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?

As this thread has demonstrated, understanding that Safeguarding is not just about children is very limited. I'd say that adult Safeguarding is currently where Safeguarding children was a few decades ago as far as general awareness goes. Which is why training in the subject is useful. The organisation I volunteer with has just completely overhauled it's training to add a lot more about adults and I found it quite illuminating as despite doing regular training for many years it's mostly been child focused until now.
I can't quite understand why someone who volunteers, presumably because they like to help people, would be so resistant to doing something that might one day really benefit someone. It's not like they're asking volunteers to sit A level maths or walk barefoot over hot coals, it will be a few hours of listening and discussion at the very most. And as a PP said, it's information that may come in useful outside of the specific role. The more people in the general population who have some knowledge of this subject the better.

How exactly?

If an elderly person is being financially abused, it's not going to show up at church, is it?

What are these so subtle signs that the OP is supposed to be looking out for? Genuine question. I can't think of any types of abuse that are likely to show up during coffee after a church service.

A bruise? The person might have fallen, and the OP reporting it would be useless.

Not a popular opinion, I know, but where adults are concerned, a lot of this 'safeguarding' is a cover for general nosiness.

The organisation I volunteer with has just completely overhauled it's training to add a lot more about adults and I found it quite illuminating as despite doing regular training for many years it's mostly been child focused until now

Can you be more specific? What should the OP be looking out for, while she's handing coffee to someone?

YABU. You haven't done the training so can't tell us it's pointless until you do. You are working with vulnerable people in a setting where you are likely to have disclosures or signs of abuse/neglect etc.

To be honest I would be concerned about you continuing in the role if you don't think safeguarding training is relevant to you.

I work within safeguarding in the context of very vulnerable young adults and young people. I can assure you OP that many, many times the 'safeguarding' incident of concern hasn't been raised within our official meetings and conversations, it might be in passing or as I'm packing my bag. My clients might be worried to raise it or they don't recognise it as a safeguarding incident, so just mention it in passing. Handing out a cup of tea and engaging in light conversation is exactly a moment when you might pick up an area of concern. But hey, you seem to know best.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. HTH

You do realise your ignorance is showing exactly why it is important that people do have suitable safeguarding training don’t you?

If an elderly person is being financially abused they'll be losing weight, looking unkempt, maybe smell, not put in for the kitty to pay for their tea, become withdrawn

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Places where people touch base regularly are crucial for spotting signs of neglect, abuse or just that they're struggling.

See my previous comment but the main obvious signs is their appearance, weight loss, poor hygiene, tatty unkempt clothes, being withdrawn

@Felicia19 if OP is a regular volunteer she might note subtle changes in a person's appearance, mood and also I assume they might chat to them and hear things that might ring alarm bells.

Jus think how many people post on MN and say how wonderful their partner is and what a great dad etc, and the rest of us are screaming why can't you see the red flags, as it has just become the norm for them

I volunteer at my church and have done these courses (a few times, as they have to be revisited after a few years to update)
A lot of it I do already know, but there is always something new in there

You just never know when it will come in useful, and if most of your customers are elderly, they can be more susceptible to financial abuse, problems with dementia and many other mental and physical health issues

If you like helping people - which I am assuming you do as you volunteer - I cannot fathom why you feel unable or unwilling to give a couple of hours to do this

Quite often, it is a legal requirement, so they have to ask you to do it. Even if not, it can be a spiritual one and if not that - a moral one. It's about showing love and care for others

I don't know if you are a Christian or not, but something we spoke about in our church when discussing safeguarding is what would Jesus want us to do.

We decided safeguarding definitely comes under the heading of 'love your neighbour as yourself'
We should actively want to do it, because we should want to look after each other as much as possible

Please consider it prayerfully; then either do it willingly from the heart, or accept you need to step down from volunteering graciously

Are you trying to make out you are some kind of a hero with that comment? Like it is a bad thing that people are required to undertake safeguarding training and you are fighting for the right not to?

I recently did it for a job, even though I do not come into contact with children or other vulnerable people but they are in the vicinity. Even if I never come into contact with a vulnerable person in this job, I found it interesting and informative and cannot think why I would turn down an opportunity to learn. Maybe I will never utilise this knowledge but I still don’t think there is a downside.

No, actually, I don't. And you seem unable to answer any of my questions properly.
No one has so far said what signs the OP should be looking out for. All I'm reading are vague comments on how important safeguarding is.

The OP is handing out coffee - I am unable to see why she needs safeguarding training to do that.

This! The training could help you spot that someone is at risk and be able to get them relevant support. Why would that be pointless?!

Are you purposely avoiding reading the thread then because plenty of us have

If an elderly person is being financially abused, it's not going to show up at church, is it?
What are these so subtle signs that the OP is supposed to be looking out for? Genuine question. I can't think of any types of abuse that are likely to show up during coffee after a church service.
A bruise? The person might have fallen, and the OP reporting it would be useless.
Not a popular opinion, I know, but where adults are concerned, a lot of this 'safeguarding' is a cover for general nosiness.

And this is EXACTLY why this training is needed.

@Felicia19 people have said what to lookout for. Some things to look out for can be so subtle, it's not always the glaring obvious beaten up face. The training will also teach you how to handle a conversation with someone

And if someone who is being abused by their spouse but is terrified to talk? Safeguarding training helps you to spot signs and know what to look out for.

There are some wilfully ignorant people on here who should probably do this training to find out what's ACTUALLY involved.

If I refused to do pointless training, I would no longer be employed by the NHS. In this case, you might learn something. Just get on with it.

I’m embarrassed for you

@Sausagenbacon - what you are doing is not questioning authority. If you honestly believe that volunteers handing out coffee and tea do not need to do safeguarding training, then 'questioning authority' would be going to the Church leaders, telling them you think the training is unnecessary for you, and why you think this - and asking them to rethink their policy.

But that is irrelevant anyway, because I cannot understand why you think the safeguarding training is such a waste of your time. Even if the only reason you need to do the training is so that the Church can tick that box, and get the insurance they need to carry on doing the good work that they do - why would you object to this? Or do you think you already know all there is to know about protecting and safeguarding vulnerable people?

I tend to think that it is good to learn new things - knowledge is a good thing, in my book. Hopefully you will never need to use the safeguarding training, either at Church or in the rest of your life - but if you do come up against a situation where a vulnerable person is being abused, wouldn't you rather recognise it, because you've got that bit of extra knowledge, than fail to see what's going on, so someone ends up being abused for longer?

If the training was going to take weeks and cost a fortune, you might have a point - but other posters have told you that it won't - so I really don't understand your objection.

It doesn’t matter if you personally think it’s ‘pointless’. The organisation thinks it’s important for their volunteers to have safeguarding training. If you don’t like it, stop volunteering.

‘Questioning authority’ (ie. In this case thinking that legal frameworks that protect vulnerable people shouldn’t apply to you) doesn’t make you special. 🤔

OP I share your irritation!

However, I do really wish that some of the tea/coffee servers and other quiet observers had done safe-guarding training in a church from my town.

There was terrible abuse going on but none of the good people there knew what (tiny) signs to look for.

They didn't think of the old or young or female needing anything from them but coffee or hymn books.

They all just got on with their own roles without realising they were seeing pieces of a terrible picture.

If it the training is well done (an ideal of course) - you will have tools that might help you be part of a protective community and one that won't be too lacking in knowledge and confidence to be able to help.

It's about being able to see the signs of abuse or neglect of vulnerable children or old people - you're in a great position to spy and therefore you should know what to report and how