Safeguarding – Our Lady of Loretto Parish

23rd January 2022

National safeguarding update

The new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency has been established as an independent body to oversee the Church’s safeguarding practice. The latest issue of the Safeguarding Matters newsletter provides details of what the agency will do (available at bit.ly/3tyeInn). Lady Rae is looking to recruit people to act as Board Directors to support the work of the agency. Details at https://aspenpeople.co.uk/microsite/scssa/

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16th January 2022

Annual Safeguarding Announcement

 My name is Julie Roberts ­and I am the  safeguarding co-ordinator in this parish.

Safeguarding concerns every one of us

It is the responsibility of clergy and lay people to ensure that the church is a safe and welcoming place for everyone and to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected. Pope Francis has asked that families are made aware that they have a right to expect to be safe and secure in “our Father’s house”. The Bishops of Scotland are committed to ensuring this. Safeguarding in the Catholic Church means doing everything we can to protect our children and vulnerable adults.
Firstly, we have a safe system of recruitment for clergy, religious, employees and all our volunteers. This includes PVG checks, references and safeguarding training.
Secondly, we have a reporting system so people can come forward with any concerns, be listened to and have those concerns acted upon. Safeguarding also includes care and support for survivors.

In this Archdiocese, we have a dedicated safeguarding team.

This includes Monsignor Allan Chambers, the Vicar General for Safeguarding, Emma Boothroyd, our Safeguarding Advisor, as well as a Safeguarding Officer and Administrator.

The Safeguarding team is based at the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh and can be contacted by e-mail or phone to advise on any safeguarding matter.  I have details or you can find them on the Safeguarding page of the Archdiocesan website.
Every parish has trained safeguarding co-ordinators. Alongside the Parish Priest, they ensure the safe recruitment of volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults in the church.
There is a poster at the back of this church with my details on it. Please contact me if you have any concerns about a safeguarding matter.
The Church in Scotland has a mandatory reporting policy. This means that if an allegation of abuse is received it is immediately reported to the police.  It is imperative that any abuse, historic or otherwise, will be met with a listening ear, and action taken to restore people’s trust in our Church and our clergy and religious.
We do an annual safeguarding audit to assess the safeguarding work being done in every parish and diocese
Archbishop Leo Cushley, and the Safeguarding Team are grateful for all the hard work done by the parish safeguarding co-ordinators and volunteers in every parish across the Archdiocese in keeping the Church a welcoming and safe place for all.       
Thank-you.
May I personally thanks Julie in Musselburgh and Bob in Tranent for continuing to carry out this vital roles in the life of our parishes Fr B

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