The CSSA confirms safeguarding audit judgements on seven religious life groups

3 March 2025

In the first audit of their safeguarding practice today, seven religious life groups have been judged by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) to be graded as follows:

Congregation of our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle:   Met with Recommendations

Daughters of the Cross of Liege:   Comprehensive Assurance

Daughters of Wisdom:   Met with Recommendations

Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal St Clare Convent:    Met with Recommendations

Sisters of the Holy Family of St Emilie:   Met with Recommendations

Society of the Divine Saviour (Salvatorians):   Exemplary

St Augustine’s Abbey, Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, Order of St Benedict (Chilworth Abbey):  Met with Recommendations

The Inspectorate for England and Wales report that these religious life groups demonstrate clear evidence of working towards the eight national safeguarding standards. They were individually able to satisfy independent analysts from within the CSSA about how they help keep people safe.

Steve Ashley, Chief Executive Officer, CSSA says: “These results of our baseline audits of religious life groups, show that these specific church bodies are achieving the standards expected and exceeding in some areas. It is particularly significant to see the first ‘Exemplary’ grading – the highest possible – given to the Salvatorians.

Each one must keep sustaining and improving. Only this way can they assure a wider public that everything possible is being done to help prevent harm.

CSSA safeguarding audits for larger religious life groups range on a scale from: ‘below basic’, ‘basic’, ‘early progress’, ‘firm progress’, ‘comprehensive assurance’ and ‘exemplary’.

For smaller religious life groups, grades range from:  ‘not met’, ‘met with recommendations’ and ‘met’. In each case, the overall grading represents a combination of their scoring across eight areas of work relating to safeguarding standards.

The CSSA publish the safeguarding audit and inspection results from every Catholic Church body in England and Wales. You can find the audits for religious life groups HERE.

ENDS

More information about the CSSA’s audit and inspection process can be found  HERE

 Journalists: to speak with Steve Ashley, CEO, please initially contact Sarah Gleadall: sarah.gleadall@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk