Online safeguarding training uses the Church of England National Safeguarding Team’s online learning portal.
The resources and training you access will equip you and your church to engage positively with safeguarding in a practical and theologically informed way.
While the most convenient way to complete these courses is through the National Safeguarding Team online portal, we also offer face-to-face sessions for those who are unable to access the training through the portal for any reason. These can be delivered at your church or we have a limited number of courses running at church house ( see available dates below). Please contact the Safeguarding Training Team safeguarding@sheffield.anglican.org if you would like to discuss training being delivered at your church.
Basic and Foundations combined
Tuesday 24 February 2026 10.00-12.30 Church House, Rotherham
Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse
Friday 6 March 2026 10.00-12.30pm Church House, Rotherham
Safer Recruitment & People Management
TBC
Core Safeguarding Training Pathways
See the Safeguarding Learning Pathways for your mandatory training courses. You wll need to have or create an account on the CofE Online Portal to go direct to these courses.
Basic Awareness
This course aims to provide learners with a basic awareness of safeguarding, and enable them to integrate this into their Christian faith and the Church’s ministry.
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Connect the core principles and practices of safeguarding to the Christian faith.
- Recognise issues of power and abuse as they present themselves in a range of contexts, including the church.
- Identify the barriers (emotional, psychological & theological) that can prevent the promotion of healthy church communities.
- Apply a clear process in the handling of concerns/safeguarding information whilst recognising the boundaries of their own role.
Recommended time allowance: 1-1.5hrs.
Pass mark : 75%.
Foundations
This course aims to enable learners to contribute to, and implement, good safeguarding practice within church and community contexts.
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explore safeguarding within Christian communities with particular attention to the voice of victims and survivors.
- Recognise issues of power and vulnerability arising from the age or circumstances of those affected, and how these issues inform appropriate action.
- Apply some principles for safer ministry to a variety of case study scenarios.
- Identify wider support, accountability and governance arrangements relevant for safeguarding in your context.
Recommended time allowance: 1-1.5hrs.
Pass mark : 75%.
Leadership
Leadership training is not online but administered by Diocesan Safeguarding Teams.
Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse
To develop a greater understanding of what domestic abuse is, who it affects, as well as its impact on individuals, children, the wider family, and the community.
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define domestic abuse and understand the range of situations that are included in its scope;
- Recognise the scale of domestic abuse, who is affected and why it occurs;
- Recognise the signs and patterns of domestic abuse, and why removing themselves from abusive relationships is difficult for victims/survivors;
- Identify the unique challenges present in Christian communities in engaging with domestic abuse;
- Apply a clear process in response to concerns about domestic abuse;
- Identify some steps Christian communities can take to respond effectively to domestic abuse.
Recommended time allowance: 1.25-1.5hrs.
Pass mark : 75%.
Safer Recruitment and People Management
This course specifically aims to equip participants with an understanding of both safer recruitment and people management, and the role these play in building a safer church community.
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Reflect theologically on people recruitment and safer people management.
- Understand the recruitment process, its intersection with relevant legislation, and how each stage contributes to safer people management.
- Understand good people management practice to be implemented once a person is in post/role.
- Be able to contribute to the development and implementation of a people management plan that reduces risks.
Recommended time allowance: 1-1.5hrs
Pass mark : 75%
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
The course is in two parts. Part one is about community action and how churches have an important role in raising awareness and taking action.
Part two is about how we can recognise, respond, record, and refer to a concern about modern slavery or human trafficking (MSHT).
Recommended time allowance: 1-1.5hrs
Pass mark : 75%