The Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (PCVA)

The Policy Statement must be brought to the attention of all exisiting and new workers with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and they should be informed of any guidance or compulsory training available to help them to implement the Policy Statement.

The Policy Statement shoula be clearly displayed in parishes, activities and organisations.  Doing so will give a clear message to the local community that the Church in Scotland cares deeply about all people.

Contact details of individuals with specific responsibility for safeguarding, e.g. Parish Co-ordinator, National Co-ordinator, will also be on the visible statement of care.

The National Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NOPCVA) has produced a new manual 'Awareness and Safety in our Catholic Communities' in collaboration with key personnel accross the Dioceses, to inform and support those individuals who have been tasked with the responsibility to minimise the risk of abuse; respond appropriately when children, young people or a vulnerable adult have been harmed or may be at risk of being harmed; and promote their welfare and well-being.

These policies and procedures are evidence of the enduring commitment of the Bishops in Scotland to develop and maintain high quality safeguarding practice for all those who are involved in the life of the Church.  The importance of support, guidance, procedures and training and development opportunities for people working with children and those who are vulnerable is recognised and this document should be used to provide a comprehensive and unified approach to the safeguarding programme.

The purpose of the Adviser is to assist the Bishop with private and confidential advice and information in relation to case-specific circumstances.

The Adviser has a central role in providing support and may also chair the Diocesan Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults Team meetings (and any subgroups thereof) in implementing policies in order to

• help develop effective protection policies and practice;
• support the Diocesan Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults Team in informing and advising the Bishop on good practice in managing all matters relating to allegations of abuse

The Diocesan Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Team is chaired by Bishop Cunningham.  It is made up of representatives from religious life, social work, police, the advisory team, Lourdes Hospitalité, the Diocesan Youth Office, deanery liaison, lawyers, parish groups e.g. St Vincent de Paul, and invited guests from other agencies to help and advise the team on relevant child/adult protection issues.

Every Parish Priest has a duty to be fully conversant with the Policies approved by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland.  Together with the Parish Co-ordinator, the Parish Priest will have responsibility for ensuring good standards of practice.

All Parishes are required to have a Parish Co-ordinator who has been appointed in accordance with the Church's selection and recruitment process.  This must include a 'Disclosure Check'.

To demonstrate that the work of volunteers with children is valued highly, the Catholic Church operates a robust recruitment procedure.

If you see behaviour that is of concern, or if an individual tells you something, you need to take them seriously, and speak to someone (the person to whom you are responsible or the Diocesan Adviser).

To foster good communication in the PCVA office the following meetings take place:

• Deanery meetings held quarterly in keeping with team meetings to disseminate relevant information from the team/adviser/National Co-ordinator.
• Signatory meetings when required to impart/keep up to date with Disclosure advice and recommendations.
• Adviser meeting with the National Coordinator about business plans for dioceses.
• DRAMPT (Diocesan Risk Assessment and Management Team) meetings to make available to the Bishop the necessary advice, support and expertise is relation to child protection and vulnerable adult issues/causes of concern/damaged Disclosures.