The SCSSA website's IMPROVING page explains the agency's role in promoting and advising upon national safeguarding standards.   It explains how the agency is charged with managing the formal self-evaluation audit exercise that is designed to ensure that a consistent approach to self-evaluation is being used in all Church jurisdictions.

The national safeguarding standards are fully articulated in the Safeguarding Instruction 'IN GOD'S IMAGE', published by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. 

We monitor compliance with safeguarding standards through developing effective systems of quality assurance, promoting expertise in self-evaluation and action planning, and supporting the identification of strengths and development needs in dioceses, parishes, religious institutes and Catholic organisations. 

We publish recommendations as part of our reports, following completion of audits and other quality assurance checks.