The Methodist Church
Creating Safer Space
Foundation Module
Safeguarding Children,
Young People & Vulnerable Adults
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Trainers
Name
Role
Name
Role
Chaplain
Name
Role
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Opening Prayers
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Housekeeping
Mobile Phones – silent or off
Toilets
Fire Exits
Refreshment Break
Timekeeping
Question Park
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Health Warning
• This training can be difficult for any of us, at
any time.
• If you need a break, feel free to move about
or leave the room.
• There is more than one trainer here, so we
can be free to spend time with you apart
from the main group if necessary.
• If this raises painful issues for you, share
this with somebody you trust. Look after
yourself!
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Getting to know
each other
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Aims:
• to know that safeguarding is
everyone’s responsibility
and integral to being church
• to have a better
understanding of good
safeguarding practice within
the Methodist Church
• to know when to have
concerns about the safety
and welfare of a child or
vulnerable adult
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• to recognise potential
blocks within the church to
responding well
• to appreciate your
responsibility for sharing
concerns about a child or
vulnerable adult
• to be aware of who in the
church to go to with any
concerns.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
We will
• listen without interrupting
• respect the feelings,
experiences and views of
other people
• listen to different views and
question in a constructive
way that enables learning
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• respect confidentiality
unless it puts others at risk
• take responsibility for our
own learning and share as
well as receive learning
• be aware of the potential
impact of the subject on
ourselves and others.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene
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Children and
young people
Adults who may
be vulnerable
Survivors
of abuse
People who may
be a risk to
others
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene
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Children and
young people
Adults who may
be vulnerable
Survivors
of abuse
People who may
be a risk to
others
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene:
children and young people
Everyone under the age of 18
A child or young person is deemed
vulnerable and in need of protection
because of their age
Resources:
Handbook Policy – Safeguarding Children and Young People
Appendix – Code of Safe Working Practice
NSPCC/Childline helpline – 0800 1111
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene
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Children and
young people
Adults who may
be vulnerable
Survivors
of abuse
People who may
be a risk to
others
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene:
adults who may be vulnerable
Adults are not assumed to be
vulnerable unless circumstances or
characteristics identify us as such.
Resources
Methodist Church Safeguarding Adults Policy
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene
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Children and
young people
Adults who may
be vulnerable
Survivors
of abuse
People who may
be a risk to
others
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene:
survivors of abuse
Many people have experienced abuse
either in childhood or as an adult.
The church can provide a place for
sharing and healing.
Resources
•Time for Action 2003
•Tracing Rainbows Methodist Report 2006
•MACSAS (Ministers and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors) 0808 801 0340
•One in Four 020 8697 2112
•National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene
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Children and
young people
Adults who may
be vulnerable
Survivors
of abuse
People who may
be a risk to
others
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene:
people who may be a risk to others
It can be difficult to integrate these people into
church life.
Covenant of Care groups can be a way of enabling
them to be part of the Church.
We need to be careful because we don’t always
know that people are a risk to others.
Resources
•Safeguarding Children and Young People App E – the Methodist Church policy for sex offenders
•Stop it Now! Telephone helpline 080 1000 900
www.stopitnow.org.uk
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene
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Children and
young people
Adults who may
be vulnerable
Survivors
of abuse
People who may
be a risk to
others
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene: summing up
• Creating Safer Space is about
creating an environment within our
Church communities where those
who are vulnerable – children and
adults – are respected, valued,
protected and listened to.
• This is at the core of our faith.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Setting the Scene: summing up
• The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and
saves the crushed in Spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
• To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 (NIV))
• Let the little children come to me, and do
not stop them; for it is to such as these that
the kingdom of heaven belongs. (Matthew 19:14)
• [Nothing] will be able to separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:39)
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Safeguarding in the Methodist
Church
• promote
the wellbeing of children, young people
and those who are vulnerable through a culture of
shared responsibility for safeguarding, within
clearly assigned roles
• prevent
harm through best practice in work with
children, young people and vulnerable adults and
the creation of a culture of informed vigilance
• protect through responding effectively when
safeguarding concerns arise.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Safeguarding in the Methodist
Church
Prevent
Promote
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Protect
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention
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Premises
People
Policies
Practice
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention
Premises
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention: premises
• The overall responsibility for Health and Safety
rests with Church Council – and we all
contribute to it.
• Check you have a copy of relevant risk
assessments for the premises, activities and, if
needed, individuals.
• Consult your property steward.
• Check for any hazards in rooms and toilets
before each activity.
• Be careful with lettings; consult the policies.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention
Premises
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People
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention: people
• know your role
• have awareness; recognise
concerns
• know who to go to for support.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Sharing concerns
worker /volunteer
tells coordinator of their
observation
child or vulnerable
adult tells worker
/volunteer who tells
coordinator
coordinator may tell the
relevant authority
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someone else tells
worker/volunteer
who tells coordinator
in an emergency worker may
contact relevant authorities
directly and inform coordinator
later.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention
Premises
People
Policies
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention: policies
Methodist Church Safeguarding
Handbook
•Safeguarding Children and Young People
•Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
•Practice guidelines on Domestic Abuse
•Model Safeguarding Policies
and
•Recruiting Safely
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention
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Premises
People
Policies
Practice
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Prevention: practice
Examples:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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registers
consent
incidents & record keeping
confidentiality
what happens if...?
number of leaders
insurance
emergency
internet safety
‘out of Club’ contact
communication with parents/carers.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Child and Adult Safeguarding
Types of abuse
Each flip chart has a heading which
is a particular kind of abuse. Fill in
answers to:
Examples of abuse
Possible signs of abuse
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Child and Adult Safeguarding
Types of abuse
On the post-it notes, write down
different kinds of abuse. Then
attach them to the cut-out
figures.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Child and Adult Safeguarding
Types of abuse
•
•
•
•
•
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physical
emotional
neglect
sexual
spiritual or ritual
• financial or
material
• discriminatory
• institutional
• domestic
violence.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Protection
What to do if you are worried that a
child or vulnerable adult may be
being abused:
• recognise --- have eyes to see and ears
to hear
• respond to the concern
• record what has been seen, heard or
said
• refer to the appropriate people.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Your Contacts
Junior Church leader etc. xxxxx xxxxxx
Revd Your Minister xxxxx xxxxxx
Church Co-ordinator xxxxx xxxxx
Circuit Co-ordinator xxxxx xxxxxx
District Co-ordinator xxxxx xxxxxx
Office hours: xxxxx xxxxxx
Out of hours: xxxxx xxxxxx
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It is important to
discuss any
concerns you have
with someone in
responsibility or
with expertise.
You should never
feel that you should
cope alone with
these concerns.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Protection Sharing concerns
worker /volunteer
tells coordinator of their
observation
child or vulnerable
adult tells worker
/volunteer who tells
coordinator
coordinator may tell the
relevant authority
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someone else tells
worker/volunteer
who tells coordinator
in an emergency worker may
contact relevant authorities
directly and inform coordinator
later.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Some barriers
In groups think of some reasons
why :
•churches may not respond well
•children/vulnerable adults may
find it hard to tell.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Why churches may not respond well
• they may not want to
hear
• this doesn’t happen in
church
• the person/family is
well known and
respected
• the limits of
confidentiality/
confession are
misunderstood
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• desire to keep this
within the church
• not knowing who to
consult
• church is about
forgiveness not
condemnation
• confusion about false
allegations
• embarrassment.
Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Why children/vulnerable
adults may not always tell.
They may:
not know it is wrong
be unable to communicate
be too dependent on the perpetrator
have tried to tell before without
success
• be too scared of consequences
• feel ashamed/guilty.
•
•
•
•
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Case Studies
• What is it in the case example you
recognise that concerns you?
• How would you respond to your
concern?
• What would you record?
• To whom would you refer this?
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Reflection
• What have you learnt ?
• What are you going to do?
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Feedback
After the devotions, please take a
couple of minutes to complete
the feedback form.
Please leave the form in the tray
on the table before you leave.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Closing Devotions
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module
The Methodist Church
Creating Safer Space
Foundation Module
Please collect your certificate of attendance.
Please place your feedback form in the tray by
the door.
Thank you for giving up your time to undertake
this training.
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Creating Safer Space – Foundation Module