A Church worker against whom a complaint has been received may be suspended if there is an unacceptable risk of harm to any person if they remain in their present role pending the outcome of the complaint. Their stipend payments continue.
If the risk of harm is immediate, the Professional Standards Committee decides in the first instance whether to recommend suspension, in other cases, the Professional Standards Board has that responsibility.
A Church worker charged with a sexual offence or an offence relating to child pornography faces automatic suspension: s44.
The Bishop has authority to suspend clergy on receiving that recommendation. In a parish, the Rector generally has that authority to suspend a lay person: s45 of the Act.