Last updated 21st October 2025

Parish Safeguarding guidance

National standards 

As a Diocese we structure our work under the National Safeguarding Standards.

The Five Standards are:

Culture, Leadership and Capacity 

Church bodies have safe and healthy cultures, effective leadership, resourcing and scrutiny arrangements necessary to deliver high-quality safeguarding practices and outcomes.

Prevention

Church bodies have in place a planned range of measures which together are effective in preventing abuse in their context.

Recognising, Assessing and Managing Risk

Risk assessments, safety plans and associated processes are of a high quality and result in positive outcomes. The assessment and management of risk is underpinned by effective partnership working.

Victims and Survivors

Victims and survivors experience the timeliness and quality of Church bodies' responses to disclosures, and their subsequent support, as positively meeting their needs, including their search for justice and helping their healing process.

Learning, Supervision and Support

All those engaged in safeguarding-related activity in Church bodies receive the type and level of learning, professional development, support and supervision necessary to respond to safeguarding situations, victims and survivors, and respondents, effectively.

Parishes should take some time to familiarise themselves with these standards, and consider how to incorporate them into day-to-day parish life. 

Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership website update

The new Lancashire CSAP/SAB/CDOP website is now live and can be found here: https://lancashiresafeguardingpartnership.org.uk/

The old Pan Lancashire CSAP/CDOP website: https://www.safeguardingpartnership.org.uk/  will cease to exist from 4^th October 2024.

Though the new website is live and a lot of work has been undertaken to ensure the content is as correct as possible, there are still parts of the website that are under construction. 

Resources

The Parish Safeguarding Checklist is a short summary of the what a parish needs to do to meet its safeguarding requirements. 

Model documents and further resources can be found following this link Church of England Safeguarding Resources

Templates

Template for recruitment of ex offender

 Safer recruitment document templates can be found in the safer recruitment/dbs section of the safeguarding page

Parish Websites

All parishes in The Church of England are required to make their local safeguarding arrangements clearly accessible via the home page of their parish website.

There should be an obvious link to further information, including contact details, both Diocesan and Parish. This includes the Church Near You pages.

If you haven't done this already please do so as soon as possible.

Suggested wording:

Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is XXXXXX and can be contacted on TEL/EMAIL

Promoting a Safer Church

'Name of Church' have adopted the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance. 

We also display the Promoting a Safer Church poster prominently within our church. This is in the entrance hall to Church along with relevant phone numbers and contact details.

All those working with children and adults at risk have undergone safer recruitment and received safeguarding training.

Reporting a concern

If you believe that someone is at risk of immediate harm please call emergency services on 999.

Any safeguarding concerns in a parish should be brought to the attention of your local Parish Safeguarding Officer(s) (PSO) in the first instance.

CONTACT DETAILS INSERT HERE

The PSO can seek further advice from the Diocesan Safeguarding Team as necessary.

Concerns can also be raised directly with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding Team Contact Details

Email: safeguarding@blackburn.anglican.org

Tel: 01254 503088

Address: Diocese Offices, Clayton House, Walker Office Business Park, Blackburn, BB1 2QE

Safeguarding concerns in a school/university/prison/healthcare setting should be raised with the relevant organisation's Safeguarding team.

Finding support

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales.

If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. Contact SafeSpaces

We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and that not everyone may want to contact the church directly. Below is a list of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:

Thirty-one: Eight: 0303 003 1111 (out of hours and weekend safeguarding advice)

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.

Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm).