Parish Safeguarding Representatives - PSRs
Parish Safeguarding Representatives (PSRs) are volunteers who provide assistance and support to their parish in Safeguarding matters.
The PSR's role is a very important one because it helps keep our parish communities safe from harm and abuse by creating safe environments where everyone flourishes. The PSR works in partnership with the Parish Priest, Parish Leaders, Volunteers and Diocesan Safeguarding Team to ensure everyone can participate in parish activities happily and safely; especially those considered vulnerable including children, young people, and adults at risk.
The4 main areas of a PSR's work involve:
- Reporting and Responding to all Safeguarding concerns
- Safe Recruitment of volunteers (including DBS applications)
- Sustaining a safe environment in your parish
- Promote a Culture of Safeguarding in parishes
HOW DO I APPLY TO BE A PSR?
If you are interested in applying please contact your parish priest. The parish priest will meet to discuss the role within the parish and then email safeguardingsupport@rcdow.org.uk to start the recruitment process.
The recruitment process has four main steps:
- Completion of a telephone interview
- Clear Diocese of Westminster DBS check
- Completion of 5 online Safeguarding course
- Completion of a full day of PSR induction training
Please find below a flowchart showing the steps to becoming a PSR and the PSR role description with the role requirements:
HOW MUCH TIME DO PSRs DEDICATE TO THIS ROLE?
Parishes can have more than 1 PSR in place. The time needed can vary based on the size of your parish, activities schedule and other circumstances. Commonly this will be a couple of hours a week however the role can get busier at certain times of the year.
HOW LONG ARE PSRs EXPECTED TO BE IN THIS ROLE?
We know that life circumstances can change at any time and appreciate the commitment of all our volunteers. During safer recruitment process we discuss the minimum commitment.
Once a PSR plans to step down from the role, we ask that they inform their parish priest and us as soon as possible so that we can search for a suitable replacement or put in place interim arrangements.
HOW ARE PSRs SUPPORTED IN THEIR ROLE?
PSRs receive regular training, email updates and are supported in their role by the Safeguarding Service, who are available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. In addition we encourage PSRs to network with PSRs in their Deanery or neighbouring parish for peer support.
A quick guide to the contact details for each PSR area:
- Responding to Safeguarding concerns: safeguarding@rcdow.org.uk
- Safe Recruitment of volunteers (including DBS applications):
- Applications: dbssubmissions@safeguardrcdow.org.uk
- Queries: dbsadmin@rcdow.org.uk
- Sustaining a Safe environment in your parish: safeguardingsupport@rcdow.org.uk
- Promote a Culture of Safeguarding in parishes: safeguardingsupport@rcdow.org.uk
Parish Safeguarding Poster & Safeguarding information corner
PSR Poster - Contact Details:
A safeguarding poster with the PSRs’ RCDOW email address should be placed on the parish notice board, church hall noticeboard or church porch where it is visible to parishioners.
The Diocese of Westminster provides an editable poster that can be adapted for use in your parish wiht your name and safeguarding email:
The poster needs to be replaced when there is a change of PSR in your parish.
Local and National Safeguarding Services Posters:
An editable poster to display the contact information for your local authority child and adult social services is available here:
A national services poster of organisations providing safeguarding support is available here:
The Department for Education has produced guidance for safeguarding and posters to support delivery of children’s activities, including those within religious settings.
Helping to keep children safe posters
Safeguarding guidance for providers
Keeping children safe during clubs, tuition and activities: summary leaflet
Using after school clubs, tuition and community activities: a parent/carer’s guide
Parish Safeguarding Representatives Training
Training days provide PSRs (Parish safeguarding representatives) with appropriate safeguarding knowledge needed to carry out the important PSR role within their parish.
Induction training days - For PSRs in recuitment
Face to Face at Vaughan House, 46 St Francis Street, London SW1P. This training is for new candidates PSRs who will be invited to attend as part of the Induction Process. To nominate a candidate for PSR Induction, Parish Priests should contact Safeguarding Support to provide the PSR candidate's contact details: safeguardingsupport@rcdow.org.uk
- Tuesday 30 September 2025, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
- Saturday 1 November 2025, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
- Tuesday 27 January 2026, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
- Saturday 21 March 2026, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
- Tuesday 14 May 2026, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
- Saturday 11 July 2026, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
- Tuesday 22 September 2026, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
- Saturday 7 November 2026, 10:00-16:00, Vaughan House
PSR Refresher training - For PSRs already appointed
Refresher training is mandatory every 3 years, however we welcome everyone to attend annually to support best practice. The dates for the Refresher sessions are:
- Tuesday 7 October 2025, Vaughan House, 09:30-12:30
- Saturday 7 February 2026, Vaughan House, 09:30-12:30
- Tuesday 26 June 2026, Online Virtual Meeting, 17:30-20:30
- Tuesday 6 October 2026, Vaughan House, 09:30-12:30
To register for refresher training please contact safeguardingsupport@rcdow.org.uk.
Online safeguarding training
For more details please see our training page by clicking here
External PSR training sessions:
For more information on Safe In Faith trainings, please see: https://safeinfaith.org.uk/training/
For any further assistance with any Safeguarding training, please contact safeguardingsupport@rcdow.org.uk
