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We are . . .

working to IMPROVE safeguarding.

The SCSSA provides strategic leadership and direction in safeguarding to all components of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

We are responsible for promoting and advising on national safeguarding standards, as set out 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.

Safeguarding Standards

The national Safeguarding Standards that apply to all jurisdictions of the Catholic Church in Scotland can be found in detail in the Safeguarding Instruction 'In God's Image', published by the Bishops of Scotland. 

In the preface to 'In God's Image', the Catholic Bishops of Scotland write:

"Everyone in the Catholic Church in Scotland - especially those in positions of leadership and responsibility - values the lives, wholeness, safety and well-being of each individual person within God's purpose for everyone.

We seek to uphold the highest safeguarding standards in our relationships with people of all ages who are involved with the Church and its organisations.

As a Church community, we accept that it is the responsibility of all of us - ordained, professed, employed and volunteer lay people - to work together to uphold these safeguarding standards that have been designed to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse or harm."

CLICK HERE to read/download IN GOD'S IMAGE.

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In God's Image v2 Feb 2025

We endeavour to ensure that Church environments are welcoming, nurturing and safe. We put measures in place to protect children and vulnerable adults in all church settings and activities.

When admitting men and women to formation for ministry, and when recruiting lay employees & volunteers, we carefully check their suitability for working with children and vulnerable adults.

When alerted to information, concerns and allegations regarding the safety or welfare of child or a vulnerable adult, we respond with care and compassion. We inform the statutory authorities of all allegations of abuse that we receive.

We provide a compassionate response to all who disclose any experience of having been abused and we offer them pastoral care, support, and reparation.

When an allegation of abuse is received concerning clergy, religious, lay employees or volunteers, we offer pastoral care, support and fair treatment to the respondent and we monitor their conduct and welfare.

Recognising that safeguarding responsibilities are intrinsic to Christian baptism and to the mission of the Church, we all work together, as ordained, consecrated and laypeople, to develop a culture of care in the Church that says "never again" to every form of abuse.

We require bishops, clergy, religious, lay employees and volunteers to participate in ongoing training and to develop the requisite knowledge, attitudes and skills relevant to their respective roles. We encourage and facilitate the sharing of best safeguarding practice throughout the Church.

We evaluate compliance with safeguarding standards and plan improvements to our practice. We participate in annual audits as well as regular independent reviews of safeguarding practice. We provide a process to review how safeguarding complaints were handled.

SCSSA Role in leading improvement

We are committed to 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 do this in the following ways:

    • by collaborating with dioceses, religious institutes, and catholic organisations
    • by regulating their compliance with national safeguarding standards
  • by engaging with relevant external partner agencies, stakeholders and policymakers
  • by developing the culture of an annual cycle involving self-evaluation, analysis and planning

  • by developing thematic reviews of safeguarding practice in different settings


  • by publishing reports on self-evaluation audits and thematic reviews.

Evaluating Safeguarding Practice


‘In God’s Image’ Standard 8 requires that ongoing self-evaluation of Safeguarding practice should be undertaken by all those responsible for managing safeguarding in parishes, dioceses, religious congregations and Catholic organisations.

Each year the SCSSA is charged with managing the formal self-evaluation exercise that is designed to ensure that a consistent approach to self-evaluation is being used in all Church jurisdictions. This is intended to facilitate analysis, reporting and planning. In particular, it enables the SCSSA to gather data and track progress in Safeguarding practice from year to year.

For 2024, the self-evaluation process will focus mostly on quantitative data attached to IGI Standards 1 to 5. This is to allow the SCSSA along with dioceses, religious congregations and Catholic organisations to embark upon a process facilitated by the Kinharvie Institute that will focus on key strategic issues related to Safeguarding structures and responsibilities. 

Self-Evaluation resources can be found here.

Timeline for 2024 self-evaluation

  •  w/b 12th January 2026 
    SCSSA publishes forms 

    SCSSA distributes guidance and links to online forms to be completed by Dioceses, Religious Congregations & Catholic Organisations.

  •  by 27th February 2026 
    deadline for form submission

    Dioceses, Religious Congregations & Catholic Organisations collate Safeguarding data and complete online forms.

  •  by 27th March 2026 
    SCSSA analyses data

    SCSSA provides summary reports: on Diocesea self-evaluations to each Diocese; on Religious Audits to CRSSC; on Organisation audits.

  •  by end June 2026
    SCSSA Analyses considered

    Safeguarding Leads consider Diocesan analysis.   CRSSC insider Religious Congregations' analysis.  SCSSA considers Catholic Organisations analysis.

  •  by end August 2026
    SCSSA publishes reports

    SCSSA publishes  annual  report on self-evaluation of Safeguarding practice, together with statistical data on allegation

  •  until December 2026
    ongoing monitoring of safeguarding 

    All Parishes, Religious Congregations, Catholic organisations and Dioceses in Scotland continue to monitor progress with plans to improve their practice.

Reporting on Safeguarding Practice

‘In God’s Image’ Standard 8 requires that ongoing self-evaluation of Safeguarding practice should be undertaken by all those responsible for managing safeguarding in parishes, dioceses, religious congregations and Catholic organisations.  Each year the SCSSA 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.  This formal audit exercise is intended to facilitate analysis, reporting and planning. In particular, it enables the SCSSA to gather data and track progress in Safeguarding practice from year to year.

Reports on Safeguarding practice are compiled by the SCSSA and used in discussions in various Church jurisdictions.  The Agency's Annual Report 2023-24 provides information on some of the headline issues that emerged from the 2023 evaluation exercise.  It can be accessed here.