Safeguarding Training
Advanced Safeguarding Training
Click here to find dates and sign up to attend our advanced safeguarding training.
For further information on how to book a place on the advanced course, click here.
Foundation Safeguarding Training
Foundation Safeguarding Training is a circuit responsibility, details of Foundation Module training is communicated through the District Newsletter.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module 2024
The Foundation Module is now available as online‑only training, with the module also available in person within circuits and via Zoom within circuits and the district. Please use the link below to confirm which roles require Foundation Training. Please also note that safeguarding training only needs to be renewed at the highest level required for your role. You can check the level of training needed for your role here.
If you need to undertake Advanced Module training for the first time, you must complete the Foundation Module beforehand.
Foundation/Advanced Methodist Safeguarding Training
- The Methodist Church offers safeguarding training at both Foundation and Advanced levels.
- For clarity as to which roles require which level of safeguarding training, please see the lists below
- Everyone must complete the Foundation Module at least once, but for those whose role requires them to complete the Advanced Module subsequent refreshers, currently every 4 years, need only be undertaken at Advanced level until a role change indicates this is no longer necessary.
- A new office holder must successfully complete the required safeguarding module(s) within six months of taking up a post and if not, may be suspended until the training has been completed.
- The same risk of suspension applies for those who fail to complete refresher training in a timely manner, and anyone who feels they may not be able to complete as required will need to discuss their situation with the Circuit SGO in respect of Foundation Module and the ROS in respect of Advanced Module at the earliest opportunity.
- People who have received safeguarding training in other roles (e.g. as a teacher or police officer) still need to attend because the training is specific to the church context. Their attendance is also valuable because of the expertise they can share with other attendees.
Who needs Foundation?
Required Attendance:
Presbyters or deacons with an active preaching, chaplaincy or pastoral ministry (including supernumerary ministers unless they have an Exemption)
- Pre-ordination students and probationers
Those with responsibility for delivering ministerial supervision
- Local Preachers
- Worship Leaders
Regional Officers for Safeguarding (ROS)
Circuit Safeguarding Officers
Church Safeguarding Officers
Members of the Connexional Council
Members of the Connexional Safeguarding Committee
Members of District Safeguarding Groups
Those who deliver Foundation and/or Advanced Module training
Members of Monitoring and Support Groups
Members of Connexional Complaint Panels, Discipline Committees, Pastoral and Appeals Committees
Members of District Policy Committees
Evangelism / Mission Enablers
Coaches through God For All provision
Those in leadership roles involving pioneering, New Places for New People (NPNP), Fresh Expressions or evangelism
Lay Pastors, lay employees and volunteer workers who are appointed to exercise pastoral leadership within a local church
Those in paid employment or a voluntary role which includes leadership within the Methodist Church, involving direct work with children, young people or vulnerable adults
Methodist / Connexionally employed teaching staff at MCIB learning institutions
Mentors for the Young Adult Mission Placement Scheme
Chairs of Circuit Invitation Committees
Lay employees and volunteer workers with pastoral responsibility
Pastoral visitors
Anyone working with children in the name of the church
Anyone working in activities focused on adults who are vulnerable
Choir/music group/drama leaders where there are children or vulnerable adults in the group
District staff especially Policy Committee members, complaints and discipline mediators, District Resolutions Officers
Circuit and Church stewards
Young Leaders (ages 16-18)
Church Trustees who do not fall into any of the above groups
Warmly invited but not mandatory:
- Church/Circuit meeting secretaries
- Property stewards and other key holders
- Any other group leaders within the church, who may have adults who are vulnerable within their group
Other District and Connexional staff
- Caretakers
- church/circuit meeting secretaries
- Church/Circuit/District administrators
- Remaining District and Connexional staff
- Remaining teaching staff at Methodist Church Training Institution
- Other Choir/music group/drama leaders
- Leaders of other organisations, working with children or vulnerable adults, who use church premises
Recognition of Church of England and URC Training
The Methodist Church recognises the Church of England and United Reformed Church (URC) safeguarding training as equivalent to the Foundation and Advanced Modules. Therefore, those who have undertaken the Church of England or URC courses at the appropriate level will have satisfied attendance requirements listed above for the Methodist Church.
This list is the minimum requirement – churches can use their discretion to include other groups where they feel that is appropriate.
Renewing Training
The requirement to renew training every four years will only apply to the highest level of safeguarding training undertaken by any individual. If the highest level of training is Foundation Module, then a repeat of this module will be necessary after four years. The 2016 Conference decided that the frequency of undertaking Creating Safer Space training should change from five to four years from September 2017 in order to make sure that training content can keep pace with changes in legislation and safeguarding practices. To read the conference report click here.
Who needs Advanced?
Required Attendance:
Presbyters or deacons with an active preaching, chaplaincy or pastoral ministry (including supernumerary ministers unless they have an Exemption)
- Pre-ordination students and probationers
Those with responsibility for delivering ministerial supervision
- Local Preachers
- Worship Leaders
Regional Officers for Safeguarding (ROS)
Circuit Safeguarding Officers
Church Safeguarding Officers
Members of the Connexional Council
Members of the Connexional Safeguarding Committee
Members of District Safeguarding Groups
Those who deliver Foundation and/or Advanced Module training
Members of Monitoring and Support Groups
Members of Connexional Complaint Panels, Discipline Committees, Pastoral and Appeals Committees
Members of District Policy Committees
Coaches through God For All provision
Evangelism / Mission Enablers
Those in leadership roles involving pioneering, New Places for New People (NPNP), Fresh Expressions or evangelism
Lay Pastors, lay employees and volunteer workers who are appointed to exercise pastoral leadership within a local church
Those in paid employment or a voluntary role which includes leadership within the Methodist Church, involving direct work with children, young people or vulnerable adults
Methodist / Connexionally employed teaching staff at MCIB learning institutions
Mentors for the Young Adult Mission Placement Scheme
Chairs of Circuit Invitation Committees
Recognition of Church of England and URC Training
The Methodist Church recognises the Church of England and United Reformed Church (URC) safeguarding training as equivalent to the Foundation and Advanced Modules. Therefore, those who have undertaken the Church of England or URC courses at the appropriate level will have satisfied attendance requirements listed above for the Methodist Church.
This list is the minimum requirement – churches can use their discretion to include other groups where they feel that is appropriate.
Renewing Training
The requirement to renew training every four years will only apply to the highest level of safeguarding training undertaken by an individual. Where the Foundation and Advanced Modules are required, following attendance at both courses, only a repeat of the Advanced Module will be necessary in future years.
Foundation Rescources
Click on the link to download the Foundation Handbook and Workbook.
Advanced Resources
Click in the links below to download the resources for Advanced Safeguarding training.
Advanced Module 1a (this is only required for the face to face Advanced Course)
Train the Trainer
- Train the Trainer for both modules are run generally once a year, facilitated by a member of the Learning Network together with one of the ROSs from the region.
- If you are aware of anyone who may be able to support delivery of either of the safeguarding modules and wishes to attend a session to see if it is for them, please contact the ROS and share the individual’s details so that they can be kept up to date.
- In order to attend the training a letter of recommendation is needed from the superintendent minister (or similar if this is not currently possible).
- During the session a member of the Learning Network, together with one of the ROSs, will explore the Module; the resources needed to deliver the Module; how to deliver and facilitate the session well; what happens following the training and the ongoing support available.
- As a minimum we will meet at least once a year for support and updating and more often where the module has undergone its four yearly update. Other relevant information will be shared via email, as necessary.