Child-Friendly Safeguarding Poster for Church?

[mehday]

I’m PSO of our church and we are currently working on the gaps we feel exist around awareness and visibility of our policies etc.

We have identified a number of Trusted Adults that children and young people could talk to if they have concerns and want to make simple posters with their photos on, to go up in public spaces and on the back of toilet doors.

I have been trawling the net for useful poster templates but haven’t found very much I can use. I would like it to have a simple message for younger readers as well as vulnerable adults etc with spaces for photos/names.

Does this exist or would it be quicker to create one? Thanks!

How are you identifying these 'trusted adults'?

I wouldn't trust the church to find one with both hands TBH.

Surely it's better to use NSPCC or similar posters about WHAT to report not WHO to report to. When I spoke to DD about this she identified her own trusted mom-related adults. Her piano teacher, her BF's mum etc.

Have you looked at the resources available on childline/NSPCC?
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/helpline-posters

there should be a safeguarding lead in the diocese that can advise. By trusted adult do you mean the safeguarding lead?

It would be very easy for an abuser to tell a child that everyone on your list is their best mate/under their control. I think Childline posters would suit your needs better.

If you work directly with children you could also incorporate some "people who help us" discussions, to help children think of their own trusted adults.

The dioceses hasn’t got posters like this, theirs are wordy and list various local SG contacts including the PSO. We have one up in the entrance hall as per local protocol.

The aim for these (suggested by the Diocese SG team at a recent training I was on) is to complement work we will be doing to make the congregation more aware and mindful of our responsibilities to those who come into the building. Rather like you see in schools with photos of the SG Lead, Headteacher on etc.

They do not replace using the local MASH or the NSPCC or Police. They are to let kids know that if they have worries or need to talk to someone they can come to us and we will listen and follow Diocese protocol regarding passing on these worries/working with authorities to make sure people are safe.

I do understand the doubts that anyone can be trusted but every organisation has to do their best in these matters and someone has to be the named person. For us it will be me, the vicar and a younger adult who is known to the youth from helping with children’s groups. We have all had SG training and provided referees as anyone does who works with vulnerable people in church. Surely having a place to go is better than not?

We use https://thirtyoneeight.org/ for church safeguarding - as an independent church without a diocese to back us up, they are very helpful. They also have lots of resources that may be of interest.

For us it will be me, the vicar and a younger adult who is known to the youth from helping with children’s groups.

Male or female?

Another purpose we hope the posters will fulfil is to show those considering using us as a way to meet vulnerable people that we are on it and they should go elsewhere (obviously I don’t mean that but you know what I mean). Making it visible and talked about.

It’s not only sexual abuse, there is a big local push to be aware of DV and everyone who works/volunteers here has done recent training on that specific area. The concerns brought to me over the past few years have included possible physical neglect and coercive control for example.

Yes I have been busy downloading stuff from 31.8 as the Diocese sent a link recently.

We have these posters at school (secondary teacher) - they have the pictures of our DSL and our DDSL’s and their names on

This is not my school but I’ve found something similar on google…

Forgot to add the image 🤦‍♀️

Are you all enhanced DBS as well as safeguarding trained?

I feel uncomfortable with church diocese being in charge of allocating ‘safe people’ for many reasons.

In answer to your question, in most organisations it’s a poster with pictures and names of the DSL/ deputy DSL.

Sounds like a good idea, but I can't help but remember my mother's shock when the well-respected choir master at one of our local churches went to prison of CSA. She wasn't religious but I think he had even been a personal friend of hers.

This looks fine. I don’t think you can do much more than this and generic childline type posters.

Reality is most children do not disclose abuse but usually signs of abuse are noticed by people who see the child regularly (eg school teachers etc). I think when schools and places do work around trusted adults they talk about what a trusted adult is and ask the children to think about who that might be in their life.

This. Which is why telling children that certain people are trustworthy isn't a good idea.

That's literally what happened in the church abuse scandals. And US sports coaches and on and on.

Yes everyone who has anything to do with children and vulnerable adults is enhanced DBS checked.

Having three people to choose from means it’s less likely to disappear under a rug if the nominated person happens to be a bad apple, I would think. At the moment anyone with any concerns comes to me. What if it’s me? It’s vital churches put something in place surely.

My parents had the same in their church, only it was the organist. And in my church a priest is known for ages was done for indecent images. So I would also tread very carefully about nominating 'safe people.' Absolutely let it be known who the safeguarding rep is though.

I'm a pso. We have the standard poster plus a childline, a Samaritans, a women's aid and a couple of local orgs posters up. Most the children we have come with parents though, never seen any youth club age friendly ones

To those here with concerns about "trusted adults" remember the safeguarding is much stronger than the times when these scandals occurred, we had one at a firmer church of mine (before my time) and it was horrific what happened, this was in the 70's.

Now to be in my position I've gone through enhanced checks plus have a 14 year track record in the church, plus young people of my own - we would never allow a new comer to hold a position of trust with children

Have they all done safeguarding training as well as the dbs. I'm afraid I don't think it's acceptable to have random people with no training listed no matter how good your intentions.

It is not appropriate for you to specify who 'safe adults" are. You have no idea whether they're safe or not. You'd be better off putting some suggested safe adults with images representing them e.g. teacher doctor friends mum vicar if you must. 'Person who likes helping out with the youth group' may well be fine but may not and imagine being a child sat on the loo seeing a picture of the person abusing you listed as a 'safe adult'.... you wouldn't be able to trust any of them in case they were all unsafe

The thinking is: not just me so add the vicar.
Not just the vicar so add me.
Not just the two ‘old fogies’ so add the woman in her 20s who has spent her teenage years at our church, is SG trained via both us and the NHS (where she works in a clinical role), DBS checked to the hilt and the kids know her. If she’s a danger they can come to me or the vicar.

I am finding the reaction a bit concerning really, as we have been advised to do this by the Diocese.

Personally I think DBS certificates are a bit meaningless as they are one moment in time. Everyone involved in any capacity, needs good safeguarding training. It's everyone's responsibility.

All a DBS check, enhanced or otherwise, shows is that the holder has not been caught abusing to date. It's no guarantee that a person is "safe" around children

This. And considering the incidence compared to the conviction rate, it's barely useful in any way.