The Safeguarding Team host an online PSO/CSO Drop-In session once a month to discuss safeguarding in the Diocese. The September 2026 PSO drop in covered an update around changes to the definition of Regulated Activity for DBS checks and Safeguarding Sunday.
Recording of the session:
Please note, the information on this page and video was current at the time of recording.
Summary from the session:
Safeguarding Sunday
Safeguarding Sunday is on the 15th November this year with the theme ‘Love Protects.’ Further information can be found here Safeguarding Sunday 2026 – 15 November – Churches Together in England.
We are encouraging churches to take part on this event whether it is on the 15th November or another Sunday that month. The Church of England has a great set of resources from their campaign ‘It’s Not Just Policy, It’s Personal’ which ran in June of this year. This includes posters for display, information on how to respond to concerns and what to do if a concern is raised to you. More information and links to these resources can be found at this website Welcome to… It’s Not Just Policy, It’s Personal | The Church of England.
The resources can be found and downloaded here.
31:8: Sign up to receive 31:8 Resources for Safeguarding Sunday
DBS Changes
Changes to the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children was discussed and its implications for current and future DBS checks.
Changes to regulated activity effective now
From 1 September 2026, the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children was removed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This affects people who teach, supervise, instruct or care for children frequently or intensively will be undertaking regulated activity even if they are supervised themselves.
This includes activities undertaken weekly, on four or more occasions in a 30-day period, or overnight between 2am and 6am. The existing arrangements for those undertaking regulated activity through personal care remain unchanged.
What does this mean for my parish?
Many people working regularly with children will already be undertaking regulated activity, so their position will remain unchanged.
However, those whose roles have previously fallen outside regulated activity because they are always supervised may now be affected. Parishes should review these roles and the level of DBS check held.
Will a new DBS application be needed?
Where a role now falls within regulated activity, the parish should assess the risks and make a decision as a whole PCC as to whether they require a new DBS to be completed. We will be working on a risk assessment template that can be used by parishes in this instance.
Volunteers visiting schools must comply with the school’s policy. This is likely to include a requirement for a Children’s Barred List check and in this case a new DBS may be required to meet this regulation.
Anyone barred from working with children is legally prohibited from undertaking regulated activity with children.
How to access the information.
The video above is embedded in the page, which shows the video instantly.
If you click the bright yellow ‘Save to Library’ button, this page will reload, and it will be saved to ‘My Library‘.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the PSO/CSO Drop-Ins, please contact safeguarding.admin@salisbury.anglican.org.