Low-Level Concerns Must Be Taken Seriously
Simon notes that most major safeguarding failures begin as minor boundary concerns. But these are often under-reported- especially when the person involved is a colleague or trusted figure. Managers fear appearing accusatory, and cultural norms in religious communities can heighten this hesitation.
“When those issues go unrecorded, they build a pattern that no one can see until it is too late.”
He describes the importance of systems that support early intervention - such as clear internal guidance, coaching for line managers, and digital tools like the What Should I Do? app that help staff act without delay or confusion. A culture of safeguarding, he explains, is as critical as policy.
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Digital Risk Is Now a Core Safeguarding Priority
As online communication increases, so do opportunities for inappropriate contact, covert grooming, and reputational damage. Simon outlines several emerging practices that help organisations manage this risk:
● Social media checks for safeguarding relevance during recruitment
● Technology to support people with limited communication (e.g. secure apps, CCTV in disability services)
● Greater awareness of messaging boundaries in pastoral or peer contexts
Digital safeguarding is not a bolt-on, he argues, but a necessary evolution of risk awareness.
“Today, we are seeing more grooming behaviours- especially online. It is harder to detect, but equally harmful.”
Faith Contexts Need Targeted Cultural Change
The episode highlights specific barriers in faith settings: long-standing personal relationships, communal living, theological discomfort with confrontation, and legacies of institutional harm. To shift this, Simon calls for faith leaders to treat safeguarding as a culture project.
He advises three leadership actions:
● Treat safeguarding as a long-term cultural change initiative
● Invest in middle managers as daily enforcers of practice
● Build organisational trust through transparency and open learning
He also draws on learnings from education and disability sectors, where inclusive design and targeted training have improved both accessibility and accountability.
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What You Will Learn in the Full Episode
● How to approach and record low-level safeguarding concerns confidently
● Emerging practices for digital safeguarding in religious and community settings
● Why cultural change, not just compliance, is critical to long-term safeguarding impact
Listen to Episode 7 of Faithful Safeguarding with Simon Davies wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you prefer to read, explore the condensed interview version in our magazine series.