IN GOD’S IMAGE v2 Instruction on Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Scotland Text last updated: 16.08.21 Instruction on Safeguarding for implementation in all Catholic canonical jurisdictions in Scotland and by all other groups and organisations in Scotland subject to a legitimate canonical authority of the Catholic Church. published by the Bishops of Scotland to come into force on 8th September 2021 General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, 64 Aitken Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire ML6 6LT. Email:
[email protected] "God created man in the image of himself, “in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. ”Genesis 1:27 IN GOD’S IMAGE v2: Instruction on Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Scotland 2 Table of Contents Section A: Our Safeguarding Culture 1 Introduction . 4 2 Safeguarding in the Catholic Church: a journey of personal and communal conversion . 5 3 National application of IN GOd’S IMAGE . 10 Section B: Our Safeguarding Standards Standard 1: Creating and maintaining safe Church environments . 13 Standard 2: Safely recruiting clergy, religious, lay employees and volunteers . 22 Standard 3: Responding to safeguarding concerns and allegations . 32 Standard 4: Providing care and support for those who have experienced abuse . 43 Standard 5: Managing and providing care for respondents to allegations of abuse . 53 Standard 6: Working together to develop a culture of care . 64 Standard 7: Training and supporting all responsible for safeguarding . 75 Standard 8: Planning for continuous improvement in safeguarding . 83 Section C: Appendices Appendix 1: The Canon Law of responding to safeguarding concerns and allegations .