Today (15th April 2024) marks the beginning of this year’s exercise for dioceses, parishes, religious congregations and Catholic organisations to self-evaluate safeguarding practices, and to monitor those practices against the relevant standards detailed within 'In God’s Image'. This is an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on safeguarding practices and to critically assess those practices in a way that allows you to identify where you believe there to be good practices and strengths, as well as areas where you believe improvements can be made.

In recent months, in collaboration with Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors (DSAs) from two dioceses, we have sought to refine the self-evaluation questionnaires to ensure that the questions asked allow participants to achieve this, without being overwhelmed by the idea of being ‘audited.’

My firm belief is that the evaluation exercise should be a positive experience and one that encourages reflection and provides the opportunity to learn.

My aim in time, is to fully develop and deliver a self-evaluation process that allows this to take place, as well as enabling the Agency to monitor safeguarding practice, and more importantly to share good practice throughout the Catholic Church in Scotland.

In my own professional career, my journey and experience of the evaluation/audit exercise has taken many different forms, and whilst there is never a feeling of joyful and enthusiastic anticipation, in recent times reflective methodology and the process of ‘self-assessment’ has made the task less onerous, and less about the ‘stick’ and more about the ‘carrot.’

I would encourage those participating in the self-evaluation exercise to take the opportunity, over the coming weeks, to engage in conversation and focus on being truly reflective in respect of their safeguarding practices.

My goal, is to create an open and transparent environment where practitioners feel confident and positive about assessing their safeguarding practices. I would hope to promote a culture where practitioners are able to have the self-assurance that the processes and practices they have in place, ensure the best possible contexts that consistently allow children and vulnerable adults to safely participate in Church related activities.

I am very much looking forward to seeing the results of this work and I would urge you, should you have any feedback on how we might improve the exercise to get in touch via comms@scssa.org.uk

As always, thank you for your commitment and continued support for this important area of work.