Welcome to the November 2025 Safeguarding newsletter from the Diocese of St Albans. This issue introduces:
- A Safeguarding Training Update
- A belated Safeguarding Sunday message
- A Parish Safeguarding Hub message about action required
- Safeguarding Systems Together (SST) – DBS Checks
- Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline
- DBS Enquiries and Update Service
- Modern Slavery Workshop opportunity
- Bishop Robert Springett to be lead safeguarding bishop in 2026
With thanks for all you do to help ensure that everyone—children, vulnerable adults, and indeed all members of our communities, can experience the church as a place of safety where they are cared for.
The Diocesan Safeguarding Team
Jez Hirst, Diocesan Safeguarding Officer
Dave Adams, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officer
Jos Perris, Safeguarding Training Coordinator and Trainer
Warren Lucas, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
Melissa McDonald, Safeguarding Administrator
Erica Hayter, DBS Administrator
Introduction by Seb Smith – Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP)
“I’m pleased to write to you for the first time as the new Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP). I am deeply aware that safeguarding sits at the heart of parishes, to ensure its community feel safe and valued.
In stepping into this role, I want to express my gratitude to all of you across parishes, chaplaincies, and communities who give so much time and commitment to safeguarding. Whether raising awareness through training, responding sensitively to concerns, or ensuring that safer recruitment is embedded in parish life, your work makes a real difference every day.
“As a Panel, our purpose is to provide independent oversight, challenge, and support for the Diocese’s safeguarding arrangements. We want to continue building a culture that is not only compliant but compassionate, where safeguarding is seen not as an administrative burden but as part of a healthy culture.
“I had the privilege of meeting with several Parish Safeguarding Officers recently and was incredibly impressed by the professionalism and dedication that these officers bring to church safeguarding– so thank you to you all. Building upon this, I look forward to meeting similarly with parish clergy in January. It’s important that I hear your experiences and learn how we can better support your vital work. We need a collaborative approach to ensure churches are places of trust and welcome for all.”
Safeguarding Training Update
Thank you for all of you who respond to our automated monthly emails alerting you to the fact that your training is due for renewal and for completing that training before it goes out of date. We really do appreciate it. If your Leadership course is approaching renewal, please can you book a place on a course ASAP. Our course dates for Spring 2026 are available on the portal.
Please remember you need to ENROL onto the Leadership course first, which will then be endorsed by us, before you can book a place. Every month we offer an in-person course at Holywell Lodge in St Albans, and every month there is a Saturday or evening course – so we very much hope that there is a course date and time that works for everyone. However, please do contact us if you cannot find a course that works for you: safeguardingtraining@stalbans.anglican.org.
Our training data continues to improve with just a handful of clergy and Readers whose training has become overdue briefly but most of whom complete the training as soon as this is flagged in our monthly email.
One concern is that some PSOs have never completed their mandatory training and are not new in role. The Archdeacons have agreed to help us in addressing this, as it is important that those who hold the PSO role, are fully trained. Our current guidance is that for each PSO appointment by the PCC, on-line training must be completed within 2 months, with a place on the Leadership course booked as well. The expectation is that the Leadership course is completed within 4 months of appointment. Please note it is not an effective use of diocesan resources to be chasing individuals. We would really appreciate support from incumbents with this and ask if they could please check with their PSOs and strongly encourage that any outstanding training is completed.
If anyone has any issue accessing the portal (for example has forgotten their password or which email they have used) – please email the NST IT help desk: elearning@mail.safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org.
Safeguarding Sunday
We hope that many of you were able to honour Safeguarding Sunday last Sunday or have plans to do so, soon. Safeguarding Sunday can be held on any Sunday and is not restricted to the generally recognised date. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please arrange a Safeguarding Sunday in your church. You can explore all the downloadable resources at safeguardingsunday.org.
It is so important that everyone sees that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, ensuring that everyone who comes to church feels safe because safeguarding is at the very heart of the gospel and discipleship. Training helps to enable everyone to have the confidence to identify the signs and know what action to take to ensure that they respond well, when facing a safeguarding concern. It is important that everyone knows that they could change the life of someone experiencing abuse, by recognising the signs and responding well.
Jesus came so that we could all live life in all its fullness which affirms God’s unwavering commitment to human dignity and flourishing. Theologically, the Incarnation reveals a God who enters human vulnerability, honouring the worth of every person and demonstrating that true life —life in all its fullness—is rooted in love, justice, and protection of the most fragile.
In practice, this shapes a Christian responsibility to create environments where all people, especially the vulnerable, are safe, valued, and able to thrive. Safeguarding becomes a lived expression of the Gospel: a continuation of Jesus’ mission to restore wholeness, challenge harm, and nurture communities where every individual can experience the fullness of life God intends.
We are all made in the image of God and as Christians we are all called to love God and to love one another in action.
Parish Safeguarding Hub – Action Required
In July of this year, Parish Safeguarding Hub ‘owners’ were sent a request by ‘Clearly Simpler Ltd’ who run the Parish Safeguarding Hub requesting that you review and sign a service agreement.
The Service Agreement clarifies the responsibilities of both the provider (Clearly Simpler) and the users of a Safeguarding Hub in respect of personal data. It helps to ensure that any data processing complies with the UK’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Hub owners will be asked to accept the service agreement on behalf of their PCC. This simply requires a box to be ticked that will be on the front page of the Hub. For new Hubs, the Service Agreement must be accepted before they begin. For existing Hubs, it must be accepted before 1st December. At the end of September, a reminder was sent (via the Hub) to all parish Hub owners who had not accepted the Service Agreement.
What happens if the service agreement is not accepted?
From 1 December, a parish will have restricted access to their Hub until they accept the Service Agreement.
From 31 January, any parish that has still not accepted the Service Agreement will lose all access to their Safeguarding Hub. Shortly afterwards, Clearly Simpler will delete the data because they will have no legal basis for storing it.
A question that has been raised at Parish Safeguarding Officer Drop-In’s is the issue that Hub owners may not have the opportunity to attend a PCC meeting to put the service agreement issue to them prior to the deadline. It is not actually necessary to put this question of signing the agreement before the PCC. Advice regarding this is on the service agreement signing page with the significant point that reflects this being set out below:
‘A Hub Owner can view and edit all Hub records. Acting on behalf of the PCC, a Hub Owner can: Change the Hub settings that determine how the Hub works, and how data might be shared with other people or systems.‘
This does not stop you from speaking with your incumbent (PCC Chair), other members of the PCC or indeed organising a meeting before the deadline. But as a Hub Owner you can make the decision and sign the service agreement on behalf of the PCC.
Please follow this link to the Clearly Simpler website which explains in full about all aspects of the service agreement:
For those who have not yet accepted the service agreement, please do so immediately to avoid your Hub account being suspended.
As part of the service agreement, diocesan staff will for the first time be able to access personal data on your Hubs. Each parish via their Hub owner can provide permission for diocesan staff to access their hub when they have a lawful basis to do so.
The reasons for accessing your system are as follows:
- To provide system support
- To provide safeguarding advice
- To audit safeguarding records
When a member of the Diocesan Safeguarding Team views a parish Hub, the Clearly Simpler system logs their name, the date, and the above reason. Therefore, any searches are fully auditable.
Please visit the link below for a short instruction video and written instructions about the service agreement and how a Hub owner can accept it:
Safeguarding Systems Together (SST) – DBS Checks
SST will allow a parish to apply for a DBS check via their Safeguarding Hub. If the result is unblemished, the Hub will then be automatically updated with the certificate number and date. This will save the Hub Owner the job of manually entering DBS records, and it will help to eliminate typing errors. Look out for this facility on the Hub shortly.
Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline
At the heart of Hertfordshire’s response to domestic abuse is the Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline, a free, confidential support and sign-posting service for anyone affected.
For over 20 years the helpline has helped more than 40,000 people across the county. In Hertfordshire it is estimated that around 42,285 adults aged 16-74 will experience some form of domestic abuse in a year, and lifetime figures suggest over 114,000 women and 78,000 men will be affected.
Having information about the helpline placed in worship buildings and community venues means that volunteers and staff are helping bridge crucial gaps.
Parishes offer safe, familiar spaces and in promoting the Helpline you are enabling a life-changing connection for someone who may otherwise feel isolated, unheard or powerless. Making a resource visible, accessible and trusted at exactly the places where someone might quietly ask “Can anyone help me?” is the first step to support.
More information can be found through their website below.
Please contact manager@hertsdomesticabusehelpline.org to order your resources free of charge.
DBS Enquiries
As a diocese, we are fortunate to have dedicated DBS advice service from 31:8 to answer questions of our Recruiters (DBS Administrators). Please could DBS questions be directed through parish Recruiters to 31:8 on 0303 003 1111 or via disclosure@thirtyoneeight.org.
Please remember we have a safeguarding FAQ page which includes a section about Safer Recruitment and DBS: Safeguarding Frequently Asked Questions.
DBS Update Service
Are you or any other church volunteers registered to the DBS Update Service?
If so, you may be contacted directly by the DBS via email asking if you wish to keep your Update Service account active. The email will prompt you to log in to your Update Service account and confirm that you wish to keep it activated. If you do not act upon this email your Update Service account will be deactivated by the DBS directly.
Therefore, a fresh DBS application will be required from the diocese at the time of your renewal, which is every three years, as we are unable to perform a Status Check against a DBS certificate linked to a deactivated account.
Modern Slavery Workshop
We are planning a Modern Slavery Workshop in Spring 2026 with The Clewer Initiative, Ruth Dearnley from Stop the Traffik, the police and other experts. If you are interested in knowing more, please email: jos.perris@stalbansdiocese.org
The Clewer Initiative is a charity working to engage the church in modern slavery action, from raising awareness and prevention, to safeguarding and supporting survivors who are a part of our communities.
While over 20,000 cases of modern slavery are being identified every year in the UK, many more are estimated to be out there. In Bedfordshire alone, hundreds, including children, are supported by police and local authorities every year. The case of gang members exploiting trafficked workers through a bakery in Hertfordshire which fed supermarket supply chains was highlighted by national news only last year.
Clewer also run the ‘Safe Car Wash’ App, helping the public to spot vulnerable workers who might be being exploited on hand car wash sites in your neighbourhood, in collaboration with the modern slavery helpline and key law enforcement bodies. There were 10 positive cases of slavery identified by the app between 2022 and 2024 in the Herts and Beds policing areas, which were referred, for further investigation.
There are survivors that are already active members of church communities all over the UK, many of whom not only have lived experience of trafficking and exploitation but who also know the importance that their faith and relationship with Christ has had in bringing about healing and new life. Clewer want to support churches in understanding some of the needs and challenges of survivors to better identify and support them as they rebuild their lives after slavery.
Bishop Robert Springett to be lead safeguarding bishop in 2026
It has been announced that Bishop Robert Springett will succeed Bishop Joanne Grenfell as the lead safeguarding bishop. He will take over the role in March 2026. Bishop Robert said:
“Safeguarding should not be seen as a burden, but embraced with joy for the opportunity it offers to serve others. I have found the role of Deputy Safeguarding Bishop deeply rewarding, and I accept this invitation with a profound sense of calling to contribute to the development of healthy cultures across all areas of Church life. Through my involvement in the Scolding and Makin reviews, I have learned a great deal from victims and survivors—wisdom that will continue to shape and inform all that I seek to do in this new role.”