Southwark Report 2020_NEW final -Single pages
The Archdiocese of Southwark is pleased to publish an updated version of the Annual Report and Accounts for 2020. This version was revised after correcting a technical error and was re-submitted to the Charity Commission in December 2022.
The Archdiocese of Southwark is pleased to publish an updated version of the Annual Report and Accounts for 2020. This version was revised after correcting a technical error and was re-submitted to the Charity Commission in December 2022.
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IMPACT<br />
REPORT<br />
National Standards in Safeguarding are set by the<br />
National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NSCS)<br />
and through the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory<br />
Service (CSAS) who also have a role in auditing<br />
compliance to the national standards on behalf<br />
of the NCSC. The NCSC and CSAS are mandated<br />
by the Bishop’s Conference and the Conference<br />
of Religious and they are within the Department<br />
of Citizenship and Christian Responsibility of the<br />
Catholic Trust for England and Wales. CSAS are<br />
the Registered Body for the Disclosure and Barring<br />
Service (DBS) and ensure that all DBS Disclosure<br />
applications comply with the national policies and<br />
the conditions set by the DBS.<br />
In-line with the Charity Commission guidance<br />
to improve safeguarding arrangements within<br />
charities, the Archdiocese has appointed a named<br />
Safeguarding Trustee to ensure the reporting<br />
of critical incidents to the Commission. The<br />
safeguarding team continues to learn, develop<br />
and improve the safeguarding function of the<br />
Archdiocese. This progress included:<br />
• Recruited 3 new posts – a Head of Safeguarding,<br />
Safeguarding Officer and a Case Review Officer<br />
• The implementation of an electronic case<br />
management system<br />
• The completion of the review of all<br />
Safeguarding Plans and ongoing monitoring<br />
arrangements<br />
• An on-going historic case review<br />
• An improved DBS system<br />
• Programme for the commencement of<br />
volunteer DBS re-checks<br />
• Development of improved training strategy<br />
and programme<br />
• Implementation of mandatory requirement for<br />
clergy to complete “Educare” training modules<br />
• The development of a data set to allow<br />
oversight of performance<br />
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual<br />
Abuse (IICSA) published their findings<br />
relating to the institutional response of the<br />
Catholic Church of England and Wales in its<br />
duty of care to protect children from sexual<br />
abuse and exploitation. The Catholic Church<br />
welcomed the IICSA report and will ensure<br />
that the report will now inform the ongoing<br />
reform and improvement of safeguarding in<br />
all aspects of the Church’s life. The Church<br />
recognised an important aspect of the<br />
Inquiry’s work was the voice given to<br />
victims and survivors of abuse, including<br />
the accounts which they gave of their<br />
subsequent engagement with the Church.<br />
Listening attentively to their witness<br />
testimony has brought into sharp focus the<br />
importance to learn from those most directly<br />
affected as to how we can improve the<br />
Church’s safeguarding standards, policies<br />
and procedures. This report is an important<br />
moment in the safeguarding journey of<br />
Catholic Church and we will continue to<br />
integrate the findings into the life and<br />
work of the Church in order to consistently<br />
safeguard children and the vulnerable.<br />
An Independent Review of the Structure<br />
of Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in<br />
England and Wales was also commissioned.<br />
Recommendations have been made to<br />
further improve the safeguarding service<br />
and will be included into the Archdiocese<br />
Improvement Plan during 2021 to include all<br />
actions arising from this review. The reviews<br />
recommendations included;<br />
• Re-structure of national model<br />
• Audit and review function<br />
• Defining safeguarding standards<br />
• Restructuring of Institutes of<br />
Consecrated Life and Societies of<br />
Apostolic Life<br />
• Training<br />
• A National Tribunal Service<br />
There has also been the introduction of ‘Safe<br />
Spaces’, a collaborative project developed<br />
between the Catholic Church and the<br />
Church of England to provide a space for the<br />
voices of victims and survivors to be heard.<br />
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