Diocesan Safeguarding Office Responsibilities

• Safe recruitment of all volunteers in parishes, groups, and organisations.
• Managing criminal record check applications as the diocesan counter-signatory for the national registered body with the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).
• Safe management of offenders living within our parish communities wishing to attend church. Work is undertaken with relevant statutory authorities and Safeguarding Plans (written agreements) are prepared to carefully manage safe boundaries. These arrangements are monitored and reviewed regularly in line with policy.
• Responding to allegations concerning any member of the Diocesan Catholic community. This involves working in close partnership with all statutory agencies to ensure any allegations of abuse are promptly and properly investigated so that victims and survivors are supported, and perpetrators held to account.
• Providing ongoing training and resources in child and adult at risk protection with clergy, lay individuals and groups across the diocese.
• Contribution to national safeguarding policy and practice developments through work with the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA).
• Representation as appropriate and links with local authority children’s and adults social care boards and groups.
• Responsibility for safeguarding matters relating to the diocesan annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, including the safe recruitment of all pilgrimage volunteers.

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