Leader of safeguarding agency on recruitment drive

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?

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

Former judge is Chair of new independent Safeguarding agency

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.

 

Church establishes new independent safeguarding agency

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.

"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.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert appeared at today's safeguarding webinar to make the announement.

"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.

New version of safeguarding manual now online

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.

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

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."

The final text of Version 2 was ratified unanimously by the Bishops of Scotland in July and  it comes into effect on 8 September 2021, the feast of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Emma Boothroyd, Safeguarding Advisor for the Archdiocese, said: “Thanks to all Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinators, Deanery Trainers and volunteers in our Archdiocese who perform an essential service for the 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.

Job Vacancy: Diocesan Safeguarding Officer

The Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh is seeking to appoint a Diocesan Safeguarding Officer to assist the Safeguarding Adviser in providing a professional safeguarding service to and on behalf of the Archdiocese.

Salary: £25-£30k pro rata, dependent on experience. Hours: 21 hours per week (three days).

You should have relevant experience of delivering safeguarding services, including face-to-face and online training; be confident in using IT systems and be well organised, flexible and self-motivated.  You will have good communication skills and be confident in working with volunteers.

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, detailing how your skills and experience make you suitable for this role, to recruitment@staned.org.uk by Sunday 2nd May 2021. Interviews (online) will be scheduled week commencing 24th May 2021.

FRIDAY: Day of Prayer for those who have suffered abuse

Archbishop Cushley encourages you to set aside time on Friday to pray for those who have suffered any form of abuse.

It's part of the annual Day of Prayer for Those who have Suffered Abuse, scheduled in the Church's calendar for the Friday following Ash Wednesday.

He said: "A short prayer service is available online and I ask Catholics to make some time on Friday to say these prayers. We pray for those who have suffered any form of abuse in the Church and across society, that God may give them peace and comfort."

The prayer service can be found by clicking here.

To find out more about Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Scotland please visit bcos.org.uk/safeguarding. The Archdiocese's Safeguarding page can be found here.

In God's Image: views sought for update

People are being invited to submit their views ahead of an updated version of 'In God's Image'.

The document, an 'Instruction on Safeguarding' from the Bishops of Scotland to all Catholic jurisdictions in the  country - was published in March 2018, initially for a three-year period.

The Bishops are now preparing for the publication of version two to reflect any significant Safeguarding developments that have occurred since first publication. The intended publication date is June 2021. Until then, the current version of 'In God's Image' V1 will remain valid.

The Bishops are seeking views from all interested groups and individuals on any changes they would propose to the current text in the light of their experience.

This invitation extends to dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, organisations, to clergy and laypeople, to professional Safeguarding staff and volunteers, to those in Scotland and beyond, to those in other churches or faith groups and to all who are interested in keeping children and vulnerable adults safe in every Church environment.

Above all, the Bishops are keen to hear from survivors or victims of abuse so that the Church can learn from past mistakes and plan to ensure appropriate and sensitive responses to all allegations and concerns.

If you wish to offer any suggestions for changes to the current text of ‘In God’s Image’, please use this form. Closing date for submissions is 30 November.

 

Volunteers thanked for keeping parishes welcoming and safe

Volunteers who help ensure our churches are welcoming and safe are being thanked today, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Archbishop Leo Cushley and the Safeguarding Team in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh are highlighting their work in an announcement to be made at Mass.

Angela Hughes, safeguarding adviser for the diocese, said: “There are trained safeguarding co-ordinators in every parish who work with the parish priest for the safe recruitment of volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults in the church.

“It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the church is a welcoming place for everyone and to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected.

“Pope Francis has asked that our families are made aware that they have a right to expect that they are safe and secure in ‘our Father’s house’. The Bishops of Scotland are committed to ensuring this.”

Archbishop Leo Cushley set the fourth Sunday in Ordinary time for the annual safeguarding message.

The Archdiocese does an annual audit to assess the safeguarding work being done in every parish and diocese. There are also annual safeguarding training days for clergy.

The Catholic Church in Scotland has a mandatory reporting policy, meaning that if an allegation of abuse is ever received it is immediately reported to the police.

Every parish is obliged to address the parish community highlighting the work being done and to alert them to the need for continuing watchfulness.

Ms Hughes added: “Archbishop Cushley and the Safeguarding Team are grateful for all the hard work done by parish co-ordinators and volunteers in every parish across the Archdiocese in keeping the Church a welcoming and safe place for all.”

 

Annual Safeguarding Announcement

It is the responsibility of clergy and lay people to ensure that the church is a safe and welcoming place for everyone and to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected.

Pope Francis has asked that families are made aware that they have a right to expect to be safe and secure in “our Father’s house”. The Bishops of Scotland are committed to ensuring this.

Safeguarding in the Catholic Church means doing everything we can to protect our children and vulnerable adults.

Firstly, we have a safe system of recruitment for clergy, religious, employees and all our volunteers. This includes PVG checks, references and safeguarding training.

Secondly, we have a reporting system so people can come forward with any concerns, be listened to and have those concerns acted upon. Safeguarding also includes care and support for survivors.

In this Archdiocese, we have a dedicated safeguarding team.

This includes Monsignor Allan Chambers,  the Vicar General for Safeguarding, and Angela Hughes, our Safeguarding Advisor.  

The Safeguarding team is based at the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh and Angela can be contacted at any time to advise on any safeguarding matter.

Every parish has trained safeguarding co-ordinators. Alongside the Parish Priest, they ensure the safe recruitment of volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults in the church. There is a poster at the back of your church with details of the parish safeguarding co-rdinator. Please contact them if you have any concerns about a safeguarding matter. Please also have a look at the Safeguarding page on the Archdiocesan website for more information.

We do an annual safeguarding audit to assess the safeguarding work being done in every parish and diocese. The Church in Scotland has a mandatory reporting policy. This means that if an allegation of abuse is received it is immediately reported to the police.

It is imperative that any abuse, historic or otherwise, will be met with a listening ear, and action taken to restore people’s trust in our Church and our clergy and religious.

Archbishop Leo Cushley, your parish priest and the Safeguarding Team are grateful for all the hard work done by parish co-ordinators and volunteers in every parish across the Archdiocese in keeping the Church a welcoming and safe place for all.       

 

In Polish

Duchowni oraz osoby świeckie ponoszą odpowiedzialność za zapewnienie iż kościół jest bezpiecznym i przyjaznym miejscem dla każdego a także gwarancję dotyczącą ochrony dzieci i osób dorosłych wymagająych opieki.

Papież Franciszek prosi rodziny o świadomość, iż mają one wszelkie prawo do bezpieczeństwa i spokoju w ,,Domu Naszego Ojca’’. Biskupi Szkoccy zobowiązują się do jego zapewnienia.

W Kosciele Katolickim czynimy wszystko co w naszej mocy aby chronić dzieci i osoby dorosłe wymagające opieki.

Po pierwsze, mamy bezpieczny system rekrutacji osób duchownych, zakonników, pracowników i wolontariuszy. Składają się na to: kontrole w postaci programów dotyczących Ochrony Osób Wymagających Opieki, listów referencyjnych oraz szkoleń odnośnie działań dla dobra dzieci i dorosłych wymagających opieki.

Po drugie, mamy system sprawozdawczości dla osób mających obawy z tegoż powodu, z możliwością  zostania wysłuchanym oraz podjęciem działań w tej sprawie.  Ochrona obejmuje również opiekę i wsparcie dla osób poszkodowanych pozostałych przy życiu.

W naszej Archidiecezji mamy oddane grono do spraw ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagajacych opieki.

Należą do niego: monsinior Allan Chambers, wikariusz generalny do spraw ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagajacych opieki oraz Angela Hughes - doradca do spraw ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagających opieki.

Grono do spraw ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagajacych opieki ma siedzibę w Gillis Centre w Edynburgu. Z panią Angelą można się kontaktować w dowolnym czasie w sprawach doradztwa związanego z ochroną dzieci i dorosłych wymagających opieki.

Każda parafia posiada wykwalifikowanych koordynatorów do spraw ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagających opieki. Na czele z księdzem proboszczem gwarantujemy bezpieczny proces rekrutacji wolontariuszy w kościele do pracy z dziećmi i dorosłymi wymagającymi opieki.

Z tyłu kościoła znajduje się ogłoszenie z moimi danymi kontaktowymi. Proszę o kontakt w razie jakichkolwiek obaw z tytułu ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagajacych opieki.

W celu uzyskania więcej informacji na temat ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagajacych opieki prosimy zajrzeć na podstronę dotyczącą ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagających opieki, która znajduje się na stronie  Archidiecezji.

W każdej parafii i diecezji przeprowadzana jest coroczna kontrola analizy pracy nad  ochroną dzieci i dorosłych wymagających opieki. Sprawozdawczość jest obowiazkową strategią Kościoła Szkockiego. Każdy zarzut  złego traktowania jest natychmiast zgłaszany na policję.

Konieczne jest aby każdy przypadek złego traktowania natury historycznej lub z innych powodów został wysłuchany oraz podjęte zostały działania przywrócenia zaufania dla Kościoła, osób duchownych i zakonnych.

Arcybiskup Leo Cushley oraz całe grono do spraw ochrony dzieci i dorosłych wymagających opieki są wdzięczni za cieżką pracę koordynatorów i wolontariuszy we wszystkich parafiach Archidiecezji za sprawą których Kościoł pozostaje bezpiecznym i przyjaznym miejscem dla wszystkich.

 

Independent audit on safeguarding is published

The Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh has welcomed the publication today (Thursday 30 January) of an independent audit into its safeguarding processes.

The audit was commissioned by the Catholic Church in Scotland with the aim of supporting safeguarding improvements. It was carried out by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)/Children in Scotland.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese said: “We very much welcome the work of the Independent Review Group (IRG) for Safeguarding and the external review that SCIE has completed for our Archdiocese. We found the process helpful and constructive.

“We are reassured and encouraged that the safeguarding improvements we have implemented over the last six years have been recognised and validated and we look forward to developing these processes further to ensure that our churches continue to be safe and welcoming places for everyone.”

Determination

Helen Liddell, chair of the IRG said: "We owe a debt of gratitude also to those in the dioceses, both clergy and laity, who sometimes had to face up to examining some actions in the past that they had no part in but had to live with the consequences, sometimes with deep pain.

"As this first stage concludes, the IRG acknowledges the sheer determination of all who have participated in this to make sure those who are vulnerable are as safe as possible. Never again will we assume that the vulnerable are safe. Never again will there be a hiding place for the abusers of those we love.”

Commenting on the publication, Bishop Joseph Toal, President of the Commission for Pastoral and Social Care said;

“On behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, I welcome the publication of the IRG report and thank the IRG for their work. I know the audits have been both thorough and rigorous and that they will be studied carefully by both dioceses.”

“Safeguarding is at the heart of the church’s mission and the maintenance of high standards is only possible through independent scrutiny and a commitment to implement any recommendations proposed.”

Archbishop Leo Cushley said: “It is the responsibility of all people in our church community, clergy and laity alike, to ensure the church is a safe and welcoming place for everyone and that children and vulnerable adults are protected.

“Each of our parishes has a safeguarding co-ordinator, working with approved volunteers, who support our priests and I extend my thanks to them for their excellent work. Safeguarding in the church is a priority and I believe that is reflected in the processes our Archdiocese has implemented and continues to develop.”

_________________________________________________________

A guide to the safeguarding audit

What is it?
An independent audit into safeguarding processes in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.

Who commissioned the audit?
The report was commissioned by the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Why did it commission the audit?
To support its ongoing commitment to safeguarding improvements.

Who carried out the audit?
Two external agencies - The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in conjunction with Children in Scotland.

How was it carried out?
The audit involved examining case material and a review of policies and procedures for safeguarding. Auditors were given free access to files and documentation they requested.

What else did auditors do?
Auditors met key clergy and members of the laity involved in working with children and vulnerable groups so as to obtain a wider perspective of safeguarding within the Archdiocese. This included eight individual interviews and one focus group of seven. They also received submissions from 30 individuals including survivors, their families, clergy and Catholic groups.

What has the Archdiocese said about the report?
The Archdiocese has welcomed the publication of the report, describing the process as “helpful and constructive” (read the full comments, above).

Where can I read the report?
The full report can be read here.

Where can I find out more about safeguarding in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh?
Visit the safeguarding section of our website here. There you can find out more about our safeguarding team and resources. Our safeguarding adviser is Angela Hughes. You can contact her on 07903619342 or by emailing angela.hughes@staned.org.uk

Vacancy: safeguarding administrator (part-time)

We have a vacancy available for a Safeguarding Administrator, based at our offices in the Gillis Centre, Strathearn Road, Edinburgh.

The successful applicant will work closely with our safeguarding team, priests and parishes to accurately manage safeguarding procedures, process PVG forms and respond to queries from our parishes.

You post requires someone who is competent and skilled with administrative duties and database management. You will have xcellent interpersonal and communication skills, be flexible, and understand the need for confidentiality. The salary is £20,600 FTE (£8,240 for 14 hours per week).

Send a CV and covering letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role to recruitment@staned.org.uk by 5pm on Monday 2nd December.

To view the full job description visit S1jobs.com by clicking here.