Safeguarding Training

Promoting safeguarding is a vital and important part of church life

The main areas of North Western Synod’s safeguarding focus are:

1. Ensuring that churches have the latest policies and procedures in place

2. Embedding safer recruitment practice

3. Responding appropriately to safeguarding allegations and concerns

4. Delivery of quality and relevant safeguarding training

Safeguarding Policies and Procedures 

The URC’s Good Practice 6 contains information to assist you in your day-to-day safeguarding responsibilities.  You can download a copy here:  Good Practice 6 (PDF | 3mb) or visit the URC Bookshopto order a printed copy.

All the Appendices - Forms, Templates and Codes of Conduct - are available via the URC website.

Please click the following link for the latest North Western Synod Safeguarding Policy

To update your own Church Safeguarding Policy, click here for a template.

Safer Recruitment

Safer recruitment is a framework which uses a range of measures designed to deter and prevent unsuitable individuals from working (either paid or unpaid) with children and/or adults at risk.  A DBS check is only one part of the process.  For further information, see Section 2.4 of Good Practice 6.

Please click here for the DBS Matrix detailing which roles require a disclosure, at what level and who is responsible for instigating and keeping records of the check.

Safeguarding Allegations and Concerns

Download the Safeguarding Concern Form here.

Safeguarding Training & Events

Please click herefor the URC Safeguarding Training Matrix – 2025 which outlines the levels of mandatory training required for roles within your church.

Online and Face-to-Face Safeguarding Training is delivered by your Synod Safeguarding Officer, Yvette.  Upcoming Safeguarding Training Dates can be found here. 

Safeguarding Contacts:

North Western Synod Safeguarding Officer - Yvette Hansbury-Robinson

Mob:     07376 053 044 Email:   safeguarding@nwsynod.org.uk

For general safeguarding queries relating to safeguarding training, DBS and the Annual Safeguarding Return (ASR), please contact:

Joanne Hever Tel:        08000 903 903 Email:   helpdesk@nwsynod.org.uk

URC Safeguarding Office:

(This should only be used if you are unable to contact your Synod Safeguarding Officer during office hours)

Email: safeguarding@urc.org.uk

Emergency and out of office contacts:

Where a person is in imminent danger of harm or a criminal act may have been committed, the police must be notified immediately on 999. Otherwise, you can call 101 to report a crime or any other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

You can also contact your local authority Emergency Duty Team (EDT) when outside normal office hours (evenings, nights, weekends or bank holidays), this team includes the Duty Manager or on-call senior social worker who can make safeguarding decisions.  Use the main local authority safeguarding number (for your area) and many councils have an out-of-hours option that redirects you to the EDT.

URC Safeguarding Office:  safeguarding@urc.org.uk

This should only be used if you are unable to contact the Synod Safeguarding Officer during office hours.

‍ ‍

‍ ‍

‍ ‍