Safeguarding

Presbytery Safeguarding Registry Download the Safeguarding PDF

Safeguarding Service

Working together to ensure a Safe Church for All

Everyone engaged in the life and work of the Church has a role to play in promoting the wellbeing and safety of vulnerable groups. Harm or abuse of children and adults at risk can happen anywhere – even in church communities. We have a duty to Ensure a Safe Church for All. The Church aims to minimise the risk of harm occurring. If harm or abuse does occur, with appropriate support and training, it will be recognised and reported. If it occurs, we will work with the Police and Social Work services if appropriate.

The Church’s Key Safeguarding Message

If harm or abuse is suspected or witnessed, or is reported to you, you must immediately report it to your Safeguarding Coordinator or line manager.

Click below to access the Church of Scotland’s Safeguarding Website Information

Guide to Regulated Roles

To access and download the guide please click here: Guide To Regulated Roles

Background information:

In December 2025 The Church of Scotland’s Safeguarding Service shared new Guidance on Regulated Roles with all Safeguarding Coordinators, Trainers and Presbytery Contacts.

It provides details of roles within the Church across four categories:

Roles with children
Role with ‘protected adults’ as defined in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020
Roles with children and protected adults
Roles outwith congregations

The guide advises whether or not a role is considered regulated, and information is given on any required safeguarding training.

For any queries please please locally check with your Safeguarding Coordinator, you can also contact safeguarding@churchofscotland.org.uk.

Safeguarding Learning Pathways for Ministers

Click here: Training | The Church of Scotland and select “Safeguarding Learning Pathway for Ministers”

An extracted example of this information is provided below:

‘Ministers’ for the purposes of the Safeguarding Training Learning Pathway means Parish Ministers, Interim Ministers, Transition Ministers, Auxiliary Ministers, Probationers, OLM, Readers, Locums and Armed Forces chaplains. The Learning Pathway for Deacons and MDS will be identified through their job descriptions; advice should be sought from the Safeguarding Service.

Completion of the full pathway is considered necessary for those holding a leadership position, so they have the breadth of understanding required to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

Introductory Safeguarding Training (approx. 2.5 hours)

Advanced Safeguarding Training (approx. 2.5 – 3 hours)

Ministries, formerly known as Leadership Safeguarding Training (approx. 3 hours with some reflective work)

Order and Timescales: Safeguarding Learning Pathway for Ministers

Moving forward, the pathway should be completed in this order:

Introductory Safeguarding Training: Undertaken before or within 6 months of starting training
Advanced Safeguarding Training:

1. Ministers: Within the first half of full-time probationary placement.

2. Readers: Before being set apart

Ministries Safeguarding Training: Within the first 2 years of your training for ministry ending. It is recommended that this training is refreshed every 3 years. It is a mandatory requirement every 5 years.

Notify the Safeguarding Officer when you have attended and completed a safeguarding training course as your safeguarding record for the register will then be updated / learning pathway progress recorded.

Email mairi.macleod@churchofscotland.org.uk

In relation to relevant Safeguarding refresher training, it was agreed at GA 2022 that the highest level of training previously completed is undertaken as a mandatory requirement every 5 years (recommended every 3 years).

Safeguarding Learning Pathway for Other Church Roles

Click here: Training | The Church of Scotland and select “Safeguarding Learning Pathway for other Church roles”

Presbytery Safeguarding Register

The Perth Presbytery Safeguarding Register is for all Ministerial roles appointed by Presbytery requiring Church of Scotland PVG clearance. Urgently complete this form to be placed on the register if you have not already done so.

Click here: Presbytery Safeguarding Register

Note:

It is important to notify the Safeguarding Officer when you have attended and completed a safeguarding training course as your safeguarding record for the register will then be updated / learning pathway progress recorded.

Email mairi.macleod@churchofscotland.org.uk

Safeguarding Training for Perth Presbytery

Your Safeguarding Training Needs

The three below mentioned trainings are available both online and in person;

Introductory Safeguarding Training
Advanced Safeguarding Training
Trustee Safeguarding Training

Ministries Safeguarding Training is organised and delivered by the central Safeguarding Service (121) trainer.

Online trainings that can easily be attended from home can be booked by clicking here Training | The Church of Scotland and then selecting “online training courses only”.

In person training requests from Safeguarding Coordinator’s and Session Clerks for 10 or more people at your Congregation should be sent to the Perth Presbytery Safeguarding Officer. The Presbytery training calendar can be busy therefore please plan ahead to allow us to accommodate your training needs as best as we can.

Presbytery of Perth Safeguarding Training Advice

To attend a safeguarding training, you must pre-book / book ahead of training day.

A booking closing date will be highlighted in our communications.

We do not accept people onto a training course if they arrive on training day with no registered pre-booking.

The pre-booking process supports best learning outcome for attendees as essential pre-reading documentation is provided ahead of training day for training preparation. It also allows organisers to effectively plan seating, catering, and capture training register information on our Presbytery booking system.

Safeguarding Evaluation

Have you recently attended a Perth Presbytery Safeguarding Training?

We want your feedback!

Take 2 minutes to share your thoughts here:

Safeguarding Training Evaluation Form

Where to find out about planned Safeguarding Training?

Perth Presbytery’s weekly Roundup Newsletter which is sent to all members of Presbytery, Session Clerks and Safeguarding Coordinators, contains information on Safeguarding Trainings with booking details, including Ministries Safeguarding Training.

The link to the training section of the Church of Scotland website is also provided where all online trainings can be directly found.