Within our diocese, we have a network of volunteer Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSOs), who play a vital role in helping to keep our children, young people and vulnerable adults as safe as possible.
The PSO is the key link between the diocese and a parish concerning safeguarding matters. The PSO is appointed by and supports the Parochial Church Council (PCC) in the delivery of its (the Council’s) safeguarding responsibilities.
The role of a Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) includes safely recruiting volunteers for church activities, ensuring that safeguarding training is up to date for paid workers and volunteers in their parish, and dealing with any safeguarding issues that arise.
Information on parish safeguarding roles and responsibilities (including the PCC, Incumbent, Church Wardens and Parish Safeguarding Officer/Administrator) can be found here.
To download a safeguarding information and welcome pack for parish Safeguarding Officers, Incumbents and PCCs, please click here. You can also access Parish Safeguarding Induction Training here.
Details of what safeguarding arrangements information should be displayed on parish websites and church notice boards can be found here.
Templates and Forms
- Safeguarding Referral Form
- Parish Safeguarding Policy Statement
- Template Parish Statement on Domestic Abuse
- Activity Risk Assessment Template
- Activity Risk Assessment Form
- Activity and Incident Form
- Registration Form – Activities and Trips
- Leaders to Participants Ratios
- Photo Consent Form
- Model Social Media Policy Statement
- Social Media Consent Form
- Transport Consent Form
- Model Volunteer Driver Agreement
- Model Safeguarding Provision for Church Premises Hire
- Entrance Notice for Callers
- Keyholder Declaration
- Lone Working – PCC Considerations
- Model Risk Assessment Checklist for Home Visiting
- Model Personal Risk Assessment Tool
If you have safeguarding concerns about the welfare of a child, young person or an adult, please email the Diocesan Safeguarding Team for advice and support.
If you need to raise a concern, please complete this referral form and send it to the above email.
- Hampshire: 0300 555 1373
- Southampton: 02380 233344
- BCP (Children): 01202 738256
- BCP (Adults): 0300 123 9895
- Dorset (Children): 01305 221000
- Dorset (Adult): 01305 221016
We are committed to ensuring that all church officers are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and have the core skills and knowledge to protect children and/or adults from harm. Find out more about training here, and contact our Safeguarding Training Team here.