As expert knowledge and understanding of abuse develops in the light of experience and research, safeguarding systems and approaches across the world are being constructed to improve the protection of children and vulnerable adults in different contexts.
The experience of the Catholic Church in this regard has been particularly troubled and has led Pope Francis to call on all members of the Church to work in solidarity in order to “uproot the culture of abuse” in Church communities. He has called on Catholics, individually and collectively, to undertake “a commitment to a culture of care” in safeguarding.
The SCSSA Board and staff members are very conscious that they have much to learn - particularly from survivors - about abuse, its causes and its effects. They are also on the early stages of their journey to understand how safeguarding standards are being met and how they can best work to assist safeguarding personnel to improve their practice.
Mandatory safeguarding training is required by the Catholic Church in Scotland to enable those involved in working with children and vulnerable adults to be well equipped to understand, manage, and reduce risk and to create safe environments. The SCSSA is responsible for developing a framework of nationally agreed safeguarding training to meet the needs of people with varying levels of safeguarding responsibilities.
To support the development of this framework, the SCSSA has established a Safeguarding Training Advisory Group (STAG), comprising of members who operate in various safeguarding roles, to ensure that appropriate training is developed to meet identified needs.
We are committed to working with others to grow a national Safeguarding Learning Network in which senior safeguarding personnel collaborate to provide an effective forum for learning from safeguarding experience, expertise and research, national and international, both from within the Church and externally.
The development of this network will build on any existing networks and forums for professional learning. Active participation in this network by Church safeguarding personnel will help to ensure consistency of safeguarding practice and the development of a strong culture of professional collaboration, self-evaluation and continuous improvement.
Preliminary work is due to begin to consider how SCSSA can develop a Safeguarding Learning Hub to provide appropriate support for those involved in the Church’s Safeguarding efforts. The components below are being explored.
Information on training courses, specific to safeguarding roles; online booking for some events.
As users log on to the website, their 'learner profiles' will direct them to appropriate training opportunities.
Documents such as 'best practice' guidelines, self-evaluation checklists and planning tools.
Links to video clips, articles, blog posts; webinars, National Conference resources.
A platform for members of specified groups to discuss issues of common interest.
Subscribers with specific roles (initially STAG) will be invited to join conversations in the relevant forum.
Saturday 16th November 2024
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Evaluation report