Interviews and References

This may seem a tedious exercise if you already know somebody in your church, but it is a necessary part of Safer Recruiting. 
REMEMBER FROM CREATING SAFER SPACES FOUNDATION SAFEGUARDING TRAINING:  It is important that the right people - rather than just the first willing volunteer, is recruited for the role/s within the circuit and churches.  Obtaining references will be able to help with this process.

References: If somebody already attends your church and has done so for a while, you need to get a reference from the Minister and somebody else who knows them - not necessarily from the church.  This only needs to be a few lines via email or letter. For example:

1. How long have you known the applicant?
   
2. The applicant has applied for the role of '.....' in your view is there anything that would prevent the applicant from fulfilling this role.
   
3. If you wish to add anything else, please do so.
   

If somebody is relatively new to the church, you should obtain a reference from their previous church and a contact who has known them for more than a year from another setting, and ask similar questions.

Interview: Whilst an interview for a volunteer role may seem over the top, you probably already do it without even thinking about it, by just chatting to someone when thinking of recruiting them and asking questions.

We've produced an Interview Aid Form but think about what you would ask somebody who has responded to a request to volunteer.  Please keep the notes from the interview with the other Safer Recruiting records.

1. Have you worked with children/young people (or whatever capacity) before?
   
2. What did you do?
   
3. Have you received any Safeguarding training?
   
4. Have you had any other formal training?
   
5. Why did you stop working in this role?
   
6. What do you know about this role?
   
7. Are you happy to have any requested training?

You are looking for anomalies if they have moved around areas or churches a lot and of course somebody's suitability for a role. Its very easy to grab the first person who offers in a church as volunteers are precious, but they do need to be suitable and willing to undergo training and DBS checks as required by The Methodist Church.

Updated December 2023