‘The fruit of consultation’: Findings from an online survey on co‐production as a solution to the challenges of safeguarding children and young people in International Christian work

Abstract

Incidents of child abuse such as the Oxfam case in 2010 of sexual abuse of children by volunteers' and cases of abuse in orphanages by high-risk overseas volunteers have highlighted the need for the development of effective safeguarding in the international context. This is of equal importance for faithbased organisations (FBOs) who, like non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are obligated to create safe spaces for their beneficiaries. This paper reports the findings from an online survey conducted in 2019, which was completed by 72 participants, 39 were representatives from organisations based in the UK which support individuals to engage in International Christian Work (ICW), 33 were individuals who are or have been engaged in ICW in the last three years. The online survey collected qualitative data, which was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis whilst descriptive analytical techniques were employed on the quantitative data. The findings illustrate commitment to safeguarding children and young people in ICW but also the complexities, challenges and tensions around this. The necessity to work collaboratively in local contexts with co-production was identified as key to developing effective safeguarding practice. These findings have implications beyond faith-based organisations to others working in the international context.

It Is Time to Focus on Prevention: a Scoping Review of Practices Associated with Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Australian Policy Implications

“…Collaborating with children, young people, and adults who have lived experience of CSA is an opportunity for bringing their knowledge of CSA and its dynamics within families, organisations, and communities into the formulation of prevention policy, programs, and services. On the local and organisational level, co-production is indicated for the development of effective safeguarding practices and service redesign (Gupta & Blumhardt 2018;Oakley et al, 2022). Community-led initiatives afford policymakers the opportunity to bring together a range of expertise, including lived experience expertise, and leadership, including cultural leadership, in ways that respect and build on communities' strengths, assets, and values.…”

Editorial

“…cultural sensitivity and good safeguarding practice. At an individual level, Oakley, Lafferty and McFarlane (2022) recommend ongoing critical reflection to 'guard against an ethnocentric superior mindset' and, at an organisational level, the provision of support to deliver co-produced, culturally relevant safeguarding training, policy and practice.…”

“…Our fourth article focusing the organisational context of safeguarding, by Oakley, Lafferty and McFarlane (2022), explores safeguarding in the context of International Christian Work (ICW). It highlights the ineffectiveness of importing definitions, understandings, policy and practice developed in the UK, and emphasises the necessity of developing ‘on the ground’ awareness, mutual understandings and collaborative partnership to ensure both cultural sensitivity and good safeguarding practice.…”

“…It highlights the ineffectiveness of importing definitions, understandings, policy and practice developed in the UK, and emphasises the necessity of developing ‘on the ground’ awareness, mutual understandings and collaborative partnership to ensure both cultural sensitivity and good safeguarding practice. At an individual level, Oakley, Lafferty and McFarlane (2022) recommend ongoing critical reflection to ‘guard against an ethnocentric superior mindset’ and, at an organisational level, the provision of support to deliver co‐produced, culturally relevant safeguarding training, policy and practice.…”