This Volunteers Week, we are celebrating some of the crucial work done by outstanding volunteers in our churches, and today we are looking at Parish Safeguarding Officers.
Safeguarding is at the heart of all we do, making sure that people can enjoy church safely and securely.
Parish Safeguarding Officers are key to this, working in churches to make sure people are safe, training is done and guidance is followed.
Bec Nahapiet is one of two Parish Safeguarding Officers at St Matt’s Burley, and has shared about her experiences in the role.
Bec writes: “I play a key role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of the church community, especially children and vulnerable adults.
“I work alongside church leadership to implement the Church of England's safeguarding policies, provide guidance, promote training, and act as one of the main points of contact for any safeguarding concerns.
“My role involves encouraging and moulding a culture of honesty, openness, approachability, safety, handling concerns sensitively and appropriately, and liaising with diocesan safeguarding teams when needed to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone at St Matt’s.
“As a team, we meet on a monthly basis, to discuss any cases that are ongoing and any plans that need to be made moving forwards, including signposting and pastoral support.
“This is also a space where we put our heads together to try and think of ways in which we can improve the safety and wellbeing of everybody within the community, but also to advance the procedures we have around safeguarding.
“For example, we recently decided as a church that we would invest in a highly secure online database storage system, which would enable the team to record any safeguarding information in an ordered and safe way.
“At various points throughout the year, one of the PSOs will provide a report to the PCC, with an overview of the last few months, having the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions, to ensure accountability.
“I feel very passionate about creating a safe, welcoming environment where everyone can feel secure and valued.
“I enjoy being part of a team, which is a point of trust and support within the church community, helping to ensure that safeguarding policies are not just followed, but lived out with compassion and integrity.
“I feel a sense of fulfilment, working closely with other volunteers and church leaders, helping to build a culture of awareness, boundaries, hope, love and care - reflecting the heart of our faith and who Jesus is – by breaking down the barriers of fear and stigma around safeguarding.
“At times, the role can be more emotionally demanding than I had imagined.
“It is so much more than just following policies, ticking boxes, completing the correct training.
“It involves navigating very sensitive situations with care, holding and building trust across the church community, staying alert and always being as up to date as possible on the safeguarding world.
“I hadn’t appreciated the significance of the support of a great team to help in the navigating and the holding.
“Additionally, I wish I had more fully understood the complexities and emotional weight of holding the vital importance of safeguarding together with our core Christian values; that there is a lot of grey in between the black and white.
“The importance of boundaries cannot be overemphasised when it comes to keeping people safe, and should always prevail.
“However, it can sometimes feel like a real wrestle, to balance the two things simultaneously.
“Despite acknowledging that understanding more about the role might have helped me to prepare both practically and emotionally for the challenges and responsibilities of the role, it is a privilege to be a PSO, and it has been for the best part of a decade!”
The diocesan Safeguarding Team is here to help with any issues in this most important field.
To find out more about safeguarding, and the support our team can offer, please click here.