Safeguarding Leadership
Who Needs Leadership Training?
The Leadership pathway is intended for those who play a significant role in shaping the culture, leadership and safeguarding practice of a church or church body. This includes licensed clergy, readers, authorised & licensed lay ministers, chaplains, safeguarding officers and leads, and other individuals in positions of influence or responsibility.
Depending on local circumstances, it may also apply to churchwardens, PtOs,lay ministry staff, focal ministers, leaders of new worshipping communities, and other roles with significant leadership responsibilities. Requirements for some local leadership roles are determined by the bishop, dean and safeguarding advisers in accordance with the level of influence exercised within the church context.
- Before You Book – it is a requirement to have completed Basic Awareness and Foundations within the previous three years.
- Log in to the National Safeguarding Portal. You will need a National Safeguarding Team Portal account. find out more
- Select Leadership Training
- Choose Diocese of Sheffield.
- Select your preferred course date
- Once we accept your enrolment, you will be able to choose either an online (Zoom) or onsite course and choose your preferred date.. When asked for details of your church please give the FULL address of your church including postcode.
- Complete your pre-course learning. This takes approximately 60 mins to complete
In the event of cancellation of a leadership course, participants will be notified by email only as phone numbers are not collected on the portal in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is advisable to check your email in the hours leading up to the course.
Available Leadership Dates
There are no upcoming events at the moment.
Permission to Officiate
This course is delivered face-to-face. You must have completed Basic and Foundation Safeguarding Training within the last three years before attending.
This PtO Leadership pathway is for clergy with Permission to Officiate (PtO) who lead occasional services (typically fewer than five per year). Those with a more substantial parish role should complete the full Safeguarding Leadership Training.
Since January 2026, we have been developing more accessible ways to deliver PtO Leadership Training, including:
- Local small-group courses
- A paper-based option for those with limited digital access
- Support from experienced course ‘buddies’
For information and availability, contact the Safeguarding Team.