FT Module 3: Safeguarding scenarios

Scenario 1: Jane

Jane arrives at the group crying, obviously in distress. She has her 2-year-old son with her. She says that she lost her temper with him when he wouldn’t get out of the car and slapped him across the face. He has a bruise developing on his face, and is quiet and hiding behind her legs.

How should you proceed?

Select all the options you agree with. You're also welcome to comment with additional thoughts and opinions.

A) Welcome Jane, stay calm, offer her a drink.

B) Ensure Jane, and the rest of the group, knows that what she has done is wrong

C) Reassure Jane that she has done a really brave thing by coming to the group and that we can help find her some more support

D) Offer to get a ice pack for her son

E) Ask Jane if she would like to speak separately before joining the group

F) Remove her son from her, keep him separate for his safety

G) Request the office contact Janes emergency contact, another adult should provide more support for Jane and help care for her son

H) Take Jane to one side, ask who we can contact to support her once the group is finished and confirm we can contact them on her behalf

I) Gently let Jane know that you will need to share this with Lucinda and Katie / the office, who might get in touch with more support

J) Stop the group and call 999

Scenario 2: Priya

Priya has been coming to the group for a few weeks. She doesn’t always speak, but seems to get a lot from listening to others. At the end of the session, she asks to speak to you alone. She says her husband has been aggressive and threatening towards her.

What would you do?

Select all the options you agree with. You're also welcome to comment with additional thoughts and opinions.

A) Thank Priya for trusting you and acknowledge how difficult it must have been to share

B) Tell her she should leave her husband immediately

C) Ask if she feels safe going home today

D) Offer to help her contact a domestic abuse support service like the Freedom Project (other services can be found on our getting help page)

E) Ask her to share more details with the group next week

F) Offer to sit with her while she makes a call or waits for support

G) Tell her that unless she takes action, there’s nothing you can do

H) Call the police to report the matter immediately

I) Identify the nature of threats if possible

J) Reassure her that the group would be very supportive, if, and when, she felt comfortable to share with the,

K) Let her know that you will share this with Lucinda and Katie / Head office. Ask for a safe time/number, for them to check in

Scenario 3: Amma

English is not Amma’s first language, but she communicates during the group that she has very little food, and no milk or nappies for the baby.

What actions should you take?

Select all the options you agree with. You're also welcome to comment with additional thoughts and opinions.

A) Thank Amma for sharing and reassure her that help is available

B) Offer to help her access a food bank or emergency supplies at the end of the group

C) Ask if she would like help contacting a support worker or local service

D) Tell her she should have planned better before having a baby

E) Ignore it, it’s not a safeguarding issue

F) Let her, and the rest of the group, know you’ll need to report this as a safeguarding concern

G) Take her to the shops after group and buy milk and nappies for her

H) Report internally as a potential safeguarding concern

Scenario 4: Mandy

Mandisa shares with the group that she often has thoughts about smothering her newborn baby and feels incredibly guilty and ashamed.

A) Thank her for being honest and acknowledge how hard it must be to share

B) Let her know that intrusive thoughts are common

C) Report this as a safeguarding concern

D) Tell her she shouldn’t come to the group if she feels that way

E) Explore with Mandy the difference between intrusive thoughts and acting on them

F) Gently suggest that Mandy discuss this with her GP as medications have been known to reduce the occurrence of intrusive thoughts

G) Use your own lived experience of intrusive thoughts (if you have some) to help Mandy see that she is not alone.

H) Let her know that talking about intrusive thoughts and getting them out can be very helpful - so she's already doing something really good for her and her baby by sharing

Scenario 5: Jing Li

Jing Li comes to the group alone, which is unusual. When asked where her children are, she starts to cry and says she left them at home alone because she couldn’t cope.

A) Stay calm and thank her for telling you

B) Ask the lead facilitator to contact their emergency contact to check on the children

C) Report this immediately as a safeguarding concern and inform her you're going to get help for the children

D) Tell her she’s a bad mother and shouldn’t come back

E) Get her a hot drink and welcome her to the group

F) Tell her to run home now

Scenario 6: Leanne

Leanne shares that she was abused in childhood, mentioning how it has been hard to open up to her new partner about it but now that she has, she feels much safer in her relationship

A) Thank her and acknowledge her courage.

B) Tell her that this group is just for mums, not abuse survivors

C) Immediately report this to the office on Volunteero

D) Ask her to disclose who her abuser was so you can report them

E) Offer signposting (e.g., trauma‑informed counselling) if she wants it.

F) Be aware of how this effects the rest of the group, keep an eye out for anyone who could be triggered

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