The following is from Helen Trotter and is possibly part of a bigger issue around vulnerable adults. Shall we put it on the agenda for January? It feels really important and has been identified as an area we do need to develop.

Going forward I wondered if something could be outlined regarding pastoral situations and vulnerable adults SPECIFICALLY where these are over zoom or phone calls. Volunteers would not want to be put in difficult situations if , say the relative of a vulnerable person had a complaint and, more importantly we would not want for a person already vulnerable to feel they have been on the receiving end of words which could be misinterpreted .

There is a new pastoral support group in GB and whilst the existing guidelines still apply it might be worthwhile emphasising issues to do with keeping a note of phone calls. I think where a volunteer is phoning on behalf of the church (rather than an individual friendly chat to someone they know well) they need to bear this in mind.