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?

I also belong to a church. I've been PVG checked and have a Scottish Disclosure Certificate and I was recently told to do safeguarding training. All I really learned was who to report things to but it is good to have the knowledge. It is not always the local church safeguarding lead.

Going against the grain here but I agree with you. It's a bit over the top to do formal training for the very limited role you hold. You're likely no more going to be exposed to safeguarding issues than just being a member of the congregation and chatting to everyone else at church and at the end. Should everyone who simply attends church have to complete safeguarding training in order to attend? There's also a lack of trust that people can use common sense. You're already aware of there being a safeguarding officer and how to escalate things, I don't think more formal training is required. And I understand why on principle you feel you shouldn't need to do this, though that's clearly an unpopular opinion.

The OP is handing cups of coffee to elderly people.
I can see the point of safeguarding training when children are involved, but it's ridiculous to expect anyone to get involved in safeguarding when it's coffee after a church service.
I would refuse the training and stop volunteering.

Safeguarding training isn’t pointless for anyone. To me it falls into the same category as first aid training - you hope you never need it but it’s always best to know it just incase (and refresh knowledge regularly too)

She’s not saying she’s going to do that , but you need training to know what needs referring.

Good point, that is if they declare it when being interviewed, completing paperwork etc.

Safeguarding training also includes vulnerable adults. It is quite possible parishioners will fall into that category and those who are coming into contact with them knowing the warning signs of abuse could save someone.

its up to you op. If you want to serve the tea you have to do the training. If you don’t want to do the training then you can’t serve the tea.

You can question authority all you like but rules is rules. You could campaign to change the rules if you like but no one’s going to have any appetite for reducing safeguarding responsibilities in churches. Or anywhere else for that matter.

If, in the vanishingly unlikely scenario that the OP spots 'warning signs of abuse' she'll be easily capable of spotting them without needing training.
She's far more likely to open a can of worms by reporting (to whom, exactly?) totally innocuous suspicions.

You represent an organisation as a volunteer- one that is part of a community that often people trust, where people may disclose things. Yes you may know who to pass on relevant concerns to, but safeguarding training helps you identify issues that might not be as straightforward as people saying 'my parents hurt me' or 'my carer has taken some money'.

Sometimes it is about picking up on subtle things that point to a problem that could really help someone vulnerable- which I hope you would want to do as a volunteer for the church.

The stupidity seen on this thread where people appear to think that safeguarding is only to do with children proves the point why we have to do this training.
Im reminded daily why I moved roles to stop recruiting and training volunteers
This sort of attitude when safeguarding is part of organisations compulsory framework when recruiting and utilising volunteers made me realise that working with volunteers was in the whole way more hassle than in its worth

The OP won't do anything other than refer it to a safeguarding officer.

But what if the safeguarding officer isn't immediately available and this vulnerable elderly person is about the leave with someone who has potentially been abusing them. It not just about reporting, it's knowing the signs, being able to record what has been said, and knowing how to respond in that situation.

I was in a similar situation (leading a group of elderly people at a church Bible study group). Like you, I couldn't see the point of the course. But, I'd like to urge you to take it.Two points:1) It's very hard to fail. I got 100 per cent, simply by regurgitating what they tell you. 2) It has some very interesting info, and most importantly, it trains you to think about situationsoutside of the church one. In other words, it has valuable transferrable skills to other areas of life - e.g. if yiu suspected your child's friend was being neglected, you would have some info about what to look out for. You might even find you enjoy the course. A third point is that you won't be alone - if you did discover some concern then you'd know who to talk to about it.
The Church are desperate to avoid the scandals of the past, and keen to train people to be eyes and ears to wrongdoing. Some of your elderly people could be vulnerable - it's not just about kids. I would urge you to do it. It's like First Aid training - you never know when it might come in handy and it's good to have the training to deal with a situation.

With safeguarding training you would be able to help some one who may be at risk of emotional or physical abuse.

Now I am a glass half full person so I like to think if a vulnerable person needed your help, advice, chat or assistance in some way I hope you would help them. The safeguarding training would enable you to do so.

When you say on here you are not interested in the safeguarding training and may stop doing the coffee mornings then that's your choice.

I've done safeguarding and it was more than worthwhile, if I can help prevent some one who is struggling then I do everything I can to help them.

When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.

I think safeguarding knowledge is as important as first aid training, if not more so.
I have seen so many posts on MN that demonstrate widespread ignorance about safeguarding and I am sure that reflects society as a whole.
OP you have been offered an opportunity to learn something that could be useful in all aspects of your life, not just your volunteering. Why not take it?

There won’t be a test, it will be a case of turning up, listening to the teaching, watching a presentation, looking at a couple of case studies/scenarios and joining in a discussion about them. There won’t be a test so don’t worry about that. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, even the person handing out drinks at the church coffee morning.

You are in a position of power. People are relying on you to keep them self in the church. They are definitely better off without you as you are not interested in their safety.

One of the elderly people you speak of that you serve may not leave the house all week except to attend your coffee session- if they are experiencing any kind of abuse YOU could represent a safe space to them to disclose what is happening in their home.

You should have that power taken away from you as you are not taking it seriously or being accountable

If it’s a C of E church then perhaps you can do their online safeguarding training which, for what it’s worth, I found pretty informative, transferable, and didn’t shy away from past failures within the church. In fact some of them were used as case studies. You are serving coffee to people who would be deemed vulnerable. Why not do the training that helps you to be more aware of any safeguarding issues that may affect them?

@Felicia19 wow! What an ignorant comment

Yabu. Its probably going to be a couple of hours (with lots of chat, coffee and cake with whoever else goes).
Safeguarding isnt just about children.
I have now made 5 phonecalls to the local adult safeguarding team. 3 of which resulted in positive action being taken which resulted in better life circumstances for the individuals. Yes I would have done that without the training but it was still a worthwhile couple of hours.

Don't forget the free tea, coffee and biscuits and the opportunity to meet other staff and volunteers.

You are in regular contact with extremely vulnerable (elderly) adults and don't see the reason to do safeguarding training? Not very Christian of you!

Posted too soon.

It's also about recognising the signs. For example Jane.

Jane comes to church every week, she gets a coffee and mentions it's her first sit down and coffee of the day. She's been up since 5 but not had chance to sit down. She goes and sits with her church friends, one asks "how's Brian", she replies, "up since 5 this morning, he's struggling today, he thinks it's Monday and he got ready for work. I had to tell him it was Sunday and so he had to get redressed and he's in a mood". Later on you overhear, Brian isn't taking his tablets, he doesn't want to go to the doctors. He is cross because last time the doctor says he can't drive. Jane quickly changes topic.

Next week Jane comes to church, again she gets her cuppa and says it's her first hot cuppa of the day and she's pulled her back. She sits with her friends again. You overhear, she pulled her back helping Brian get up out of bed, Brian has been up all through the night last week wandering about. They had an argument because Brian isn't allowed to drive and Jane has hidden his car keys. Brian is really taking the not driving badly. Jane seems a bit off when talking about that and quickly changes topic.

Jane doesn't go to church next week. Someone says they saw Jane and Brian in the shop. He was in a foul mood, shouting at her and been very aggressive. He has no patience nowadays and he was always so placid. He really is on the decline now. It won't be long before Jane will have to get some carers in. Someone else comments on how Jane is withdrawn nowadays.

Next week Jane comes, she's a bit down. She gets her coffee and sits with everyone. One of her friends asks why she didn't go to knitting group. Jane responds that Brian wasn't very good that day. She's not sure if she will be able to go because when she went to the hairdressers Brian wandered off and was missing for a couple of hours. He hadn't taken his phone, left a note and when they tracked him down he didn't have a coat (it was 3 degrees that day). You notice Jane has a bruise on her arm and she seems to have a stiff shoulder and still complaining of a stiff back. She always seems to have bruises and she never dwells on the subject of Brian for long.

As the weeks go on you learn Brian has dementia, he has been told he can't drive, Jane seems to be doing all the caring alone, she is struggling to manage Brian. He has a short temper nowadays and seems to be quick to get aggressive. It is likely Jane needs help to realise Brian needs a care assessment.

I think I you need the training as you clearly don't understand what it is

Really, you would stop volunteering for the sake of one hour of your time? Time that would clearly be spent learning something useful, because you obviously haven't a clue. You're either incredibly stubborn or incredibly shallow.