Guidance for Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSOs)

Thank You for Ensuring Safeguarding Remains Central

Your contribution is vital: it helps the minister understand how safeguarding culture is experienced locally and how practices can be strengthened. In the pilot, your reflections will be shared with the minister prior to their self-reflection so that the review conversation can attend properly to governance, safer working and pastoral safety.

What to Reflect on and How Concerns Are Handled

When completing the PSO feedback form, consider the lived safeguarding culture: how clearly policies are communicated; the reliability of safer recruitment and training; the accessibility and use of reporting pathways; and how the minister’s leadership fosters vigilance and care across the parish. Offer constructive, practical observations and name strengths as well as areas for improvement. If you need to raise a safeguarding concern, please use the diocesan safeguarding structures; consultants do not process safeguarding concerns, and sensitive feedback is referred to the MMDR Officer before wider circulation within the pilot.

What You’ll Be Asked

Use the button below to open the form that enables you to offer your feedback. You can also download a PDF Version if that helps you to prepare your answers.

The form will ask a little about you, then ask for your reflections in the following areas.

Promoting Safeguarding

Please share one or two examples of how the minister promotes safeguarding and wellbeing in the parish, showing their commitment and care.

Do you feel that members of the congregation know who to turn to if a concern arises?

Yes/No

Areas for Development

If you feel there are aspects of safeguarding or that could be strengthened, please share them.

Anything Else?

If you’d like to add anything else that could encourage or support this minister, please do so.

Helping Improve the Process

Please add brief comments on the clarity of the form and the ease of offering feedback. Note any questions that felt repetitive or ambiguous and any guidance that could be re-phrased for lay leaders. These pilot observations will inform adjustments to the reviewer experience before diocesan roll-out.

Use the form below to offer your feedback once the process is complete.