New RLSS Safeguarding Training for Elderly Members of Religious Life

The Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) is delighted to announce a collection of new safeguarding training modules for the care and protection of elderly members of Religious Life Groups (RLGs). These courses have been generously sponsored by the Porticus Foundation and developed in close collaboration with the Conference of Religious (CoR).

This project has been created to strengthen the support available to religious in England and Wales, ensuring that those in later life are safeguarded with dignity, compassion, and best practice.

Since the first course was launched in March, uptake has been encouraging:

• Over 200 participants have attended Communicating and Supporting those with Dementia.

• The Safe Recruitment course launched in July and has already had 37 attendees.

• In September, the much-anticipated Safeguarding the Elderly Needing Care session was fully booked with 20 participants.

• In October, the series will expand further with the launch of Understanding Care Needs Assessments.

Over the coming months, RLSS will continue to roll out these tailored training opportunities, focusing on practical skills, awareness, and the unique needs of elderly members in religious life. These sessions aim to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to recognise risks, respond appropriately, and create environments where safety and wellbeing remain at the heart of community life.

Upcoming Courses

Safeguarding the Elderly Needing Care
Tailored for religious members, lay staff, and volunteers who care for elderly adults. Includes scenario-based discussions and case studies to build confidence in recognising, responding to, and reporting safeguarding concerns.
Dates (via Zoom):

• Monday 20 October, 10:00–12:00

• Tuesday 4 November, 10:00–12:00

• Thursday 11 December, 14:30–16:30

Understanding Care Needs Assessments
An introductory overview of Care Needs Assessments carried out by Social Care Practitioners. Covers legal principles, eligibility, care planning, referrals, and decision-making where mental capacity is a concern. Useful for anyone supporting or living with an adult whose needs may require assessment.
Dates:

• Thursday 23 October, 14:00–15:30

• Thursday 11 December, 10:00–11:30

Caring with Confidence: Communicating and Supporting those with Dementia
Explores how dementia affects communication and behaviour, offering practical strategies for positive interaction and managing distressing behaviours.
Dates:

• Wednesday 29 October, 10:00–11:30

• Tuesday 11 November, 13:30–15:00

• Monday 15 December, 10:00–12:00

Safe Recruitment
Designed to support those responsible for hiring staff and volunteers. Covers best practice at every stage of the process to ensure safe, responsible, and transparent recruitment, creating a culture of vigilance and accountability.
Dates:

• Thursday 2 October, 15:00–17:00

• Tuesday 25 November, 14:00–16:00

• Monday 1 December, 10:00–12:00

For further details, to book a place, or to discuss RLSS delivering a session specifically for your RLG, please email training@religioussafeguarding.org

Statement from the Conference of Religious of England and Wales on the publication of the final report by the Panel of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse:

The Conference of Religious of England and Wales (CoR) would like to thank IICSA for bringing to light the acute suffering that has been inflicted over many years, and for giving victims and survivors the chance to recount their experience and to share the impact that abuse has had on their lives. We are wholeheartedly committed to learning lessons from this Inquiry and making every effort to ensure that such abuse can never happen again.  

We would like to express profound sadness and sorrow to all individuals who have been the victims and survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy, men and women in Religious congregations and those in positions of responsibility within Roman Catholic institutions.  

We are hopeful of the new structure that is now in place – the Religious Life Safeguarding Service – which has been created to replace the previous alignment arrangements with dioceses.  The RLSS is an independent team of safeguarding professionals, offering safeguarding services to the Religious of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.  

For the last twelve months, we have nominated a ‘Religious Safeguarding Lead’ – in response to IICSA’s recommendation for there to be a lead Bishop and a lead Religious for safeguarding within the Catholic Church. 

As Christians we approach safeguarding with a determination to protect people from harm - especially when they are particularly vulnerable. We acknowledge that in the past the needs of the vulnerable have not been paramount and we wholeheartedly embrace the renewed  approach to safeguarding within the Church – and continue to pray for all those who have suffered.