16.05.2023 Views

Southwark Report Internals final single

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Safeguarding<br />

Protecting children and adults at<br />

risk from harm is a priority for the<br />

Archdiocese of <strong>Southwark</strong>. The<br />

Archdiocese is committed to the<br />

continual improvement of our<br />

safeguarding function across our<br />

parishes and communities. Central<br />

to this is to ensure that those that<br />

have been harmed by abuse,<br />

their families and supporters,<br />

receive a compassionate,<br />

responsive and caring service.<br />

The Archdiocese will continuously<br />

listen to those that have<br />

been harmed and work with<br />

statutory services to ensure<br />

robust safeguarding practices<br />

are embedded across the<br />

Archdiocese.<br />

“<br />

To ‘care for the other as a person for whom God has made<br />

us responsible’ is at the heart of the Church’s responsibility<br />

to safeguard all the people she encounters in the exercise of<br />

her mission, particularly those who are most at risk of abuse<br />

or exploitation in any form.” Mary-Jane Crowley, Head of Safeguarding<br />

There has been a restructuring of the national<br />

safeguarding strategic function in line with<br />

recommendations made by an external review<br />

commissioned by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.<br />

The Archdiocese of <strong>Southwark</strong> decommissioned<br />

their safeguarding commission and established the<br />

Safeguarding Sub-committee. The safeguarding trustee<br />

is the Chair of the Sub-committee. In line with the<br />

Charity Commission, both the Trustee body and the<br />

Sub-committee has the responsibility for the strategic<br />

oversight and responsibility for the safeguarding<br />

function within the Archdiocese. It monitors the<br />

Archdiocese and safeguarding team’s compliance with<br />

national policies and procedures and ensures that our<br />

statutory responsibilities and being met. The <strong>Southwark</strong><br />

Safeguarding team provides ongoing support, advice and<br />

guidance to ensure that the parishes and communities<br />

across the Diocese are safe spaces for all and in<br />

particular for those that are vulnerable due to their age,<br />

health or other reasons. The safeguarding team aim to<br />

support the ongoing development of safer environments<br />

within the Archdiocese. This is done through working<br />

in partnership with all our Clergy, Religious, Ordained<br />

Ministers, Parish Safeguarding Representatives (PSR) and<br />

volunteers. There is a comprehensive training schedule,<br />

support and active engagement with these groups, to<br />

20

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!