Safeguarding children and adults
who may be vulnerable
Training for Workers with
Children and Vulnerable
Adults 2009
Jill Sandham
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Safe or unsafe?
•A father bathes with his five year old daughter
•A woman cares for her father by drawing
money from his bank account, shopping for
him, and keeping the change
•A husband does not allow his wife access to
any money except what he gives her each
week
•A severely depressed woman cares alone for
her two children under 5.
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Terminology
•Who is a child?
oAll children and young people under the age of 18
•Who is a vulnerable adult?
oAny adult aged 18 or over who, by reason of
mental or other disability, age, illness or other
situation is permanently or for the time being
unable to take care of him or herself, or to protect
him or herself against significant harm or
exploitation.
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
What factors may make adults vulnerable?
•Age
•Physical or mental health
•Physical or learning disability
•Bereavement and relationship breakdown
•History of abuse
•History of offending
•Substance or alcohol dependence
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
What factors may make adults vulnerable?
Implications:
Vulnerability is not a permanent state
Vulnerability is not always visible
All of us are vulnerable at different times of life
Vulnerable people may also pose risk and cause
harm.
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Terminology
•What is domestic abuse?
oAny incident of threatening behaviour, violence or
abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or
emotional) between adults who are or have been
intimate partners or family members, regardless of
gender or sexuality.
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Challenges of the church environment
•We welcome all comers
• Our membership is fluid – we never know who
may turn up, and often know little about them
•We may have both an alleged victim and an alleged
perpetrator as members of our community
•We attract vulnerable people
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Challenges of the church environment
• Leaders are not professionally trained to work
with vulnerable people
• Those in prominent roles – especially clergy – are
perceived as people who can be trusted
• Blurring of boundaries between church and home
life - potential opportunities for grooming.
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Scenario 1
A 9 year old child who comes to church without his
parents is generally disruptive in Sunday School. He
can be physically aggressive to other children,
swears a lot, and doesn’t concentrate on the
activities set.
•How can you include the child, keep others safe
and enable the group to participate in the activities?
Ref: pages 4-7 to 4-9;4-15; 4-41 to 4-43
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Scenario 2
Someone tells you something in confidence – a
mother of two young children in the children’s club
says that her husband is abusing her; or someone
you visit tells you that her carer is taking money
from her purse.
•What would you do/who would you tell?
Ref: pages 6-3; 6-6 to 6.8; 6-17; 9-17 to 9-18
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Scenario 3
A member of your congregation has severe mobility
impairment, uses a wheelchair and has limited
verbal communication.
•How would you ensure that the church is a safe
environment for her, and that she is treated with
respect and has choices?
Ref: pages 4-11 to 4-13; 4-15 to 4-16
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Scenario 4
Mr B starts attending your church. After a week or
two he tells you that he has a past conviction which
related to a child (who was then his stepdaughter),
but that he was wrongly convicted.
•Who may be at risk of harm?
•What action would you need to take?
•What is your responsibility towards Mr B?
The Diocese of
Southwark
A Safe Church
Scenario 5
You have a pastoral team, co-ordinated by your SPA;
members have various roles, including: taking
communion to those who are housebound; visiting
those who are sick; follow-up visits to bereaved
people of funerals done in the parish; transporting
people to and from church.
•What are the safeguarding issues?
•Who needs protection?
•What guidelines would you need to ensure are in place?