We are working towards creating a church that is safer for everyone. Active engagement with safeguarding training supports all those who have a role within the Church to effectively recognise and respond to possible abuse and implement best safeguarding practices.

Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. Training is mandatory and should be renewed every three years.

e-Learning courses 

These online courses are available through the Church of England National Safeguarding Training Portal. The courses available are: 

• Basic Awareness (60 - 90 mins)

Designed for all Church Officers and everyone within church communities who needs to have a basic awareness of safeguarding issues. 

• Foundation (60 - 90 mins) 

This is designed for anyone in a role that involves work with children, young people, or vulnerable adults, plus churchwardens, vergers, PCC members, and anyone going on to complete any other safeguarding learning pathway.

• Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse  (90 - 120 mins) 

A specialist course exploring the nature and dynamics of domestic abuse, with a focus on church settings. The required attendees for this course are:

• anyone holding the Bishop’s licence, commission, authorisation, or permission (clergy, PtO, Readers, LLMs)
• Parish Safeguarding Officers
• PCC members / lay chapter members.

It is also recommended that anyone holding a pastoral role within the church attends this course.

• Safer Recruitment and People Management (90 - 120 mins) 

This course is to equip participants with an understanding of safer recruitment, and the skills and practices necessary to promote positive safeguarding behaviour and detect safeguarding risks once a person is in their role. The required attendees for this training course are line managers and anyone involved in the recruitment of church officers (employees, elected members, and volunteers), and those with responsibility for administering DBS and safeguarding officers in all church bodies.

• Modern Slavery Training  (60 - 90 mins) 

This course aims to provide a general understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking, including how you can recognise and respond to concerns relating to it.

To access the training click here Safeguarding Training Portal.

In-person courses 

The courses above are available on the National Safeguarding Training Portal, however, we understand that online courses are not suitable for everyone. For anyone who feels, for any reason, that they may have difficulty in completing the course online, we are also offering face-to-face training at St John's House, 155 to 163 The Rock, Bury, BL9 0ND. The content is the same as the training on the online training portal and each of the modules below is delivered over one session.

To book your place, email Amanda at safeguardingtraining@manchester.anglican.org

• Raising Awareness of domestic abuse

If you feel that you might struggle to go through this training alone, in-person sessions are available. Additional support is on hand both during and after the training session.

Further dates to be confirmed for 2025.

• Basic Awareness

Further dates to be confirmed for 2025.

• Foundation

Further dates to be confirmed for 2025.

Safeguarding Leadership Training

Leadership Training is mandatory and should be renewed every three years.

This course is designed for those people who play a lead role in shaping the culture of the Church. This will always include:

• 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, 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).
• Non-executive members of Chapter (unless their role in the diocese requires a higher level).
• Parish Safeguarding Officers

This training is made up of two sessions and is available both in person and via Zoom. To book your place, email Amanda at safeguardingtraining@manchester.anglican.org

Session 1 needs to be attended before Session 2, however you can book whichever Session 1 and 2 is most convenient for you.

Dates for Session 1:

Dates for Session 2:

Permission to Officiate (PTO) Pathway 

Those with permission to officiate (PTO) but do not play a lead role in shaping the culture of the church body, such as clergy with PTO and Readers Emeritus, must participate in the bespoke PTO Safeguarding Learning Pathway. 

PTO Pathway Training is mandatory and should be renewed every three years.

This training is made up of one session.

Dates for PTO Pathway

To book your place, please email safeguardingtraining@manchester.anglican.org

Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction

This course will equip newly appointed Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSOs) with an understanding of the role and induct them into key working practices and relationships. It is also suitable for existing PSOs wanting to refresh their knowledge.

Pre-Requisites: Basic Safeguarding Awareness, Foundation and Leadership courses. There is some reading to complete prior to the course.

Required attendees:

• Persons taking on the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer

This two-hour course is delivered by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and takes place at St John’s House, Bury.

• Further dates to be confirmed for 2025

Contact us

If you have any queries or concerns please contact safeguardingtraining@manchester.anglican.org.