The United Reformed Church

On 9 October 2020, the safeguarding team at the United Reformed Church (URC) launched the safeguarding strategic plan of the Church (2020-2025) at an online symposium.

What we do

The safeguarding office oversees all aspects of the safeguarding policy and practice in the United Reformed Church (training, safer recruitment, risk management, etc.). The aim of the office is to make the Church a safer place by embedding the six following standards in the life of the Church:

• Responding promptly and sufficiently to keep people safe
• Providing pastoral care and support to those affected by abuse, harm or neglect
• Managing risk and those who might pose a risk 
• Promoting safer recruitment strategies and practices
• Developing safeguarding awareness, on-going safeguarding training and professional development to all workers of the Church
• Building constructive ecumenical partnerships and safe interfaith environments 

To serve this aim, the safeguarding office supports the synod safeguarding officers (SSOs) who lead safeguarding matters in their synods, develops internal processes, systems and procedures and provides safeguarding advice, guidance and resources to all synods and local churches across the denomination. The work of the safeguarding office also includes support to Safeguarding Advisory Group (SAG) and Synod Safeguarding Practice Group (SSPG), the development of the safeguarding training programme as well as the update and production of Good Practice 5, which constitutes the URC’s only policy and guidance document for safeguarding throughout the denomination. 

As the General Assembly safeguarding adviser, Ioannis is acting as the designated safeguarding lead for the whole denomination, and he is the secretary for the Safeguarding Advisory Group (SAG). He is responsible for overseeing and implementing the URC’s safeguarding policy, liaising with Due Diligence Checking Ltd (DDC) (our umbrella body which processes all  DBS/PVG checks for those working with children and adults at risk) and providing support to Synods in responding to concerns in their work with children and adults at risk in alignment with legal requirements and Good Practice 5. More information about safeguarding can be accessed here.

Who we are

Safeguarding Adviser
safeguarding@urc.org.uk
t: 020 7520 2729

Safeguarding Administrative Assistant (temp)
safeguarding@urc.org.uk
t: 020 7691 9875