The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle is leading the field in the provision of good safeguarding practice. Recently graded as “Achieving Results” in its 2024 CSSA Inspection, Hexham and Newcastle will be the first Catholic Diocese in the country to roll out a mandatory Parish Safeguarding Dashboard.
The online digital platform, developed by the Safeguarding Department alongside Parish Safeguarding Representatives, will eventually be used in every church across the Diocese and offers a simpler and supportive way to continue to embed good safeguarding practice in every parish.
Project Lead Andrew Grant explained:
“Good safeguarding can involve a significant amount of work and our parish representatives are all volunteers who work tirelessly to deliver best practice and promote a culture of awareness and support within their parishes and wider communities.
“The dashboard brings together the guidelines that need to be in place, the posters and contact details that can be displayed and helpful checklists that will make running events, recruiting volunteers and assisting the parish priest much easier and more succinct.
“Importantly, it will be a tool through which the parish can seek assistance if required and the safeguarding team can provide the support, resources or training needed.”
Andrew continued, “The fundamental benefit will allow all churches to keep up to date and help us all work together in a simplified and uniformed way.”
This month 30 parishes will be involved in a trial roll out, it is hoped that all parishes across the Diocese will be using the Parish Dashboard by the end of the year.
Parish Safeguarding Representatives or those with any questions about the dashboard, can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Department on 0191 243 3305.