About Us
How the RLSS Fits into the Catholic Church Safeguarding Structure in England and Wales
The Strategic Council for Catholic Safeguarding (SCCS)
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA)
The 22 Dioceses in England and Wales
Religious Life Groups Supported by Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS)
The Role of Each Organisation
The Strategic Council for Catholic Safeguarding (SCCS)
Role: The SCCS is the strategic leadership body that oversees safeguarding across the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Position: It sits at the top of the safeguarding hierarchy, providing oversight to both the CSSA and RLSS.
Function: Sets the overall direction, ensures accountability, and monitors the effectiveness of safeguarding structures.
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA)
Role: CSSA is the independent professional standards and quality assurance body that inspects safeguarding within the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It sets the Eight National Safeguarding Standards and assesses safeguarding practice through planned inspections, audits and unscheduled reviews of dioceses and aligned Religious Life Groups, sharing and publishing what it finds.
Position: CSSA is governed by an independent Board. It was created as part of the Church’s post-review reforms, replacing the former national bodies (NCSC and CSAS).
Function: Provides a national safeguarding inspectorate. Inspecting, auditing and reviewing Church bodies against the eight national standards, monitoring compliance with mandatory requirements, and publishing findings and judgements to drive improvement and accountability.
Religious Life Groups Supported by Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS)
Role: RLSS is a specialist safeguarding provider for Religious Life Groups (e.g., Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life). It delivers training, case management, and advisory services tailored to the unique needs of Religious communities.
Position: RLSS works in alignment with CSSA standards but is operationally separate. It ensures that Religious Life Groups meet CSSA’s requirements while offering practical support and bespoke training.
Function: RLSS empowers trustees and safeguarding leads within Religious Life Groups to comply with CSSA standards, Canon Law, and Charity Commission guidance.
How the Organisations Interconnect
- Strategic Council for Catholic Safeguarding → sets strategic safeguarding direction.
- Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency → acts as the quality assurance body and standards authority for all dioceses and Religious Life Groups.
- Religious Life Safeguarding Service → provides specialist support and training to Religious Life Groups to help them comply with CSSA standards.
Reporting Abuse or Safeguarding Concerns
If you have experienced abuse or have any safeguarding concerns, we encourage you to reach out through our Make Contact With Us link below. All reports are taken seriously and handled with sensitivity, confidentiality, and care.