Leadership Training

The Leadership Pathway must be undertaken by anyone who plays a lead role in shaping the culture of the church.

Why?

It is important that leaders understand how to shape a healthy and safe culture, and how safeguarding concerns and abuse can be prevented.

Mandatory Requirements

The Basic Awareness and Foundation Pathways must both be completed before anyone undertakes the Leadership Pathway.

The Leadership Pathway is mandatory for:

Parish Safeguarding Officers
Anyone who significantly influences the culture of the church. For example, this may include employed staff, locally appointed leaders, and churchwardens.
Tower captains at prominent towers (including Cathedrals, towers with frequent visitors or people learning)

The Leadership Pathway must be repeated every three years (unless the person is also required to undertake the Senior Leadership Pathway).

Notes of clarification

The Leadership Pathway is delivered by your diocesan safeguarding team. Wherever possible, it must be completed within six months of someone being appointed to a relevant role.

The requirements for attendance for locally appointed leaders is determined by an agreement between the Bishop/Dean and the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.

Dioceses are taking different approaches regarding churchwardens. For example,

Some dioceses are asking all churchwardens to complete the Leadership Pathway.
Some dioceses are asking churchwardens to complete the Leadership Pathway only during a parish interregnum.
Some dioceses are leaving the decision to the discretion of the local church.

It is the responsibility of the diocese (rather than a parish) to ensure that clergy and Readers complete the required safeguarding training.

Links to useful resources

The latest version of the Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework was approved by General Synod in July 2024. It came into force on 1 January 2025.

What's changed?

Section 3.3 of the new Framework includes the clarification that tower captains at prominent towers must complete the Leadership Pathway.