Parish Safeguarding Officer Role Description
The Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) is the key link between the diocese and a parish
concerning safeguarding matters. The PSO is appointed by and supports the Parochial
Church Council (PCC) in the delivery of its (the Council’s) safeguarding responsibilities.
Person specification:
- 1. Willingness and aptitude to undertake the role, attend the relevant training and
undertake their own development in the field of safeguarding. - 2. Ability to challenge in an appropriate, supportive manner.
- 3. Ability to demonstrate why safeguarding is intrinsic to the Christian faith.
- 4. Ability to instigate and manage difficult conversations.
- 5. Ability to articulate the need for culture change with regard to safeguarding in the
Church as a whole, and in particular in their parish community. - 6. Ability to demonstrate an empathetic and objective attitude with integrity when dealing
with possible allegations of abuse. - 7. Ability to manage sensitive information and, where needed, understand confidentiality
and data sharing. - 8. The PSO should not be related to, or have a conflict of interest, with the vicar / priest
(or anyone acting on their behalf as an interim arrangement); - 9. Willingness to declare and explore with members of the Parochial Church Council
/Diocesan safeguarding team ways to manage any potential conflicts of interest
Role Description:
Exact responsibilities may differ between parishes and different areas, depending on local
circumstances. For instance, some parishes have a “team” of PSOs who share
responsibilities, whilst other areas have one PSO supporting multiple parishes.