1. South Perth Church of Christ
ChildSafe Training
South Perth Church of Christ
Sunday 20th May 2007
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

2. PURPLE GREEN RED BLUE ORANGE WHITE
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

3. ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

4. Introduction
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

5. Introducing ChildSafe
Why do we want to implement Childsafe?
We want to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for children and young people in the name of Jesus.
We want to protect kids, young people and the church from damage.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

6. Why a system of safety and care?
Excuses, excuses!
We never had these worries before.
Children didn’t matter as much.
We don’t have a problem.
Problems only happen to others.
We always use common sense.
We’ll worry about problems when they happen.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

7. And more excuses! We didn’t know. We didn’t check.
The kids just love the way he throws them around.
Ouch!
I know she was 16 and it was 1am, but she needed me.
Who needed whom?
We haven’t the time.
Tell that to the magistrate.
I know what I’m doing. She’ll be right.
Now I’m worried.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

8. Definitions
For our purposes, a child is any person below 18 years of age.
We realise that this does include teenagers & young people.
The intention is to include all who are minors where we have a particular duty of care.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

9. ChildSafe People Ministry Application Working with Children Check
Childsafe Training
Policies and procedures that protect people
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

10. Scenarios
At a water based activity, a 14 year old girl wearing a bikini is hoisted onto the shoulders of a male leader who plans to initiate a water fight.
What issues are raised here?
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

11. Scenarios
You are on a ministry team involved in Sparklers (4 & 5 year olds). During the session, one of the children comes and sits in your lap putting an arm around your neck.
What issues are raised here?
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

12. Part 1 Keeping People Safe
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

13. Understanding the Issues
Child Protection:
Understanding the Issues
Abuse
Indicators of abuse
Facts and myths
The impact of sexual abuse
Our reactions
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

14. Abuse
An act that endangers the physical or emotional health or development of a child or young person.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

15. Types of Abuse Emotional Abuse
a situation in which a caregiver repeatedly rejects the child/teen or uses threats to frighten them
eg name-calling, put-downs or continual coldness to the extent that it significantly damages the child/teen’s physical, social, intellectual or emotional development
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

16. Types of Abuse
Neglect
a situation in which a caregiver fails to provide the child/teen with the basic necessities of life to the extent that the child/teen’s health and development is, or is likely to be significantly harmed
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

17. Types of Abuse Physical Abuse
a situation in which a child/teen suffers or is likely to suffer significant harm from an injury inflicted by a caregiver
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

18. Types of Abuse Sexual Abuse
a situation in which a person uses power or authority over a child to involve the child/teen in sexual activity
can involve an adult, an adolescent or an older child/teen
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

19. Indicators of Abuse
Please look at the indicators of abuse on pages of your Team Member Book
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

20. Facts and Myths
Child sexual abuse only happens in poor and dysfunctional families.
Most children are abused by people they know well.
Sex offenders are older men.
Children often lie about sexual assault.
Men who sexually abuse boys are homosexual.
Most sexual abuse continues over a long period of time and not as a single isolated event.
It is only abuse when physical violence is involved.
A child only has to tell someone for the abuse to be stopped.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

21. Why Children Don’t Speak up
Children may not tell someone about abuse because they want to protect others, such as a parent, or they want to protect themselves. Perpetrators often threaten to harm the child.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

22. Why Children Don’t Speak up
Sometimes a child may be embarrassed or ashamed because they think the abuse is their fault. A child may tell an adult who does not believe them or who does nothing to stop the abuse. They are unlikely to tell again.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

23. The Impact of Child Sexual Abuse on an individual is influenced by:
Age/developmental stage at which abuse began/continued
Duration and frequency of abuse
Nature of the abuse
Closeness of the relationship with the offender
Presence or absence of other significant relationships with caring adults
Reaction of significant others to the abuse
Type and responsiveness of the intervention
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

24. Effects of child sexual abuse include:
Low self esteem
Self hatred
Guilt
Sense of helplessness
Shame
Grief
Anger
Damaged capacity to trust others
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

25. Short-term effects of child sexual abuse
Younger children may demonstrate inappropriate sexual behaviour including sexual play with dolls.
Preschoolers tend to show increased withdrawn behaviour
Older children are more likely to show depression.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

26. Short-term effects of child sexual abuse
Adolescents engage in acting-out behaviours including running away, truanting, drug/alcohol abuse, promiscuity, delinquent behaviour.
There is an increased incidence of suicide.
Learning difficulties and behaviour problems are common.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

27. Long-term effects of child sexual abuse
Sexual dysfunction
Higher incidence of homosexuality
Chronic anxiety, fear and depression
Sleep disturbances
Suicide
Obesity
Eating disorders
Alcohol/drug abuse
Self harm
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

28. Our Reaction
What feelings does the subject of child abuse arouse in you?
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

29. Our Reaction
How do you think you would feel if a child disclosed abuse to you?
What would your immediate reaction be?
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

30. Our reactions Shock Denial Sympathy, pity, desire to help Frustration
Anger
Distress and anxiety
Guilt and self-recrimination
Blame
Sadness or depression
Revulsion, horror, disgust
Revenge
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

31. Responding to Child Abuse
Child Protection:
Responding to Child Abuse
Recognising abuse
Responding sensitively to a child
How children disclose
Reporting abuse
Mandatory reporting
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

32. Responding Sensitively
You are concerned about Stephen aged 8.
He seems to know plenty about sexual behaviour but you attribute that to the fact that he lives on a farm. In casual conversation Stephen reveals that his teenage stepbrother often comes into his bed at night.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

33. Responding Sensitively
Zac is a very active 10 year old. You see him regularly at church and he likes to talk to you. He tells you that one of the leaders has hit him across the ear because he didn’t do as he was told. He asks you not to tell anyone because he fears he will not be allowed to come back to church anymore.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

34. Responding Sensitively
Listen carefully
Tell the child that you believe them
Tell them that it is not their fault
Let them know that you will have to tell someone so that they can help stop the abuse
Tell the child that you are pleased that they told you
Do not promise that you will not tell anyone
Involve your Team Leader
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

35. Example Disclosure in a group setting: Protect the child sensitively
Protect the group sensitively
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

36. Responding to Disclosure or Suspected Abuse.
As a team member you have a moral responsibility to inform a ministry leader if you know or suspect of abuse.
Do not raise your concerns with another person.
Speak directly to your Ministry Team Leader
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

37. Responding to Disclosure or Suspected Abuse.
Speak directly to your Ministry Team Leader for further action. At SPCC these people are:
Tania – Children’s Ministry
Rod & Emily - Youth
David & Keren – Pastoral Care
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

38. Barriers to Reporting Fear of recrimination
Want to give the benefit of the doubt
Fear that the allegation could be wrong
Fear of getting involved
Feel it is too difficult
Feel it will involve more work
Feel haven’t enough training to deal with it
Responsibility of parents
Don’t know what to do
Don’t trust the ‘system’
Thinking that reporting is optional
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

39. Reasonable Grounds A child tells you
Someone close to the child tells you
Indicators arouse your suspicions
Physical signs
If you make a notification with reasonable grounds, you cannot be held legally liable
If you are unsure whether you have reasonable grounds to report, then report
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

40. Questions. This probably has raised questions for you
Questions? This probably has raised questions for you. Take a couple of minutes and jot any questions you have on the question cards.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

41. Part 2 Safe Environments
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

42. Accidents and Incidents do happen!
Safe Environments
Accidents and Incidents do happen!
As a Team Member you are encouraged to keep your eyes and ears open!
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

43. What do you see? ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

44. And now?
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

45. ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

46. Accidents and Incidents
An undesired event that results in harm
People are hurt, property is damaged, program is disrupted.
Incident
An undesired event which could have resulted in harm or damage
A near miss
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

47. Blood & Bodily Fluids Pages 44 onwards Wear disposable gloves
Use paper towels
Use disinfectants and wash areas
Dispose of waste materials appropriately
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

48. Blood & Bodily Fluids
Any blood spill should be washed with lots of cold water.
ALWAYS wash your hands!
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

49. First Aid Kits
A First aid kit is located in the kitchen and the demountable.
A portable First Aid kit is always taken to outside events.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

50. Fire Exits Muster Point: Top of the church carpark (near tennis court)
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

51. Fire Exit Points You are Here ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

52. Medical Emergencies
On Sunday mornings – locate Julie Bond or Graham Faulkner who will alert medical professionals.
There will always be someone in the vicinity who has been First Aid trained.
Call for help!
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

53. How can you help a child through an accident or incident?
Ensure that the child feels safe
Provide for the child’s immediate needs
Reunite the child with their family
Communicate with the child
Involve the child
Accept regressive behaviour
Protect the child from exposure (media, people, danger)
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

54. Where to from here? ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

55. Read your Team Member Book Sign the Training Acknowledgement Form
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

56. To the SPCC Ministry Team I …………………………………
To the SPCC Ministry Team I …………………………………. Attended the ChildSafe Training Seminar on Sunday, 20th May at South Perth Church of Christ. I have received, and commit to undertake to read the ChildSafe Team Member Booklet. I will endeavour to follow the safety and care strategies of SPCC. Signed Date
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

57. Questions?
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader

58. Thank you for being here tonight.
Enjoy the café!
Thank you for being here tonight.
ChildSafe Training
Module TL1: The ChildSafe Team Leader