At this years trainers conference, I intend to provide all trainers with a USB key of all updated training materials.

In lieu of this, I would like to hear your views on the training materials:

There are four questions in this survey - I would appreciate if you could fill this in:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WS5YGWC

If you have further feedback you would like to give, just give me a call or email me on nmaye@churchofscotland.org.uk

Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, has urged MSPs to acknowledge the recommendations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and remove the defence of "justifiable assault" from the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

Dr Frazer addressed the Equal Protection for Children seminar at the Scottish Parliament and highlighted research showing that physical punishment is harmful for children’s health and that legal reform should be a priority for the Scottish Government. He announced that the Church has joined the ‘Children are unbeatable!’ Alliance Scotland campaign to call for a change in the law.

The Church has welcomed the announcement that Highlands and islands Green MSP John Finnie intends to bring forward a private members Bill in the Scottish Parliament to give children equal protection under the law.

In the volunteer training session, the attitudes and values exercise has a scenario which allows participants to debate 'smacking'. I would recommend trainers do not put forward their personal opinion in this debate but can certainly refer to the Church of Scotland position. 

This advice comes from a few other volunteer trainers recent experiences.

Safeguarding Report at General Assembly 2017

You can read the Safeguarding Report for General Assembly 2017 here

One of the deliverances is slightly confused, it states: Instruct Presbyteries to ensure that all Kirk Sessions within their bounds keep a record of the number of people who have undertaken all types of Safeguarding training and submit an annual return to the Safeguarding Office by January 31 each year indicating numbers who have done so in the preceding calendar year.

Although, it states instruct Presbyteries to ensure Kirk Sessions, I would still advise that it would be the Safeguarding Presbytery Contact and local trainers who will keep a record of the numbers of people who have received training across all three types (Volunteer, Coordinator and Kirk Session) and I will request an annual return from you.

The simplest way to do this to my mind is for local trainers to keep a record of the numbers they train and submit them to the presbytery contact either on an ongoing basis or at the end of the year for collation. If you are forseeing any issues with this, please give me a call or dop me an email. 

This is not to remove reponsiblity from presbyteries and Kirk sessions who also have a responsiblity in relation to recording those trained and needing trained through the sg7 and sg11 and annual inspection of records. 

Let's make sure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet....

Do elders need to be members of the PVG scheme?  

Elders only require PVG Scheme Membership if they are members of a pastoral care team or they are doing another role in your congregation which involves regulated work. Elders do not require PVG Scheme membership if they are carrying out their district visiting.

Have the coordinators in your presbytery attended training in the past 5 years? Or since the introduction of the PVG scheme? 

If you have the capacity to do so, we would strongly reccomend organising a Safeguarding Coordinator Refresher training in your presbytery for those who have not attended training recently.

A key focus we would like to recommend for the refresher training would be form filling as we have seen an increase in errors on PVG forms recently.

Rosemary Blain, Volunteer Safeguarding Trainer, Shetland Islands

How long have you been a volunteer trainer? I have been a safeguarding trainer since June 2015.

Favourite aspect of the role? My favourite aspect of this role is passing on my value base and belief that as Christians it is our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable people within our communities.

.....and the most challenging part? The most challenging aspect is breaking down the barriers of those who have been told to attend but who do not see the need and believe that this is Church red tape!

Describe yourself in 3 words? I would describe myself as open, trustworthy with a sense of humour  

I couldn't live without.....chocolate!

Safeguarding Trainers Conference: Book now!

Follow this link to book - Safeguarding Trainers Conference 2017

It would be good to see as many trainers as possible at this years trainers conference! If you have any issues at all, call me or email me!