The Archdiocese's annual safeguarding day heard from a leading charity which helps ensure the better protection of children.

Stuart Allardyce, of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said: "With this annual safeguarding event you have invited in an organisation to talk about what we can do to stop abuse before it happens.

"I think that's a real sign that there's some pro-active work being done that really is progressive in relation to safeguarding within the Catholic Church."

The key message of the day, held at The Gillis Centre, was that faith and belief communities can take leadership in protecting children from harm.

Stuart and his colleagues gave presentations to clergy, to provide evidence-based examples, practical tips and resources.

Archbishop Cushley said: "I'm grateful to Stuart and the team from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation for leading this Safeguarding Day.

"It has been helpful, thought-provoking and we are encouraged to continue taking leadership in ensuring the prevention of harm within the Church."

The event took place ahead of the annual Day of Prayer for those who have Suffered Abuse, which is on Friday 7 March.

Parishes have been sent liturgical resources from the Bishops Conference of Scotland to help mark the day, which can be found here.

Find out more about the Lucy Faithfull Foundation here.  Find out more about the work of the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Safety team here.

Our annual statement is read out in parishes around the time of the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, which this year falls on 2 October.

In echoing this spirit of guardianship, we would like to remind you of our obligation to ensure that parish communities are safe and welcoming places, where children and vulnerable adults are protected.

Our procedures are designed to create a safe culture.

Safe recruitment practices ensure that volunteers only start their ministry once a series of suitability checks have been completed, including a Protection of Vulnerable Groups, or PVG, check if appropriate. We have reporting measures so that concerns can be passed on.

Our Mandatory Reporting Policy is designed to ensure that any allegations of abuse are reported to the police. Safeguarding training ensures that volunteers, group leaders and Parish Safeguarding Coordinators know what to do if a safeguarding situation arises.

Whilst statutory procedures such as PVG checks are an essential and mandatory part of our protocols, adopting a culture of care is equally important – being vigilant, looking out for each other,and passing on any concerns.

Archbishop Leo Cushley wishes to express his sincere thanks to clergy, parish safeguarding coordinators, group leaders, and volunteers, as we work together to ensure that our people, places and activities are safe.

Full details of safeguarding staff for the Archdiocese can be found on the safeguarding page of this website here.

The 2023 National Safeguarding Conference will take place on Saturday 18 November in Glasgow.

The annual event is for clergy, religious, PSCs, parish volunteers, employees and all who have a role in the Church’s safeguarding efforts in Scotland.

The theme is 'Once Chance to Change: Trauma Informed Responses to Disclosures of Abuse.'

Organisers say: "The conference is designed as an in-person event in order to encourage networking and facilitate rich discussion on the range of scenarios to be presented.

"By attending you can benefit from expert input, practical discussion and take-away resources on trauma-informed responses to disclosures of abuse."

The Conference Fee is £25 and you are encouraged to book now while places are available.

National Safeguarding Conference, University of Strathclyde's Technology & Innovation Centre, 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD. Register here.

The leader of a new safeguarding agency has begun a recruitment drive to ensure its "rigour, independence and expertise".

Lady Rita Rae was recently announced as the Board Chair of the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA) and is currently recruiting staff and no executive directors

She said: "As a Catholic, I have been pained by the failings of the past and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the culture of safety and integrity which the Church now fosters.

Independent

"I intend to ensure that the SCSSA will operate entirely independently of the Catholic Church, with its own staff and non-executive directors who will maintain regular contact with dioceses and religious communities.

"I earnestly wish to rebuild confidence and trust, especially among those who have experienced abuse. I look forward to recruiting fellow Board members who will bring rigour, independence and expertise to the work of the agency."

Safety and Integrity

She added: "I believe that we must provide a forum in which people who have experienced abuse in the Churchcan bring their own perspectives to inform the development of the Church’s safeguarding policy and practice. I am determined that we will listen to and learn from them.”

As well as a recruitment drive, Lady Rae will embark on meetings with relevant groups and individuals to learn from their experience and to listen to their views.

What will be the SCSSA' main functions?

• To take account of the perspectives of survivors of abuse in the development of safeguarding policy and practice
• To promote national safeguarding standards
• To monitor, review and report on compliance with safeguarding standards
• To lead safeguarding learning
• To develop processes to deal with whistle-blowing and with complaints about responses to safeguarding allegations
• To manage communications on national safeguarding policy and practice

This article is a shortened version which appears in the latest issue of the Safeguarding Matters newsletter. Read it here. Find out more about safeguarding in our Archdiocese here

The Catholic Church in Scotland has appointed The Hon Lady Rita Rae QC as the first Board Chair of the new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA) which will operate as a private company, writes the Scottish Catholic Media Office.

She said, “I recognise that, in establishing this independent agency, the Catholic Church in Scotland is taking another bold step to ensure that its safeguarding practice is meeting the highest standards.

"I intend to ensure that the agency will operate with independence and that it will seek to rebuild confidence and trust, especially among those who have experienced abuse.

"I look forward to recruiting fellow Board members who will bring rigour, independence and expertise to the work of the agency."

Impartial

The SCSSA will operate entirely independently of the Catholic Church, with its own staff and non-executive directors who will work in close collaboration with dioceses and religious communities to ensure that they are meeting safeguarding standards.

Crucially, it will develop a forum in which those who have experienced abuse can contribute their own perspectives to the development of the Church’s safeguarding practice.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert (President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland) said, “When considering a number of possible candidates for this important post, the Bishops were united in their view that the SCSSA Board Chair must be able to act with impartiality, integrity and freedom from interference.

"We immediately recognised that Lady Rae’s prestigious legal career, and her reputation as a recent Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, offered great testimony to the rigour and the independence with which she will approach this role. We are delighted that she has accepted this appointment.”

Lady Rae will begin to recruit SCSSA Board Members in January 2022.

 

The Catholic Church in Scotland is to create a new independent safeguarding agency which will promote "consistency, transparency and accountability."

The announcement was made by Bishop Hugh Gilbert at a national safeguarding webinar held today, attended by 450 people.

He said: “The Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA) will operate entirely independently of the Church.

Thanks to @BCOS for hosting today’s national Safeguarding Webinar 'Growing our Culture of Care’. pic.twitter.com/TkHiNp63iR

— Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh (@archedinburgh) October 2, 2021

"It will have its own staff and Board of Management who will work in close collaboration with dioceses and religious communities to ensure that they are able to meet national safeguarding standards.

"It will also develop a process that will provide an independent review of complaints about safeguarding practice and crucially, establish a forum in which those who have experienced abuse can contribute their own perspectives to the development of safeguarding.”

Recruitment

Bishop Hugh, who is President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, added: “We will shortly commence the recruitment process for the Chair and members of the Board of Management, followed by the recruitment of a Director and a Head of Safeguarding Training.

"It will take some time to establish the new agency and we ask for your patience and support while that process is underway.

He finished: “The Bishops ask for your prayers that the Holy Spirt will guide us in the selection of suitable candidates who will bring authority and credibility to the work of this new agency that will promote consistency, transparency and accountability across Catholic Church institutions in Scotland.”

Find out more about safeguarding in our Archdiocese in the safeguarding section of this website.

The updated Safeguarding instruction manual of the Catholic Church in Scotland is now available online.

In God's Image V2 (Version 2) follows a period of consultation, reflection and discussion among many who have direct experience and expertise in the front line of the Church’s safeguarding practice.

IN GOD'S IMAGE version 2 - the updated Safeguarding instruction manual of the Catholic Church in Scotland, coming into effect on 8th September 2021 - is now available online here: https://t.co/SCfXBZ4k6W pic.twitter.com/kVxsPdDS12

— BCoS (@BishopsScotland) August 19, 2021

That includes responding to the hurt and anguish of those who have suffered abuse at the hands of clergy, religious and others working within the Catholic Church.

The manual

• Takes into account evolving changes to the PVG scheme in Scotland.
• Highlights instructions and norms published by the Holy See.
• Refers to key statements made by Pope Francis.

The work of the Independent Review Group and recommendations from independent audits of safeguarding in Scottish dioceses have also had a bearing on this revised version.

History

In God's Image was orginally published in 2018 by the Bishops in Scotland as a policy document on safeguarding standards.

It was published as an "Instruction on Safeguarding for implementation in all Catholic canonical jurisdictions in Scotland and by all other groups and organisations in Scotland subject to a legitimate canonical authority of the Catholic Church."

IN GOD'S IMAGE V2 can be read and downloaded from the BCOS website. Find out more about safeguarding in our Archdiocese on this website by clicking here.