Ep 10 Closing Loopholes: Beyond the DBS Check w/ Isabelle King (Part 2)

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.

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Faithful Safeguarding is a short-form podcast dedicated to enhancing the safety and well-being of faith communities, focusing on providing insightful, expert-led discussions on safeguarding practices and addressing the unique challenges faced by faith-based organisations. 

Topics include child protection, safer recruitment, creating a safeguarding culture, online safety, protecting vulnerable adults, disability and safeguarding, reporting and recovering from safeguarding incidents, risk management, and fostering diversity and inclusion. 

Hosted by Madison Clarke from Petros, the podcast aims to raise awareness, educate, and foster a culture of proactive safeguarding among people within faith organisations.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by guests within the content are solely the guest's and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of Petros or its affiliates.

• No. of episodes: 10
• Latest episode: 2025-05-01
• Business Non-Profit

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