1. Creating Safer Space Foundation Module Refresher 2016 Edition
Safeguarding Children,
Young People and Adults

2. Trainers
Name
Role
Chaplain

3. Chaplain
Opening prayers

4. Housekeeping Mobile phones – silent or off Toilets Fire exits
Refreshment break
Timekeeping
Question Park

5. Looking after ourselves
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!

6. Getting to know each other

7. The FM Refresher aims to:
remind you that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and integral to being Church
refresh your understanding of good safeguarding practice within the Methodist Church
learn from the Past Cases Review and note the current national context
identify how to tackle potential obstacles to responding well within the Church
reflect on your responsibility for sharing concerns about a child or vulnerable adult
recognise emerging forms of abuse
consider the needs of survivors.

8. Learning together, 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
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.

9. SETTING THE CONTEXT

10. What’s been happening in the Church?
2010 – Methodist Conference agreed Past Cases Review (PCR)
2011 – President’s Inquiry published and recommendations agreed
September 2011 onwards – Foundation Module delivered
2012 Conference received PCR pilot report and national programme started

11. What’s been happening nationally?
October 2012 – ITV documentary about Jimmy Savile; Operation Yewtree launched
January 2013 – Giving Victims a Voice published
April – June 2014 celebrity convictions
August 2014 – Rotherham Child Sexual Exploitation reports published
Explosion of social media abuse

12. Key national and Church milestones
May 2014 – Care Act
July 2014 – Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
March 2015 – updated Working Together
May 2015 – PCR report published
June 2015 –PCR report approved by Conference

13. Past Cases Review
2,566 responses reporting a safeguarding concern relating to 1,885 perpetrators or alleged perpetrators
125 (25%) of case sample (503) have been referred to statutory agencies
21 formal risk assessments were commissioned resulting in 12 Covenants of Care and 6 other safeguarding measures

14. OUR RESPONSES OUR ACTIONS

15. So what do you make of all this?
How does reading the PCR make you feel?
When you hear about a celebrity or person in authority being suspected, arrested, charged, convicted or cleared, how do you react?
Do adults at risk get the attention they need?
As a result of these events how have you been challenged to do things differently?

16. Some possible responses
Anger
Sadness
Frustration
Disgust
Possibility
Hope
Challenge
Disappointment
Fear
Learning
Potential
Safer spaces
Denial
Opening up
And more...

17. Building on our previous learning

18. What have you done to Promote, Prevent and Protect?
Promote the well-being of all through a culture of shared responsibility for safeguarding, within clearly assigned roles.
Prevent harm through best practice and the creation of a culture of informed vigilance.
Protect through responding effectively when safeguarding concerns arise.

19. And in respect of… Premises – making the building safer
People – safely recruited workers doing the right job
Policies – guidance and resources to help you
Practice – what we do everyday
Recognise – spotting a concern
Respond – doing something about a concern
Record – writing down what’s happened
Refer – passing on a concern

20. Since attending the Foundation Module...
In pairs – share, and then record on your personal record, responses to the following:
Something I have done
Something I’ve learnt
Something I have seen
Something I heard

21. Tackling the obstacles
Reflecting on the last activity, think about any obstacles you encountered in trying to take forward safeguarding.
How did you overcome these?
Share your experiences

22. A reminder 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
embarrassment
desire to keep this within the church
not knowing who to consult
church is about forgiveness not condemnation
confusion about false allegations

23. PCR findings added to our learning
Leaders and ministers not understanding the nature of safeguarding
Not recognising abuse of power and vulnerability issues
Thinking it’s all about DBS checks and ticking boxes
Anxiety about dealing with statutory authorities
Lack of reflective space

24. Ways to emphasise importance of safeguarding
Remind churches that the PCR provides evidence of abuse happening in the Church
Training raises awareness, opens up discussion and allows for questions and challenge
National developments can be cited as examples of why this matters
Churches being asked to audit their practices
Gaining experience gives confidence to speak out

25. More ways to emphasise safeguarding
Take appropriate opportunities to raise safeguarding in a range of settings
Take personal responsibility for accessing on- line resources to update knowledge
Spot where practice could be improved, policies and guidelines made clearer
Build alliances with people who are committed to safeguarding

27. EMERGING TYPES OF ABUSE

28. Recognising emerging types of abuse
Abuse using social media
Child sexual exploitation
Trafficking
Modern slavery
Domestic abuse
Spiritual abuse
Radicalisation
Self neglect (adults)

29. ACTIVITY
On flip charts, for each heading, identify what you know about these types of abuse. Remember some of these affect both children and adults.

30. Abuse using social media – possible signs
Excessive time online, texting, gaming or using social media
Appearing withdrawn, upset or outraged after using the internet or texting
Secrecy about online conversations and activity
Having many new phone numbers, texts or addresses
Inappropriate comments posted on church Facebook sites
E-communications to children and young people sent from personal accounts
Children and young people reporting unwanted contacts or abusive communications

31. Child sexual exploitation – possible signs
New mobile phone and secretive use
Picked up or dropped off in cars by unknown adults
Sexualised behaviour
Older ‘boyfriend’
Under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Mood swings or changes in well-being
More time online and secretive about usage
Excessive gifts and unexplained new possessions
Academic performance deteriorating

32. Domestic abuse – possible signs
In children:
Becoming aggressive
Displaying anti-social behaviour
Suffering from anxiety and depression
Not doing as well at school
Worrying about a parent
Unexplained bruises
Injuries in hidden areas
Inconsistent explanations
Hesitancy and embarrassment in telling story
Minimising injuries
Withdrawn in presence of partner

33. Spiritual abuse – possible signs
Tithing causing hardship
Church members fearful of not attending church
Healing ministries causing significant emotional response
Expecting people to make unreasonable choices about church, family and friends
Church leader expecting unquestioning obedience
Social media being used to bully, coerce or frighten people to comply with church teachings
Declining levels of personal confidence and self esteem
Feeling isolated and excluded from ‘in’ group

34. Thinking more about survivors
The PCR stressed the courage of victims/survivors in coming forward and the need for better support
The lack of a preventive approach led to harm
Workers with children, young people and vulnerable adults should aim to see what the church now expects through a survivor ‘lens’

35. What we have learnt from survivors about churches as safe spaces
Not being listened to significantly adds to distress
Safe spaces should provide swift and easy access to care and support services
To feel safe there needs to be recognition that how churches do things can trigger memories and steps should be taken to respect this
Policies should be adhered to

36. 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?

37. Reflection
What new things have you learnt?
What are you going to do?

38. 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.

39. Closing devotions

40. Creating Safer Space Foundation Module Refresher 2016
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.