AUDIENCE:
- Internal: Sisters, staff, volunteers
- External: parish and wider communities, other religious groups, media, victim/ survivors, partner agencies (Police, social services, Las, RLSS),
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES:
What do IOLM want people to do as a result of this plan?
- Recognise IOLM are taking Safeguarding seriously and it is a top priority.
- Acknowledge victim-survivors and offer support
- Know what to do/who to talk to if a safeguarding concern arises.
- Understand that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, prevent issues arising in future and know how to react if they do.
KEY MESSAGES
- The safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults is at the heart of the IOLM’s mission.
- IOLM is fully committed to safeguarding throughout the Institute and all of it’s ministries.
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
- IOLM have adopted and implemented the policies and procedures of the Catholic Church of England and Wales, which is committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the religious group. IOLM follows the standards set out by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) and is a member of the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS).
- IOLM will liaise closely with statutory and non-statutory agencies to ensure that Sisters and staff:
- promptly and properly respond to any allegations of abuse
- pass on allegations to the appropriate body
- appropriately support any victims/survivors
- hold perpetrators to account.
Who owns the communications plan and its messages?
- The Trustees
- The Trustees’ Safeguarding Sub-committee. This is a body that comprises of Lay Persons, with a rich background in the police, social services and education, who carry out this function on behalf of the Trustees.
HOW IOLM WILL COMMUNICATE
IOLM safeguarding messages should:
- Be included in management and leadership meetings within the religious group.
- Be present throughout print, digital and word-of-mouth communications
- Actively engage with Sisters and staff when deciding how to communicate the safeguarding messages most effectively
- Contain links with local organisations, voluntary and statutory, that are present within the community.
METHODS OF COMMUNICATION:
Print:
- Newsletters and/or congregational newsletters
- Posters and notices containing key safeguarding information/contacts in all convents and care homes
Digital:
- IOLM website
- Congregational newsletters
- Safeguarding Lead Annual Report
External Media
- Be proactive about communications. Be open, honest, transparent, timely, accurate and clear.
Word of mouth / community engagement
- Training sessions
- Close working relationship between Safeguarding Lead and Head of People and Services.
REVIEWED
Created by Safeguarding Lead: 28.01.25
Reviewed and approved by Trustees: 13.03.25
Next review date: 13.03.28