Parish Safeguarding Representatives
WHO ARE PSRs AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
Parish Safeguarding Representatives (PSRs) are volunteers who provide assistance and support to their parish in Safeguarding matters.
The PSR’s role is a vital role to help support our parish communities to be safe from harm and abuse. 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.
The 4 main areas of a PSR’s work involve:
- Reporting and Responding to all Safeguarding concerns
- Safe Recruitment of volunteers (including DBS applications)
- Creating a Safe environment in your parish
- Promote a Culture of Safeguarding in parishes.
HOW TO BECOME 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 safeguarding@dioceseofleeds.org.uk to start the recruitment process.
The recruitment process has the following main steps:
- Completion of an informal discussion with the safeguarding team regarding your knowledge of the role and the safeguarding process.
- Clear Diocese of Leeds DBS check.
- Completion of the required CSSA online Safeguarding training.
- Completion of a letter of appointment.
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?
PSRs generously give some of their time to help their parish communities.
Parishes can have more than one 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. Once a PSR wishes or needs 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 training and are supported in their role by the Safeguarding Team, who are available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
A quick guide to the contact details for each PSR area:
- Responding to Safeguarding concerns: Reporting a concern
- Safe Recruitment of volunteers (including DBS applications):
- Applications: Safer Recruitment
- Creating a Safe environment in your Parish
- Promote a Culture of Safeguarding in parishes
- Safeguarding Guidance Handbook
If you are interested in becoming a PSR in your parish, please speak to your parish priest or email us at safeguarding@dioceseofleeds.org.uk
PARISH SAFEGUARDING POSTER & SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION CORNER.
PSR Poster – Contact Details:
A safeguarding poster with the PSRs’ Diocese of Leeds email address should be placed on the parish noticeboard, church hall noticeboard or church porch where it is visible to parishioners.
The CSSA provides an editable poster that can be adapted for use in your parish – the link to the poster for the Diocese of Leeds is available in the Downloads column on this page or click here to download. The poster needs to be replaced when there is a change of PSR in your parish.
