Safeguarding News and updates will be regularly posted here.
Christmas Break
The safeguarding office is closed for the Christmas break. We will return on the 2nd January 2025. The safeguarding in-box will be monitored daily over the Christmas break, so if you have any urgent matters, please send an email to the in-box and it will be responded to. All other emails will be dealt with on the teams return in January. If you require advise or an immediate response consider calling 101 and if someone is at immediate risk of harm, please call the Police on 999.
The safeguarding team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
CSSA Mandatory Volunteer Training Launch
The CSSA has now developed an online mandatory training package for all volunteers that require a DBS check. For access to this training please click on the link and follow the instructions. If you have any questions contact the Safeguarding office or click on the resource centre where there are step-by-step instructions.
Parish Safeguarding Representative Training Day.
On Saturday 24th February 2024 nearly 120 PSR’s gathered at Amigo Hall for their annual PSR gathering day. The day started with a prayer for those who had been harmed by abuse and then numerous important issues that impact the work our volunteers do within their Parishes and communities were discussed. The training covered;
- Yearly update of the work of the safeguarding team
- learnings from Hexham & Newcastle
- Importance of safer recruitment
- GDPR
- New mandatory training for volunteers
- Creating on-line forms.
The day also included a guest speaker-PC Karen Troullides our Faith Officer and Mass celebrated by our Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding -Cn John Diver.
It was a really successful day and the safeguarding team are hugely grateful for all the PSR’s who attended and the hard work of our hardworking volunteers.
We look forward to next year's event, which will take place in Kent.
Mary Jane Crowley
Head of Safeguarding
In December 2023, the safeguarding team were honoured to have a meeting with Rev. Andrew Small, from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Archbishop John was also in attendance. We were able to learn about the work of the Commission, its collaboration with survivors and the aims for organisational change to ensure the ongoing safeguarding of our Church. Rev. Small was also keen to hear about the safeguarding work of the Archdiocese. This included the safeguarding teams improvement journey, the audit and the work of our volunteers-particularly our PSR’s and the diverse and complex work of the safeguarding team.
News Update: Southwark Safeguarding Audit Report 2022
This document is a result of the Archdiocese of Southwark offering to be part of a pilot with the CSSA, the newly formed National Safeguarding body, We are pleased to say that it firmly demonstrates our commitment to maintain and enhance ongoing diocesan safeguarding responsibilities.
