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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."

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In God's Image v2

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 2023 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.

The timeline for auditing the self-evaluation of Safeguarding practice in 2023 has been affected by the deliberations of the SCSSA’s Safeguarding and Audit sub-committee which has been piloting a revised Parish Audit form in two dioceses. 

Self-Evaluation resources can be found here.

Timeline for 2023 self-evaluation audits

  •  w/b 15th April 
    SCSSA publishes self-evaluation forms 

    Dioceses forward details to parishes.  SCSSA forwards details to Religious Congregations & Catholic Organisations.

  •  by 24th May 
    deadline for self-evaluation form submission

    Parishes, Religious Congregations & Catholic Organisations review their practice and complete online form.

  •  by 14th June 
    SCSSA provides summary reports

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

  •  by late June
    Analysis of data

    Dioceses reflect on Parish data.  CRSSC reflects on Religious Data. SCSSA reflects on Organisation data.

  •  by 28th June
    Diocesan self-evaluation forms submitted

    DSAGs review their Safeguarding practice and complete Diocesan self-evaluation form.  SCSSA provides Action Plan template to each Diocese.

  •  by end August  
    Diocesan Action Plans

    SCSSA offers 'critical friend' conversation on Action Plan.  Dioceses submit Action Plans.              

  •  by end November
    Report on self-evaluations published 

    SCSSA publishes its annual report on the self-evaluation audits of Safeguarding practice across all Church jurisdictions in Scotland.

  •  until December (and ongoing)
    ongoing monitoring of safeguarding 

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