is available either online delivery on zoom or face-to-face. It is spread over two 90-minute sessions. It requires some pre-learning to be submitted prior to the training. For dates please click here.
The module is for all those with the Bishop’s Licence (stipendiary and self-supporting clergy, and Readers). We will contact you to book you into a session. It is also required for those in specific leadership roles in a parish setting. Please refer to the tick document and book on through Laura Evans, Safeguarding administrator. It should also, according to local context, include such other people who significantly influence the culture of that Church Body. If you are not sure who should complete this please do get in touch with us.
PTO Clergy Training
This is available either online delivery on zoom or face-to-face. It is one 2.5-hour session. It requires some pre-learning to be submitted prior to the training. We will contact you to book you into a session.
Parish Safeguarding Officer induction
This module is for all new parish safeguarding officers, existing parish safeguarding officers are also welcome. The aim of the course which is delivered either online or face-to-face is “To equip learners with an understanding of the role of the Parish Safeguarding Officer and induct them into key working practices and relationships.”
For dates please click here. Please book on through Laura Evans, Safeguarding administrator.
Safeguarding bi-monthly Zoom safeguarding workshops
We are running bimonthly safeguarding workshops where you can learn more about an aspect of safeguarding, get updates, share good practice and discuss training or case work with Becca; and other members of the Team will attend too to answer any of your wider questions. The dates for these sessions are available on the website and can be found by clicking here.
Issue base pathways
Safer recruitment and people management
This new E learning module should be completed by all line managers in a parish, diocesan, Cathedral or other church/body setting with responsibility for or involvement in, the recruitment of a church officer (employees, elected members, and volunteers), parish safeguarding officers and DBS administrators. The aim is “To equip participants with an understanding of safer recruitment, and the skills and practices necessary to promote positive safeguarding behaviour (and detect safeguarding risk) once a person is in role.”
To create an account and to access the training click here.
Follow on Workshop
We are also offering an online or face-to-face workshop on safer recruitment and HR so that you can put the E-learning into practice. More details on this training are available here. To find the dates of face-to-face training please click here. Please book on through Laura Evans, Safeguarding administrator.
Domestic abuse
This new E learning module should be completed by all those holding a bishop’s license, commission, authorisation or permission (including Clergy PTO, Readers and LLMs), all Bishop’s Visitors and Pastoral Visitors, Parish Safeguarding Officers , PCC members and lay chapter members and Safeguarding Advisory Panel members.
It is also recommended for anyone with a pastoral role in worshipping communities.
The aim of the module is designed to equip participants to engage thoughtfully and proactively with the issue of domestic abuse and those affected.
To create an account and to access the training click here.
We are also offering face to face versions of this course. To find the dates please click here.
Please book on through Laura Evans, Safeguarding administrator.
MHFA
We are now offering three different levels of Mental Health First Aid training. These are face-to-face, dates available here. To learn more about the different levels please click here
To book onto any of these courses please email Laura Evans, Safeguarding administrator.
