Abuse survivor stressed about safeguarding training

[gingerbreadroll]

I've had to book onto a generalist safeguarding course because I'm about to start doing some volunteer work. My own childhood was not good and I experienced most of the types of abuse we will be learning about (I'm in long-term counselling). So this will probably bring stuff up.

I realised I'm stressed partly because I don't know what's involved in the course. I know WHAT is covered, but not HOW it's taught, eg if we have to do role plays or watch videos or whatever, and I feel quite anxious as a result. I would feel better if I had more information so I can feel more prepared.

So I wondered if anyone who has been on a generalist safeguarding course can tell me what's actually involved and how it's taught as I think I would feel much better about it then. Thank you in advance.

I've been on a fair few safeguarding (adults and children) courses and all of them were taught to us, lecture style and group discussion.

Can you email the course provider and ask how they structure their training?

It's a while since I did my first course (and the refreshers are much shorter) but there were no role plays or videos. There were some cringy ice breakers (without reference to safeguarding), a little bit of group discussion but most of it was information from the course leader. It was done pretty sensitively, we were told that if we needed to leave the room for a bit we wouldn't be questioned.

Oh and we were told that the subjects brought up could well be upsetting and triggering and if we needed to leave the room at any point it was fine.

My generalised training involved a chart (not discussed in detail) identifying what might be areas of concern and who to contact. The process. Very much what to DO in procedural (paperwork) terms.
Nothing about the sort of abuse / any case histories nor jarring videos.
This was for Council working and largely the same at two Colleges.

Same, lectures a few facts about some cases and lots of info on what to do if you suspect or witness something or someone discloses to you. And same about leaving them room.
No role plays. No videos.

I'm so grateful for the replies, thank you all. I feel better now it's not just some huge unknown thing and it sounds like it's done sensitively.

I've done quite a bit over the years but on every course we've always been told that if something becomes too distressing or close to home for whatever reason we've been welcome to take a bit of time out

I'd like to echo others. Lecture style with some discussion in small groups.

I hope it goes well for you.

No role plays or videos, but we have been given scenarios and asked to discuss what we would do in small groups.

My job is centred around this subject.

Most trainers I know have a social work background and so they would approach the subject sensitively as they are aware that their candidates will have different experience of this.

I have never known it not to be delivered in a sensitive way. I have never known videos or role play to have been used by any trainer. Depending on what level you are training in will determine the level of subjects covered.

Even in advanced training, serious case reviews may be referred to but IME only to discuss lessons learnt, the need for agencies to talk to each other and to share information. I have not heard of detail of the case reviews to be discussed.

It is more about signs and indicators, such as bruising, poor hygiene, withdrawn personalities and being aware of the correct reporting procedures.

I would advise you to contact the trainer if you would like your mind put at rest so you are not anxious.

I'm sorry for your experience

I was abused and have done loads of safeguarding training and I do understand your anxiety but i have found the many courses I have been on ok and nor personally distressing. Never had to do role plays or anything or felt exposed or vulnerable in any way. Good luck

There were some cringy ice breakers

OP this is the worst part about it, especially if you are shy like me
Why DO Trainers insist on putting people through this mental torture?
(nobody likes doing it and nobody remembers anybody's names or where they're from anyway).
All it does is put people on edge before the training has even begun!
And if you are on edge you don't take in information as easily as if you are relaxed.
So it defeats the purpose - it hardly 'breaks the ice'

Don't worry, about it. Remember, it's going to be about other people, focus on your responsibilities to them. Also, remember that other people in the room will be dealing with their own worries and memories.

I've done this- I was also abused and work in a position similar to the one my abuser held, so I was very worried initially in case similar situations were brought up. We were given a talk at first, then we were given different scenarios (mainly the warning signs) which we first talked about altogether and then in more detail in smaller groups. We then looked at an example of the paperwork and a rough timescale of what we would need to do - but, again, no roleplaying, videos, rl cases. It was handled sensitively and although I did feel on edge originally, it went fine.

Thank you all so much, I feel so much better about it now.

HarlotOTara and TheDalek, I am so sorry to hear you were abused and very grateful to you for commenting and sharing your experience of the training.

I have done safeguarding training in the NHS, and like the others it was lecture style with small group discussions on types of abuse, how to spot the signs and what you would do in various different scenarios. Definitely nothing graphic involved, and no role play.

glad to hear things have improved in the last ten years then. one course for volunteers had people role playing telling someone about abuse... it did not go down well.

sorry op hope that has not worried you. it is very unlikely you are with this small group and it is very unlikely that they do it the same way. there were complaints. and it is a long time ago. 15yrs now I come to think of it. I have been put of doing other volunteering because of it.

Do you mean role playing what they would actually say if they made a report?

Or someone role playing being a child making a disclosure? And someone having to play the child?

I work as a trainer in this area - its all done with sensitivity. Very much about spotting the signs, emphasizing that its everyone's responsibility to report, the procedure for reporting. Absolutley no role playing.

At the safeguarding training I attended, the only (upsetting to me) image shared with us was a computer generated picture mapping Baby P's physical injuries, but this was done alongside a more general map of a child's body showing the places where injuries are common/normal (e.g. bruised shins) and those where they are highly unusual (suspicious). The course convener also touched (very briefly) on some details of the Victoria Climbie case when she was providing the context for recent changes in legislation and safeguarding practice.

Other than that, it was mostly small group work where we were asked to think what the signs of e.g. physical abuse might be, followed by a small number of scenarios (e.g. mother turning up to collect child from childcare setting has fingermark/strangulation bruising on her neck) and how you would respond to the situation/escalate any concerns.

As others have said, it was very sensitively handled. The convener didn't specifically talk about us being able to leave the room, but people did get up periodically and leave the room and it was not commented on.

Hi there.

I deliver mandatory Safeguarding/child protection training. A general introduction to Safeguarding wont usually involve role play, although it may involve group discussion or activities.

We always say at the beginning that if anyone finds that the content distressing or need to take a break, they should just get up and go and have a breather or loo break at any point.

Role play has only ever been part of more in-depth training for designated professionals, in my experience, and usually takes the form of a mock child protection case conference.

If you are feeling really worried, please talk to the trainer or drop them a line beforehand. Honestly, they will have heard this before (one of the things I usually say in my opening gambit in training is that the probability is that several people in the room will have experienced abuse). I am sure they will put your mind at rest, and may be able to send you the running order for the session in advance.

Best wishes.

Thanks all. I don't have the details of the individual trainer, only the provider (Virtual College).

I found some training that I did for voluntary work more distressing than I had anticipated. This wasn't because of the style or content of the training, but because it awakened old, bad memories in a way that I hadn't expected.

You sound more aware of your past than I was at the time. This might help. I did find it helpful to tell the trainer - in confidence - about a particular bit of content that had chimed in with my own personal experience. It wasn't that this content was graphic or explicit - it just that it caused a particular bit of my own autobiographical jigsaw to fall into place.

My own sense is that if you have experienced abuse that you may bring a lot of awareness to this kind of training, and are likely to be able to fulfil your safeguarding duties well.

Sorty to hear that Marianne. Thank you for the last para, that's very kind of you to say.