Each parish is to have a Safe Ministry Representative to ensure the parish complies with safe ministry requirements, and is appointed by the minister with the agreement of the parish council.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Safe Ministry Representative include –

• ensuring compliance with the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998 by persons appointed to a children’s ministry position within the parish,
• maintaining records of the date and place of safe ministry training completed by persons appointed to a children’s ministry position within the parish,
• providing a report, at least annually to the parish council, that includes current policies and practices, and any suggested changes, to ensure the safety of children involved in the activities of the parish and such other matters as may be prescribed by the Safe Ministry Board, and
• reporting to the Director of Professional Standards, and in the case of a parish office holder, to the minister (and any applicable delegate of the minister), knowledge or reasonable suspicion that a child who attends or has attended any activity of the parish has suffered child abuse or is at the risk of harm of child abuse from a parish office holder.

These responsibilities are set out in full in the clause 7.5 of the schedules to the Parish Administration Ordinance 2008.

Appointment and Qualifications

A person appointed as a safe ministry representative must be at least 21, and have satisfactorily completed safe ministry training within the last 3 years (or within 3 months after their appointment) and every 3 years thereafter while the appointment continues, and hold a working with children check clearance which has been verified with the regulator and is not subject to an interim bar. (The method of appointment and the qualifications required and are set out in full in clauses 7.3 and 7.4 of the Parish Administration Ordinance 2008.)

Notification of appointment and further information

• Further information on the Safe Ministry Representative role, as well as resources and information on how to report abuse or incidents, can be found on the Diocese’s Safe Ministry website
• Notify the Registry of the appointment of a Safe Ministry Representative
• Parish Administration Ordinance 2008