to not do Safeguarding training?

[Sausagenbacon]

I belong to a church, and occasionally serve coffee at the end of the service. I am being asked to take Safeguarding training, which I think is utterly pointless.
I have expressed this and been told that it's policy, and I have to do it.
AIBU to just stop doing coffee?

@Sausagenbacon may well be concerned about parishioners, young women needing women's aid etc. elderly parishioners needing help with a violent partner.

Three of us in a cul de sac of ten homes tried to protect a neighbour in her eighties from the beatings her husband was giving her, the police tried too. He'd lock her in the bathroom for a day, hit her often. She'd escape, run to a neighbour who'd call the police. Time after time he was returned home. We gave up because she wouldn't press charges as did her children

Safeguarding only works if the victim is willing

Again I find this such a strange attitude from the likes of @herewegoagainy and @TempestTost. So far the arguments against doing it are either the OP isn't going to see or hear anything she needs to refer on (weird assumption to make), it's a 'tick box' exercise (this suggests you think the training is too basic and something more is needed?) or, most oddly of all, 'if it's everyone's responsibility then everyone should do the training'.

In an ideal world, no one would need safeguarding training because abuse and neglect wouldn't exist.

Second best would be that no one needs training because everyone instinctively knows all the signs to look for and how to respond appropriately.

Neither of the above is possible so what we have is organisations trying to ensure that as many people as possible who might be in close contact with someone vulnerable get a bit of training on what to look out for.

Why on earth this is being touted as a waste of time/box ticking exercise/'stupid rule' is beyond me.

But to add to that, if the number of posts where someone says 'I'm not sure whether to report as I don't think it's my place' is anything to go by, you all need to do the training.

An organisation can't assume that everyone remembers everything year after year, though.

If someone does ask "how are you ensuring adequate safeguarding of the vulnerable people you serve?" (whether in the context of an investigation after an incident, routine inspection, accreditation application, etc), it's far easier to explain that safeguarding training is refreshed each year and to present the evidence than to say "people probably remember their training from several years ago and they seem to have common sense so it's probably fine".

The organisation needs to be able to show they're taking appropriate steps to safeguard people, and delivering training to staff and volunteers is a sensible way to achieve this.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility - someone could make a disclosure to you while you're preparing the teas as it may be a time they feel comfortable enough to do so

It's also being aware of the safeguarding signs to look out for, including things such as neglect or someone who may need help, or someone behaving in a way that raises concerns

I think there should be safeguarding adverts on the TV, like they used to do the stop and think adverts. Until I worked in a school based role I'd never had any safeguarding training.

But to add to that, if the number of posts where someone says 'I'm not sure whether to report as I don't think it's my place' is anything to go by, you all need to do the training.
If Mumsnet is anything to go by then the answer is often to not report anything unless you're a perfect parent, keep your nose out, stop causing trouble, everyone has off days, who are you to judge, you don't know what's actually going on.

But if a neighbour has friends in the garden for a summer BBQ at 5pm then you should call 101 to log the issue just in case and start a diary spying on your neighbours' day to day life so you can tell the council that the peaceful enjoyment of your garden has been ruined.

Why wouldn't you. It's never a bad thing even in your wider life. Is it the time you resent.

I volunteer for a number of things and have to do it loads ( it's a gripe that the they often insist or their own course) but it's a useful course for everyone.

If someone is not going to report something, then training makes little difference. The safeguarding concern I reported in my personal life was an issue that many people knew about who had received safeguarding training at work Most thought it was none of their business. I told no one except my DH that I had reported it as I knew I would get backlash from some of these people if they knew.
Attitude is crucial.

Never underestimate the power of repetition and recency bias.

Stuff that appears the most self evident is the stuff that most needs to be said, and then said again.

@Cvoight What proof do you have of this? Because all I do is switch off.
It is a tick box exercise. If people were serious about safeguarding you would have discussion type exercises related to your organisation. You would challenge myths around the type of people who may be being abused i.e. well off people. You would talk about being wary of people who ignore boundaries and who charm people into ignoring rules.
Instead you get an online course where it tells you sign of abuses are unexplained bruising, having less money than they should, etc. It is basic. I know some people need basic, but it never goes beyond that. And at this level there is no discussion about what are the barriers to people reporting and exploring those. Because there are barriers and you have to address those and how to overcome them.
Instead it is a very basic online course that many people on here see as the panacea to safeguarding when nothing could be further from the truth.

It may be is a bit pointless, but it stops the church getting sued, if you accidentally spill some water on someone. I worked at a cinema, we had a coffee machine, but we he a senior screening. We had ti help them with the machine, one lady grabbed a cup of a colleague and managed to burn her, so we had to put a table up and put there drinks on, to stop them from burning themselves or us.
We had a stepladder and needed to get something down from on high. But was told I hadn't had the training to use them🤣 I had used loads of stepladders before. When the guy who said I couldn't use them, went through the back, I shot up the ladder and got what we needed. I get it's health and safety, but it's replaced common sense for most.

Sausagenbacon I have to say YABU. If you had explained a bit more, giving some good reasons for not doing the training, it might be different. As it is, you are rather blunt and leave us to assume you are right without giving us any information or evidence. 'Because it's stupid' is an opinion and tells us nothing. If the training were long and arduous, say every week for an evening meaning going out in the dark, making a difficult journey at your expense, and having to do homework, it might seem rather OTT for handing round cups of tea. But if it's just one session of listening to a talk and engaging in a discussion, then I can't see any reason for not attending. Surely anyone would want to enjoy the opportunity of learning about something new anyway.

I have been on the receiving end, whereby the C of E sent their most senior Safeguarding Officer to see me because of something I experienced. I was only too glad to meet her and her help made a huge difference. I know the Church of England has had its fingers burned by people working within it voluntarily and doing things that more than just offend others. I have many examples but they must remain in confidence. So the C of E are very keen to make sure this cannot happen, not anywhere.

You are not just handing out cups of tea. You are interacting with people. You are showing an alignment with the organisation, just by wielding the teapot, you have a position. The way you speak to people, look at them, your general demeanour, can have a big impression on the people to whom you serve tea in this context.

I think you should take up the chance to do the course. The opportunity to gain some self-awareness would not go amiss.

Of course it’s not pointless. Anyone can come across a situation where a person is being exploited or abused in some way. Without that training, you might miss it. Surely, we should all care about our fellow humans 😡

It would be basic safeguarding. I work in a school and we have to be a certain level safeguarding wise. My DH is a football coach and only has the basic training along with his FA coaching quals due to dealing with young children and their families. Even the basic stuff can be an eye opener and you could notice something odd about a situation whereas before you would have dismissed it. It really is beneficial and isn’t taxing at all. I don’t understand your reluctance to do it. The actual safeguarding officer would do all the leg work should anything come up.

I for one, am glad that the church of england, if that is the organisation , have reviewed their safeguarding policy and procedures snd long last!

at least do the training. What do you have to lose aside from a day? Or half a day?

you may learn something

If you are serving coffee to elderly people you are perfectly placed to notice signs of potential safe guarding issues. So I think it is relevant

Old people as well as children can suffer abuse. One of these old people you’re handing a coffee to might pick you as a friendly face they can disclose to. It happens. All they’re asking you to do is probably half a day basic awareness, which sounds a good idea unless you’re awfully short of time.
Or you could drop the volunteering.

Of course it isn't pointless.
I have also done multiple First Aid Training courses over the decades. As it turns out, I've never had to deal with any serious FA incidents, but it isn't 'pointless' for me to go back and redo my training every 3 years, because you never know when it might be needed.

As it happens, I do have to deal with Safeguarding incidents (in one of my voluntary roles) FAR more regularly. The OP might never have to, but it can never be a bad thing to have as many people as possible in any environment have an awareness.
I can't understand why this concept is making @herewegoagainy so angry.

So many excellent posts by @starlight889 on this thread.

@NewName24 My anger level is zero. Why are you assuming I am angry?

If someone discloses something then the OP will refer it to the safeguarding officer.

@AlisonDonut if you were at church would you know who the safeguarding officer was?

Why would you? The world’s gone mad. It’s a coffee. Do you need to take the test for if you have friends round for coffees.

I can’t actually believe the voting on this. So when we have lots of friends round for coffee you all think you should do a safe guarding test 🙄😂. Stop the world and let me get off

Just because you haven't been on the course, doesn't mean most people are incapable about taking action when something feels 'off'.
I don't like the know all assumptions behind a lot of the comments here

If you are involved with an organisation that has a safeguarding officer then you tend to have to do safeguarding course. OP is more than a churchgoer as she has stepped up as a volunteer so is involved with an organisation. Inviting people to your home for a coffee doesn't involve a safeguarding officer.

I am on the committee for scout group. Now my DC no longer in the group I have very little to do with the young people, we either meet with rest of committee on-line or in a meeting room with no young people present. I still have to do safeguarding training

Parents who step up as volunteers in schools have to do safeguarding training, not just to ensure they behave appropriately but also to know what to do if they feel there is a safeguarding risk for a child, even though they will be surrounded by staff who have all had safeguarding training