Grosey's Messages

Safe Churches in the Christian Churches

Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

 

The Christian Reformed Churches Australia are committed to ensuring that all of our congregations and organisations are safe. The Safe Church Unit is the CRCA's expression of this commitment. Safe Church applies to every individual, congregation and organisation within the CRCA because we hold to a biblical reformed view of the value of the individual.  Due to the nature of the material discussed in Safe Church Training we have a suitable Pastoral Support person available during the Training Seminar or when needed.   Participants may need to talk, debrief or pray about a matter because they have been victims of abuse themselves or aware of abuse.

 

From the Royal Commission Against Child Sexual Abuse in Institutions

31 May 2017, 15,249 people had contacted us about child sexual abuse

Of these, 7,382 people (48.4 per cent) told us about child sexual abuse in religious institutions. There were 2,575 Referrals to authorities (including police) Of those 2,252 referrals, 1,229 related to child sexual abuse in religious institutions.

Anglican Churches:  Of the 569 identified individuals subject to complaints of child sexual abuse:

a. 247 were ordained clergy (43% of all known alleged perpetrators) 

b. 285 were lay people (50% of all known alleged perpetrators)

Catholic Churches: 4,444 claimants alleged incidents of child sexual abuse. 1,880 alleged perpetrators (diocesan and religious priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, lay employees or volunteers) 597 religious brothers, 572 were priests, 543 were lay people

84.5% of victims of adolescents referred for their sexually abusive behaviour were aged 6-11 years;

94.3% of the adolescents knew their victim; and

45.9% abused someone within their immediate family

Of all children referred to the service as a result of sexual victimisation, one third were abused by a person under 18 years.

Child abuse may have been inflicted upon possibly 30% of children.

 

 

Importance of Safe Ministry Training

Vulnerable persons need protection

We need to understand how to best protect them.

We need to keep up-to-date and refresh our thinking and practice

 

 

Discover 4 Factors For Maturity In Biblical Leadership

EPH.4:11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head — Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

 

 

Risk in Churches

Privacy issues

Publishing photos

Electronic communication

Recruiting and training leaders

Engaging young leaders

Adolescent boys at risk in the church

Sexual abuse offences by young people account for up to 50% of offences against children.

 

Child Abuse And It Indicators

Abuse against a child may take the form of physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. It may fall into the category of 'reportable conduct', or it may sit outside it and still be considered harmful. See the OCG's Risk Management and the Child Safe Standards - Part 2: Identifying risk handbook for full descriptions of the different kinds of abuse.

Child abuse is any act of omission or commission that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development.

Below are definitions of different forms of abuse and their indicators. These indicators may assist you in discerning if a child or young person is at risk of significant harm and therefore need to make a report.

A one-off indicator is rarely sufficient to establish abuse or risk of significant harm. Usually there will be a number of signs observed over a period of time. It is important when forming suspicions of abuse or risk of significant harm not to jump too quickly to conclusions. However, when reasonable grounds exist for suspecting abuse or risk of significant harm, action should be taken.

 

Physical abuse

Physical abuse refers to non-accidental injury to a child by a parent, caregiver or another person responsible for the child. It includes injuries that are caused by excessive discipline, severe beatings or shakings, bruising, lacerations or welts, burns, fractures or dislocation.

 

 

Child Sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is any sexual act or sexual threat imposed on a child. Adults or adolescents who perpetrate child sexual abuse exploit the dependency and immaturity of children. Coercion, which may be physical or psychological, is intrinsic to sexual abuse and differentiates such abuse from consensual peer sexual activity.

 

 

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse encompasses a range of behaviours that harm a child. It is behaviour by a parent or caregiver which can destroy the confidence of a child, resulting in significant emotional deprivation or trauma. It involves impairment of a child's social, emotional, cognitive and intellectual development and/or disturbance of a child's behaviour.

 

 

Child neglect

Child neglect occurs where a child is harmed by failure to provide the basic physical and emotional necessities of life such as adequate and proper food, nursing, clothing, medical aid or lodging. Neglect is characterised as a continuum of omissions in parental caretaking.

 

 

Domestic violence

Domestic violence is violent, abusive and intimidatory behaviour by one person against another in a personal, intimate relationship. Domestic violence occurs between two people where one has power over the other causing fear and physical and/or psychological harm.

Indicators can include:

 

 

 

Homelessness

A child or young person is homeless if they are living without family assistance in the following circumstances: no accommodation; temporary or emergency/refuge accommodation; other long term supported accommodation such as hostels; or where there is no access to basic utilities such as power or running water.

Indicators can include

 

Spiritual abuse

Spiritual abuse occurs when a person is mistreated by actions or threats when justified by appeal to God, faith or religion. It includes the use of a position of spiritual authority to dominate or manipulate another person or group; isolation from friends and family members; claims for inappropriate deference to a person with spiritual authority; and the use of Christian terminology to justify abuse.

Indicators can include:

 

Cultures and environments which encourage bullying of children and young people

Contexts in which bullying is likely to flourish are characterised by the following:

• Leaders are overbearing and authoritarian with the children and youth

• Leaders don't establish clear expectations of conduct

• Leaders cannot control the environment and bullying goes unidentified

• Leadership encourages an overly competitive environment where failure is ridiculed and punished by other peers and leaders.

• Leaders don't know how to handle discipline or conflict

• Leaders don't respond clearly or firmly when bullying occurs

• Leaders fail to inform appropriate supervisors when bullying occurs

• Leaders have not been given clear policies about how they should respond to bullying and who should be informed

 

 

When A Child Reports To You Of An Incident

DO

Reassure the child and remain calm.

Listen carefully without interrupting.

Only ask open ended questions (not questions with a 'yes' or 'no' response) to seek enough information to make a report.

Stop asking leading questions (e.g. did John hurt you?) and seek the support of management to make a report.

Support the child. Reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling you, that you believe them and that the abuse is not their fault.

Explain clearly what will happen next, including timeframes.

Establish the welfare and safety of the child and take steps to ensure the child is removed from the risk.

Make detailed notes to document all information given and received (as soon as possible after the child has disclosed). It is important to document the child's exact words.

Follow your organisation's reporting policy.

Seek guidance if you are unsure what to do.

Maintain the privacy of the child; this may include the privacy of the perpetrator

 

 

DON'T

Express panic, shock, anger, disgust or disbelief.

Ask questions once you have established there is a genuine concern, as these may compromise future investigations by NSW police or DCJ.

Ask leading questions (see next section for more information on what these are).

Dismiss, minimise or challenge the disclosure.

Make promises you cannot keep (including keeping the disclosure a secret).

Confront the alleged perpetrator.

 

What is a 'Leading Question'?

A leading question prompts someone to answer with information given in the question. It is a question that points to a particular answer.

Was it uncle Colin?

Did it occur in the garage?

Instead ask Open Questions:    Who did this?   Where did it happen?  When did it happen?

 

How do children and young people in your organisation know which adults to approach if they want to have a confidential conversation? Are there posters, newsletter articles or social media posts?

How does your organisation provide information to children and young people about who they can contact for support outside the organisation (such as Lifeline 13 11 44 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800)?

 

 

REPORTING

A child-focused complaints process supports children and others to raise any issues or concerns they have around being safe and feeling safe.  Having a culture of reporting is a key component of being a safe organisation for children and young people because it supports them to speak up about anything that concerns them with an understanding they will be listened to and believed. They should feel they will be treated fairly and with respect. When children do not feel like they will be believed or that adults in the organisation will not take steps to keep them safe, they are less likely to speak up and abuse is more likely to continue.  In addition to helping organisations understand the importance of reporting and how to develop a Child Safe Reporting Policy, the second part of this resource provides information and support about reporting obligations for child-related organisations in NSW. This includes reporting to NSW Police, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), the Office of the Children's Guardian (OCG) and other bodies. Other reporting obligations are also discussed.

You must report abuse to the police, child protection authority and your organisation through your Team Leader

You should not confront or accuse the suspected perpetrator

Keep the disclosure confidential

 

Step 1 - GET SUFFICIENT INFORMATION
Get essential details, and write them down:

child or young person's details (name, address, DOB, details of siblings)

incident details (date, type of risk, person's causing or contributing to harm)

impact of the incident on the child or young person

network of support around the young person

 

Step 2 – DECIDE WHAT TO DO
Use all of the information available to you to appraise the risk, needs and strengths of the family.

 

Step 3 – USE THE MRG

If the outcome of the MRG is 'Immediate Report to the Child Protection Helpline' or 'Report to the Child Protection Helpline', contact the Child Protection Helpline and have ready the essential details from Step 1 & the outcome of the MRG. 

If the outcome of the MRG is 'Contact your CWU' or 'Continue to monitor and support' – go to Step 4.

Even if a report is required, proceed to Step 4.

It is recommended that mandatory reporters complete the MRG on each occasion they have risk concerns, regardless of their level of experience or expertise. Each circumstance is different and every child and young person is unique.

 

'Reasonable Belief'

Reasonable Belief (or reasonable suspicion) can be defined as: any adult who forms a belief that a serious abuse has been committed by an adult against a child, with some objective basis for the belief.

 

 

Safe and Secure Reporting Abuse:

Step 1 Is there an immediate threat to the safety of a child or other person?

If there is an immediate danger, call 000 and take reasonable action to reduce the risk.

 

Step 2  Is there a criminal allegation that needs to be reported to police?

If a reportable allegation could involve a criminal offence, police must be notified as they may need to investigate the alleged offence.

 

Step 3   Is there a child at risk of significant harm (ROSH)?

If a reportable allegation indicates that a child is at risk of significant harm, a prompt report should (and, in the case of mandatory reports, must) be made to the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 or through DCJ's ChildStory online system for mandatory reporters.

It is important to consult with DCJ about any risk management strategies you plan to take to manage any ongoing interactions an employee may have with children.

 

Step 4 Has a child or employee's wellbeing been negatively impacted?

Signs that a child, employee or other person's wellbeing has been impacted can happen soon after an incident. The wellbeing of all people affected by an allegation should be considered in the initial risk assessment, including the employee subject to the allegation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passing on Information

 

When reasonable grounds exist for suspecting abuse or risk of significant harm, action should be taken.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police: 000   or go to a local police station.

Child Protection Helpline on 132 111

Mandatory Reporters Guide at Department of Communities and Justice https://reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au/s/mrg

Office of the Children's Guardian    https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/   Reportable Conduct  (02) 8219 3800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG)

Mandatory reporters should use the Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG) to help decide whether a child is suspected to be at Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) and a report to the Child Protection Helpline on 13 21 11 should be made.

 

 

 

If you have concerns for the immediate safety of a child or children, police should be notified immediately using 000. You can also make a report to the Child Protection Helpline (132 111) or DCJ's ChildStory online system.   When the police or government child protection agencies are involved, you should liaise with them about any action you intend to take to ensure they do not compromise any police or child protection response.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflective questions:

1. How do your leaders in your organisation use the Child Safe Standards to inform and educate staff on the reporting of abuse?

2. How do children and young people participate in your organisation so they feel empowered to speak up about abuse?

3. How do children in your organisation know how to raise an issue or a concern?

4. What training are adults given to support your organisation's reporting obligations?

5. How do leaders in your organisation encourage and support the reporting of any breach of your Code of Conduct?

6. How do you support your staff to feel safe in coming forward if they have an allegation against a colleague?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grooming

Facing reality

Most people would never seek to abuse or harm others

Some people do seek to abuse and harm others

Grooming

is conduct that creates then exploits opportunities to engage in sexual activity

is a subtle process (hard to notice)

involves a graduation or progression of behaviour (gets worse over time)

Who can be groomed?

Children

Young people

Adults

Church congregations

ANYONE

Groomers of children can be…

situational offenders – something happens that leads to the sexual abuse

opportunistic offenders – look for and take opportunities to sexually abuse

predatory offenders – are persistently and exclusively sexually attracted to children

 

Sexual abuse is often preceded by grooming. The sexual abuse of a child commonly has the following characteristics:

• it usually starts with something minor and gradually builds up to more involved behaviours through a process of grooming;

• it is secretive and generally known only to the abuser and victim making it extremely difficult to detect;

• it is perpetrated by someone known to the child and/or held in a position of trust by the child or their parents or guardians; and

• it is rarely a self-contained or one-off incident but rather part of an ongoing relationship that is corrupting and distorting.

The grooming process can include:

• persuading a child that they have a 'special' relationship, e.g. by spending inappropriate special time with the child, inappropriately giving gifts, showing special favours to them but not other children, allowing the child to overstep rules, etc;

• testing of boundaries, e.g. by undressing in front of the child, encouraging inappropriate physical contact (that is not overtly sexual), talking about sex, 'accidental' touching of genitals, etc;

• extending a relationship outside the employment situation - this should not be assumed to constitute grooming where an existing relationship pre-dates the employment or where the extended relationship arises through a reasonable level of social engagement in the relevant community (e.g. sports coaching, family level social contact within a small community);

• inappropriate personal correspondence, including electronic communication, that explores sexual feelings or intimate personal feelings.

These behaviours are not always reportable conduct where they occur in isolation. However a repeating pattern of behaviour, or several of these behaviours together, could indicate that the conduct is grooming and is reportable conduct.

 

 

Safe and Secure Reporting Abuse:

Step 1 Is there an immediate threat to the safety of a child or other person?

If there is an immediate danger, call 000 and take reasonable action to reduce the risk.

 

Step 2  Is there a criminal allegation that needs to be reported to police?

If a reportable allegation could involve a criminal offence, police must be notified as they may need to investigate the alleged offence.

 

Step 3   Is there a child at risk of significant harm (ROSH)?

If a reportable allegation indicates that a child is at risk of significant harm, a prompt report should (and, in the case of mandatory reports, must) be made to the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 or through DCJ's ChildStory online system for mandatory reporters.

It is important to consult with DCJ about any risk management strategies you plan to take to manage any ongoing interactions an employee may have with children.

 

Step 4 Has a child or employee's wellbeing been negatively impacted?

Signs that a child, employee or other person's wellbeing has been impacted can happen soon after an incident. The wellbeing of all people affected by an allegation should be considered in the initial risk assessment, including the employee subject to the allegation.

 

Record Keeping

After an allegation is made, it is important to document the incident to retain accurate information for future reporting and to maintain accountability. The Children's Guardian Act 2019 requires organisations to keep sound records of all allegations. This includes all correspondence relating to the incident such as emails, phone calls and the findings of reports. It is also important to retain other information relating to the investigation, including interview transcripts, risk management plans and decision-making processes (including references to mandatory reporting considerations).

It is quite common for victims of sexual assault, particularly child sexual assault, to delay reporting to police for many years, often decades. In 2016 the NSW Government removed time limits for commencing civil claims arising from child abuse. This may increase requests for older records.

 

Reportable Conduct Scheme

The Reportable Conduct Scheme was transitioned from the NSW Ombudsman to the OCG on 1 March 2020. Recommendations from the Royal Commission broadened the scope of the scheme so it now includes religious bodies.

 

Under the Children's Guardian Act 2019 the following are considered to be reportable conduct.

 

 

Disclosures of past abusive behaviour

If an adult in the church makes a disclosure that they have sexually abused a child in the past, whether they were under 18 years of age or not, and whether the abuse was familial or not, this is not information that the listener can keep to themselves.

Contact the Safe Churches Unit of the Christian Reformed Churches Australia for further clarification or to discuss any concerns or complaints. SCU may also be contacted in regards to these issues as a place for resourcing or referral.

Adult behaviour that may be reported:

Bullying                              Inappropriate relationships

Misuse or abuse of authority                Professional misconduct

Suspicion of grooming or stalking             Family or domestic violence

Spiritual abuse                         Financial Abuse

Elder Abuse                           Sexual harassment

Conduct, behaviour or speech that is sexually threatening or inappropriate

 

Working with Children Check (WWCC)

The OCG administers the WWCC in NSW. People in NSW in child-related work as defined by the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012 are required to hold a current WWCC. A finding of reportable conduct in relation to sexual misconduct, a sexual offence or a serious physical assault will be referred to the Working with Children Check directorate within the OCG. It may result in a bar or interim bar pending a formal risk assessment, and could lead to a cancellation of the person's WWCC clearance.

 

Helpful Tips For Ministry

• Always work in teams or pairs. 

Sometimes abuse can happen when another leader's back is turned for only a couple of minutes.

• Avoid being left alone with a child or young person, particularly in a car. Have another leader with you and have parental permission

Touching or Hugging

Within a church there are hundreds of interactions between people, some of which involve touch. So what guidelines can help those in authority within a church work out whether or not to touch someone?  The Safe Church Code of Conduct provides some guidelines. You will not, among other things, engage in or condone:

Does it cross a boundary set out in the Safe Church Code of Conduct? If it does, don't do it. 

Consider if the person is particularly vulnerable for some reason and modify your touch to make it safer. 

Consider the person's cultural background and what may or may not be considered appropriate in that culture. 

Don't assume that someone wants to be touched. Just because you would in a situation doesn't mean that they do. 

Use an open hand in the centre of someone's back to comfort. Don't put your hand on someone's knee or around a woman's upper arm. 

If in doubt, ask. Seeking permission from someone before you touch them is the best way to work out if it is OK.

If you need to touch someone for medical, instructional or safety reasons, let them know beforehand. 

When accidents happen, apologise immediately and make sure that someone in authority knows what happened so that your actions are visible and you are accountable. 

 

• If it is absolutely necessary, to drive a child or young person home make sure you have another leader with you and have parental permission (try to avoid if at all possible)

• Consider that different forms of physical touch may be appropriate in different age groups eg 0–5, 5–12, teens

• Avoid initiating physical contact with children and young people

• If a child or young person initiates touch, keep it brief and in the open and redirect them

• Appropriate forms of physical contact can include high five, handshake, upper arm or upper back contact, shoulders, open hugs

• Be wise in your choice of games, making sure the level of contact is not too intimate, as this may be embarrassing for some people.

• In personal counselling, male leaders should counsel boys, and female leaders should counsel girls.

• Have no secrets with children or young people

• Consider the location and time of ministry activities as this can affect what you do and how you do it

• If you are on an outing, have a mobile phone with you.

• Be aware of what to do in an emergency/in the case of an accident.

Make sure church locations are adequately visible. This may mean putting windows into doors or walls to make every place visible, and no place secretive.

Make sure there is adequate signage on websites and walls of buildings that will deter offenders from attending your church.  Safe Churches! And the ten principles are available as posters.