High-calibre recruits for safeguarding board

Five highly respected figures have been appointed to the board of the new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA).

The body’s chair Lady Rae said she had been ‘greatly impressed by the calibre’ of candidates.

The new board members are Clare Burns solicitor and former reporter to the Children’s Panel, Marie Connell a former Detective Inspector at Police Scotland, Greg Gallagher a former director of children’s services in the third sector and local government, Pauline McDonald Head of Health, Safety & Compliance at ENABLE Scotland and Patrick O’Meara former strategic commander, Scottish Ambulance Service.

Lady Rae said she looked forward ‘to having the benefit of their expertise and advice as we commence the task of establishing this agency which will have the role of assuring safeguarding compliance in the Catholic Church in Scotland’.

“These directors will shortly assist me to appoint a Director of Safeguarding and a Head of Training who will work with others to ensure compliance with the highest standards of Safeguarding,” she said.

The SCSSA will operate entirely independently of the Catholic Church, with its own staff and non-executive directors to ensure that dioceses and religious communities are meeting safe guarding standards.

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Scottish Catholic news. Sign up today.