Safeguarding Case Management Groups (SGMGs): Formerly known as Core Groups, these are the groups established to manage a safeguarding concern or allegation according to the Managing Safeguarding Concerns and Allegations Code of Practice.
Church Body: For the purposes of this Code, the term “Church Bodies” means Parochial Church Councils (PCCs, including District Church Councils and Guild Church Councils, or similar bodies), diocesan bodies (including Diocesan Boards of Finance [DBFs] and Diocesan Boards of Education [DBEs]), cathedrals, religious communities, mission initiatives (for example a Bishops Mission Order, BMO), and the National Church Institutions (NCIs).
Church Officer: Any person appointed or elected by, or on behalf of, the Church to a post or role, whether they are ordained or lay, paid or unpaid. This covers a wide range of roles and is in effect, anyone who is not purely a member of the congregation. This will therefore include clergy, staff, volunteers and elected members, but would not include third-party contractors
Complainant: An individual who brings forward a safeguarding concern or allegation or is alleged to have suffered abuse as a result of their engagement in the Church. The use of this term seeks to ensure that a degree of objectivity is maintained throughout the safeguarding process. It does not imply that a “complainant” is not a victim or survivor. The use of the term “complainants”, instead of “victims” or “survivors”, was a recommendation in past Lessons Learnt Case Reviews.
Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO): The person who maintains oversight of, leads and advises on safeguarding matters in a diocese. The functions of the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO) are set out in the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer Regulations 2024.
Note: DSOs have the authority to delegate tasks that would otherwise be their responsibility to Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officers (ADSOs), as and when they see appropriate. ADSOs are not specifically referenced in this Code, but where a requirement is included that requires the DSO to undertake a certain action, the DSO can delegate that action to an ADSO within their team.
Cathedral Safeguarding Officer (CSO): The person who maintains oversight of, leads and advises on safeguarding matters in a cathedral. A Cathedral Safeguarding Officer could be a member of a Diocesan Safeguarding Team or could be an officer employed directly by a cathedral.
Safeguarding Officer: This term is used throughout this document to mean both the Diocesan and the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer, as appropriate in the context.