The CSSA judges Catholic Syro-Malabar Eparchy to be making ‘Firm Progress’ in safeguarding people

22 July 2024

The Catholic Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain, in the first audit of their safeguarding practice today, has been judged by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) to be making ‘Firm Progress’. The safeguarding regulatory agency for England and Wales report that the Eparchy demonstrates clear evidence of working towards the eight national safeguarding standards.  The Eparchy satisfied independent auditors from within the CSSA about how it helps keep people safe.

Syro-Malabar Eparchy was strongest in areas including safeguarding leadership, communicating the safeguarding message, human resource management and safeguarding training and support. Significantly, leaders were found to be committed to strengthening existing safeguarding practice as part of an ongoing process. Auditors found that a culture of safeguarding was being modelled by leaders.

The CSSA found scope for development, particularly in areas reflecting the geographical spread of the Eparchy across England and Wales. The regulator recommends that it should consider its safeguarding resource in order to avoid delays to casework. It should also develop local guidelines laying out expectations on volunteers and explicit case recording standards. The Eparchy should review the training needs of volunteers across locations in England and Wales, the regulator has recommended.

Says Steve Ashley, Chief Executive of the CSSA: “These results show that the Catholic Syro-Malabar Eparchy in England and Wales should be satisfied with its work to help keep people safe in their parishes and missions across the Eparchy. They must keep improving. Only this way can they assure a wider public that everything possible is being done to help prevent harm.

“The CSSA set high standards, for which we make no apology. The Syro-Malabar Eparchy is geographically dispersed and in relatively early stages of developing a safeguarding culture and practice. They are doing sound work so far and we anticipate significant progress to come.”

Having exceeded potential lower gradings (in a scale ranging from ‘below basic,’ ‘basic’ and ‘early progress’) Syro-Malabar Eparchy have further work to do to achieve any of the three higher gradings possible (namely ‘Results Being Achieved,’ Comprehensive Assurance’ and ‘Exemplary’). The overall grading of ‘Firm Progress’ represents a combination of the Eparchy’s gradings across eight areas of work relating to safeguarding standards.

The CSSA publish the Executive Summary of safeguarding audits from every Catholic Church body in England and Wales. You can find the Executive Summary of Syro-Malabar Eparchy’s audit here.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

More information about the CSSA’s audit process can be found here.

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