Safeguarding

Lead Religious for Safeguarding - Sr Una Coogan CJ

Contact details
Email: una.coogan@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk
Telephone: 07735 535 123

The role of Religious Safeguarding Lead was created in response to IICSA’s recommendation for there to be a lead Bishop and a lead Religious for safeguarding within the Catholic Church.

Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS)

To support safeguarding within Religious Life, the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) provides a dedicated safeguarding service for religious congregations in England and Wales.

RLSS supports its member organisations in implementing good safeguarding practice, providing ongoing safeguarding advice and case management, responding to safeguarding concerns and allegations, facilitating training and development, and ensuring that national safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented in line with the Church’s ‘One Church’ approach to safeguarding.

RLSS Website: www.religioussafeguarding.org‍ ‍

Email: admin@religioussafeguarding.org‍ ‍

Telephone: 0151 5562 311

Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA)

The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) is the independent professional standards body for safeguarding within the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Dioceses and Religious Life groups are accountable to the CSSA for meeting national safeguarding standards.

The CSSA replaced the former Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) and the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC). It operates under an independent board and is led by a Chief Executive Officer responsible for its day-to-day work.

CSSA Website: www.catholicsafeguarding.org.uk

Email: admin@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk

Telephone: 0207 9011 920

The Strategic Council for Catholic Safeguarding (SCCS)

The Strategic Council for Catholic Safeguarding (SCCS) exists to ensure a “One Church, one voice” approach to safeguarding across the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

The purpose of the Council is to provide a single strategic voice by reviewing evidence gathered from the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA), the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS), and the National Tribunal Service, together with feedback from diocesan and religious sources, and offering strategic advice and recommendations to the appropriate bodies.

The National Tribunal Service (NTS)

The National Tribunal Service (NTS) has been established as a public juridic person to support the Church in England and Wales with canonical legal processes.

The NTS includes an Investigation Section, which can carry out preliminary investigations, support extra-judicial processes, and provide practical assistance such as advice and help with documentation (for example, drafting precepts). The service offers support to dioceses, bishops and religious institutes in matters relating to the penal process and wider disciplinary issues.

While bishops and religious superiors may choose to appoint someone independently to carry out a preliminary investigation, they also have the option of referring cases to the NTS for support.

If a judicial penal process (a canonical trial) is initiated, the case must be referred to the NTS.

Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces offers a free, independent support service designed to provide a confidential and secure environment for individuals who have experienced abuse by a member of the Church or through their association with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales, or the Church in Wales. This service is available to anyone aged 18 or over who resides in England and Wales.

Safe Spaces Website: www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk

Helpline: 0300 303 1056

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) :

Statement on the IICSA Report (Nov 2020)

Response to IICSA Recommendations (May 2021)

Update from the Catholic Council (Sept 2021)