An overview of safeguarding training

Why safeguarding training is important, who needs to attend and how the training is delivered.

The importance of safeguarding training

In our congregations and across the Church, we offer much valued work with children, young people and adults at risk. However, we can never be complacent about Safeguarding.

We need to create and maintain a culture of informed vigilance to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults at risk.

Safeguarding training and resources in the Church of Scotland are designed to equip the Church to engage positively with the protection of children, young people and adults at risk in both a practical and theologically informed way. It exists to raise awareness of our policies for 'Ensuring a Safe Church for All' and to make individuals aware of their role and responsibilities in relation to recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns.

Requirements to attend relevant safeguarding training

Many roles and activities in the Church involve working with, or having responsibility for, people who work with children and/or adults at risk. These include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteers doing regulated work with children or protected adults in congregations e.g., Congregational Children's Workers, Pastoral Care Visitors etc.
• Trustees (members of the Kirk Session and some congregational board members)
• Safeguarding Coordinators
• Safeguarding Panel Members
• Ministries Development Staff
• Ministries positions (e.g., Ministers, Candidates, Ordained Local Ministers, Readers)
• CrossReach Staff

Delivery of safeguarding training locally

A team of volunteer Safeguarding Trainers, appointed by Presbyteries and accredited and supported by the Safeguarding Service, deliver safeguarding training across all the Presbyteries in Scotland, England and abroad.

It is vitally important to acknowledge the Church of Scotland's appreciation of the work done by these Safeguarding Trainers and by Safeguarding Presbytery Contacts.

Types of safeguarding training courses available

Courses are available locally which are suitable for the roles above including (but not limited to) trustees, volunteers, workers, safeguarding coordinators, panel members and ministries positions. These are available both online and face to face in many presbyteries.

Training courses are also delivered nationally by the Safeguarding Service.

For more up-to-date details on the types of courses available and the training calendar, please visit our Safeguarding Training page.

Recording Safeguarding Training appropriately

Training undertaken by panel members/volunteers/workers and Safeguarding Coordinators should be recorded in the SG07 Safeguarding Congregational Register.

Training undertaken by Kirk Session Members should be recorded in the SG24 Trustee Training Register and Kirk Session Minutes. Training undertaken by those in ministerial positions should be recorded in the SG07a Presbytery Register. Management of this ultimately sits with the Presbytery.