Safeguarding
Promoting safeguarding is a vital and important part of church life
The main areas of Mersey Synod’s safeguarding focus are:
Ensuring that churches have the latest policies and procedures in place
Embedding safer recruitment practice
Responding appropriately to allegations and concerns
Delivery of quality and relevant training.
Policies and Procedures
Good Practice 6 constitutes the URC’s only policy and guidance document for safeguarding throughout the denomination. It contains information to assist you in your day to day safeguarding. All the Appendices - forms, templates, Codes of Conduct and model documents are available via the URC website
To have the most up to date church safeguarding policy, find attached Form P1 (GP6): Church safeguarding policy
Find attached Form P2, a template Safeguarding Policy Statement for churches: Safeguarding Policy Statement
Find attached the latest Mersey Synod Safeguarding policy
Useful Contacts for additional support and help
Safeguarding Training & Events
Dates and details for 2025 are available soon.
The URC is committed to providing a standardised training programme to ensure that all individuals working with children, young people and adults at risk understand the processes and policies of the URC.
For mandatory training, click on the below link:
Safer Recruitment
Safer recruitment is a framework which uses a range of measures designed to both deter and prevent unsuitable individuals from working (either paid or unpaid) with children and/or adults at risk. A DBS check is only one part of a safer recruitment process that helps to prevent unsuitable or dangerous individuals gaining access to children, young people and adults at risk. For further information see Section 2.4 of Good Practice 6
Document S3.pdf: Roles Eligible for a DBS, will help to establish which role and what level of DBS check is required
Mersey Synod Safeguarding Officer
Julie Rafferty is the URC Mersey's Safeguarding Officer, here to help our churches navigate the complexities of safeguarding requirements.
A former police detective, Julie delivers intermediate and advanced training, provides advice, support and other resources. If you have any safeguarding concerns or queries, please get in touch.
safeguarding@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
For general safeguarding queries, relating to safeguarding training, DBS and the annual church safeguarding returns, please contact:
Responding appropriately to allegations and concerns
