We explore how safeguarding moves beyond risk management to create environments where people feel safe, supported and empowered to speak up. 

This final episode examines balancing safety with rehabilitation, preventing issues through early intervention, addressing spiritual abuse, and maximizing volunteer potential in safeguarding.

• Understanding how past convictions lose predictive power over time, balancing risk assessment with evidence of personal change

• Importance of addressing low-level concerns early to prevent escalation of safeguarding issues

• How perpetrators in faith settings use distorted theology to justify abuse, causing profound spiritual harm

• Why open dialogue about difficult topics is essential in religious organizations

• The critical role volunteers play in effective safeguarding when properly trained and integrated

• Ways volunteers bring unique perspectives that enhance protection through their community connections

Feel free to email me at [email protected] for topic suggestions and guests you'd like to hear from in season two.

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Madison revisits key insights from the first five episodes of Faithful Safeguarding, highlighting how safeguarding within faith communities requires everyone's involvement, theological integration, clear boundaries, and inclusive practices that address power dynamics.

• Professor Jo Clarke establishes that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, from church leaders to volunteers and cleaners
• Dr Marcus Pound shows how theological concepts like redemption and forgiveness can reshape safeguarding policies to be more compassionate and reflect scriptural teachings
• Father Justin Glynn challenges traditional views of disability and vulnerability, emphasising boundaries and belonging
• Di Gamage demonstrates how play and drama therapy empower children to communicate safeguarding concerns
• Anjum Mouj describes diversity, inclusion and belonging as "the holy trinity of safeguarding”, a crucial component of safeguarding. She goes on to discuss how power dynamics in hierarchical religious institutions often protect abusers rather than victims

Join us for part two where we'll explore criminal convictions, low-level concerns, abuse in faith communities, and the importance of volunteer engagement in safeguarding.

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How do you transform volunteers into safeguarding champions? In this eye-opening conversation with Isabelle King, we unpack the critical role volunteers play in creating robust protection frameworks within faith communities.

Forget the dangerous notion that "a bad volunteer is better than no volunteer." Isabelle shares her belt-and-braces approach to recruitment, revealing why thorough screening matters and what red flags to watch for. With host Madison Clarke, she expertly dismantles the misconception that DBS checks alone create safety, walking us through a comprehensive volunteer recruitment process that closes dangerous loopholes.

The most powerful revelation? Treating volunteers as an integral part of your workforce rather than a "bolt-on" completely transforms safeguarding effectiveness. Isabel shares a remarkable case study where one organization evolved from having a single safeguarding officer supporting 250,000 volunteers to developing a network of trained volunteer safeguarding champions who proudly declared: "We are a safeguarding organization."

Whether you're managing a handful of volunteers or hundreds, this episode provides actionable strategies to build a unified safeguarding culture where everyone - from paid staff to occasional helpers - understands their role in creating safety. 

You'll walk away with a clear roadmap for empowering your volunteers to become the eyes and ears of your safeguarding framework.

Ready to strengthen your organization's safeguarding through volunteer engagement? Subscribe now and share this episode with fellow faith leaders committed to creating safer communities for all.

Connect with Isabelle King on LinkedIn 

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Volunteers are the lifeblood of safeguarding within faith communities, bringing unique perspectives and fostering trust while facing distinct challenges that require careful management.

In this episode, safeguarding consultant Isabelle King from the Safeguarding Collective, gives us an extended and comprehensive look into ensuring teams, internal and external, employed and volunteering, are well-versed in creating safe spaces for all. Host Madison takes Isabelle through the following:

• Volunteers must be supported as integral team members with proper onboarding, supervision and emotional support
• Three foundational principles: volunteers should be supported, informed, and respected
• Training must include basic safeguarding awareness, maintaining professional boundaries, and reporting procedures
• Secondary trauma affects volunteers as much as paid staff—organizations have a duty of care to provide proper support
• Faith communities face special challenges with boundaries as personal connections often overlap with volunteer roles
• Volunteer engagement has evolved from informal helpers to formalized roles with clear expectations and proper integration
• Clear safeguarding structures are essential in faith settings to prevent blurred lines and ensure proper reporting

Connect with Isabelle King on LinkedIn 

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In this episode, we meet Tina Campbell, an international safeguarding consultant with extensive international experience, to discuss why everyone is responsible for supporting safeguarding efforts within the faith community.

We dive into the role of leadership, and the shared responsibility of safeguarding. Tina shares insights on spiritual abuse, the challenges of addressing sensitive topics, and the significance of external consultants in implementing effective safeguarding policies. 

Key takeaways

• Safeguarding is a collective responsibility that requires active participation from all members.
• Strong leadership in faith communities significantly enhances the effectiveness of safeguarding practices.
• Spiritual abuse is a critical issue that needs more awareness and understanding within religious contexts.
• Clear and accessible safeguarding language can empower communities to engage in safeguarding efforts.
• Training on sensitive topics like coercive control and manipulation is essential for safeguarding.

Connect with Tina Campbell

X: @TCSafeguarding  

Tina Campbell on LinkedIn

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In this episode of Faithful Safeguarding, Madison Clarke speaks with Simon Davies, a former Australian Federal Police Detective and experienced safeguarding consultant. 

With over 25 years in investigative work, Simon shares his insights on the importance of addressing low-level concerns before they escalate, the role of transparency in rebuilding trust, and why external safeguarding support can be a game-changer for organisations.

They also discuss the development of a safeguarding decision-making app, the increasing challenges of peer-on-peer abuse in educational settings, and the benefits of face-to-face training in promoting a proactive safeguarding culture.

Key Takeaways:
🔹 Safeguarding is a preventative approach, ensuring harm doesn’t occur.
🔹 Low-level concerns, if left unaddressed, can escalate over time.
🔹 The 'What Should I Do?' app helps guide individuals in reporting concerns.
🔹 Outsourcing safeguarding can be a cost-effective and practical solution.
🔹 Peer-on-peer abuse is an increasing concern in schools and youth settings.
🔹 Victim support should be prioritised from the outset of any investigation.

Discover more on some of the key mentions and resources from guest Simon below:

• www.jss.org.au/programs/the-mens-project
• www.safeguardingservices.com.au
• www.whatshoulido.com.au
• www.churchlearn.com.au

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In this impactful episode of Faithful Safeguarding, host Madison Clark from Petros engages with Dr. Karl Hanson, an expert in risk assessment and rehabilitation, to explore the concept of desistance and its significance in safeguarding practices. 

The conversation delves into how criminal history impacts hiring decisions, the role of faith communities in supporting reintegration, and the balance between redemption and safety. Dr. Hanson emphasizes the importance of understanding the nuances of criminal behavior, the effects of time on risk, and the need for supportive environments to foster personal change.

Key takeaways

• Desistance is a critical concept in understanding long-term safeguarding concerns.
• Criminal history should be assessed in the context of time and personal change.
• Faith communities play a vital role in supporting reintegration and providing a sense of belonging.
• Redemption and safety must be balanced in faith settings.
• Risk assessment tools can help evaluate the potential for reoffending.
• The passage of time significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending.
• Supportive environments can help individuals with past convictions lead fulfilling lives.
• Hiring managers should consider the context of past offenses when making decisions.
• Advancements in research are reshaping how old convictions are addressed in safeguarding policies.
• Long-term reintegration requires ongoing support and meaningful engagement.

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In this powerful episode, we welcome Anjum Mouj, a highly experienced trainer, facilitator, and consultant, who has dedicated her career to advancing safeguarding practices and creating safer, more inclusive spaces for all. 

Key Takeaways:

• How safeguarding policies should be intersectional and reflective of real, lived experiences.
• The need for safeguarding frameworks to be adaptable and continuously evolving.
• Practical insights into inclusive practices, especially around unconscious bias and marginalised voices.
• The role of listening in building trust and fostering community resilience.

With a background in roles like Director and Training Manager at the London Black Women’s Project and Imkaan, Anjum brings deep insights into safeguarding practices that truly reflect the diversity of communities they serve. She currently trains with Solace Women’s Aid and has collaborated with the NSPCC to develop courses in child protection, supervision skills, and safer recruitment.

Our conversation covers the critical need for safeguarding policies to be living documents that evolve alongside the communities they aim to protect. Anjum emphasises the importance of intersectionality in safeguarding, highlighting how policies should account for diverse lived experiences, particularly those of marginalised groups. 

She shares practical ways organisations can create safeguarding frameworks that are inclusive, sensitive to unconscious bias, and centred around individuals' real needs and circumstances.

We also discuss the significance of listening actively to marginalised voices and how inclusive practices can help build stronger, more resilient communities. Anjum’s passion for safeguarding shines through as she shares strategies for building trust, embracing diversity, and fostering belonging within safeguarding structures.

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Episode Summary:
In episode 4, we’re joined by Di Gammage, a registered child and adult psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience working in trauma and abuse. Di is qualified in dramatherapy and play therapy and has been invited to the UK Council for Psychotherapy Child Register due to her clinical experience and publications in child therapy. 

Key Takeaways:

• The significance of listening to children and empowering them in safeguarding.
• How dramatherapy and play therapy can help children express their experiences.
• Practical strategies to create trust and support in safeguarding environments.
• The need for safeguarding systems to be adaptive, flexible, and responsive to children's needs.

Di has worked across various sectors, including co-directing the Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship Project in Devon and consulting for social services. She is also the author of Playful Awakening and lectures on psychotherapy programmes in London, Yorkshire, and Athens.

In this conversation hosted by Madison Clarke of Petros, we focus on the importance of engaging children in safeguarding processes, ensuring their voices are heard, and empowering them to participate in decisions that affect their safety and well-being. 

Di provides valuable insights into the therapeutic techniques she uses to help children express themselves, including dramatherapy and play therapy, and explains why listening to children is crucial in safeguarding.

We also explore how to create environments that foster trust and support, as well as how safeguarding systems can be adapted to better meet the needs of children, particularly those who have experienced trauma or abuse. Di’s passion for resilience and empowerment shines through as she discusses practical strategies for practitioners and faith communities alike.

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Episode Summary:
Meet Father Justin Glyn; a Jesuit priest, lawyer, and passionate advocate for disability inclusion within faith communities. Drawing from his personal experiences as a blind individual and his extensive work in disability advocacy, Fr Justin offers us a unique and profound perspective on how safeguarding practices can better serve those with disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Importance of recognising and addressing the specific needs of individuals with disabilities in safeguarding practices
• Understanding the concepts of boundaries and belonging and how they relate to safeguarding within faith communities
• A critical examination of the traditional framing of disability as a subsection of safeguarding and why this approach may be limiting
• Insights into the changing dynamics of vulnerability and power in the context of disability and safeguarding

Led by Host Madison Clarke of Petros, the discussion delves into the themes of boundaries and belonging, exploring how faith organisations can create truly inclusive environments that respect and protect the dignity of all individuals. 

Fr Justin and Madison also tackle the changing nature of vulnerability and power, challenging the traditional approach of treating disability as just a subsection of safeguarding. Together, they discuss why this framing is insufficient and offer insights into how faith communities can rethink their safeguarding strategies to be more inclusive and effective.

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Guest Bio:
Fr Justin Glyn is a Jesuit priest and lawyer, who, despite being blind, has become a leading advocate for disability inclusion within faith communities. His work focuses on promoting dignity, respect, and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities, challenging conventional perspectives on vulnerability and power.

Resources Mentioned:

• International Safeguarding Conference
• Learn more about Fr Justin Glyn

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