Introduction
Safeguarding training helps ensure that everyone involved in church life can play their part in creating safer churches and responding well to concerns. The Diocese of Sheffield provides access to Church of England safeguarding training pathways, specialist learning and support for those with safeguarding responsibilities.
In this section
Find out the level of training you need for your role, how to access it and how often you need to renew it.
Basic Awareness, Foundations and specialist safeguarding courses delivered through the Church of England National Safeguarding Learning Portal.
Safeguarding Leadership Training
For clergy, licensed ministers,PtO and others who are required to complete the Leadership pathway.
Parish Safeguarding Officer Training
Induction, ongoing support, Train the Trainer and Dashboard support for Parish Safeguarding Officers.
Training renewal requirements
All safeguarding training should be refreshed every three years. While the national requirement is to refresh the highest level of training completed, the Diocese of Sheffield requires you to refresh all safeguarding training modules within the same three-year cycle to ensure knowledge remains current and consistent.
Accessibility and learning support
We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access safeguarding training in a way that works for you.
Accessibility support
We want everyone to be able to access and complete their safeguarding training comfortably and confidently.
For information about the Diocese of Sheffield’s wider accessibility support, please see our Accessibility Information page. This provides guidance on a range of settings and tools that can help make websites and screens easier to use, including support for people who:
- have reduced vision or hearing
- find using a keyboard or mouse difficult
- find reading or understanding written information challenging
- have additional learning needs or disabilities
Look for the 
symbol in the bottom right.
Support with accessing the National Safeguarding Training portal
We have also produced guidance to help you get started with the safeguarding training portal, creating your safeguarding training account and a step-by-step guide to enrolling on your safeguarding training course. find out more
Need extra help?
We recognise that online learning is not always straightforward for everyone. If you are finding it difficult to access the training portal, do not have regular access to a computer, or would simply feel more comfortable with some additional support, please get in touch.
We will do everything we can to help you complete your safeguarding training in a way that is as straightforward, accessible, and stress-free as possible. In these circumstances, training can be arranged on an individual basis.
Face-to-face group training in your parish (in addition to one-to-one individualised training)
If online training is not the best option for you, we may be able to provide face-to-face training in your parish or church. This can be arranged for groups of two or more people who would benefit from facilitated, in-person training.
If you would like to discuss any accessibility needs or arrange local training, please contact Lyn Adamson.
Emotional support
Engaging in safeguarding training can be distressing for anyone, especially those who have experienced abuse or been involved in an abuse case. If this applies to you, it may be helpful to seek support from the Diocesan Training Officer to discuss any specific needs before the training event. Alternatively, you are welcome to contact one of the Safeguarding Advisers, who are available to offer confidential help and advice. Is ‘you are welcome to’ warmer language?