Meet the Team
Our Specialist Teams
At the RLSS we have a specialist Safeguarding Team, Training Team and Membership Team.
If you need to get in touch with any one of our professionals, simply click their name below:
Alan McCarthy
Director of Safeguarding and Training
Alan joined the RLSS in January 2026 as Director of Safeguarding and Training. Alan is a qualified teacher and has worked in a variety of operational and strategic safeguarding roles and brings significant experience of safeguarding working in education, statutory and charitable sectors and with multi-agencies, in roles which include Designated Safeguarding Lead, Safeguarding Training and Development Officer, Safeguarding Business Manager, Safeguarding Quality Assurance Officer and Safeguarding Consultant. Alan is experienced in the strategic review of organisational safeguarding arrangements, the development and implementation of partnership business and training strategies, implementation and management of serious case reviews, authoring and presentation of findings from incident and case reviews and evaluative audit reports, development of safeguarding policy and procedures and the delivery of bespoke safeguarding training.
Alan McCarthy
Director of Safeguarding and Training
Alan joined the RLSS in January 2026 as Director of Safeguarding and Training. Alan is a qualified teacher and has worked in a variety of operational and strategic safeguarding roles and brings significant experience of safeguarding working in education, statutory and charitable sectors and with multi-agencies, in roles which include Designated Safeguarding Lead, Safeguarding Training and Development Officer, Safeguarding Business Manager, Safeguarding Quality Assurance Officer and Safeguarding Consultant. Alan is experienced in the strategic review of organisational safeguarding arrangements, the development and implementation of partnership business and training strategies, implementation and management of serious case reviews, authoring and presentation of findings from incident and case reviews and evaluative audit reports, development of safeguarding policy and procedures and the delivery of bespoke safeguarding training.
Michael Maher
Safeguarding Manager
Mike has a wealth of safeguarding knowledge and experience accrued over 20 years working in investigatory, advisory and management roles across multiple public sector departments (the Disclosure and Barring Service, UK Visas and Immigration and Charity Commission). His work has included managing registered bodies’ compliance with DBS safer recruitment procedures, serious incident reporting, overseas safeguarding and complex investigations. He joined RLSS in 2022 and is currently RLSS’ Safeguarding Manager managing RLSS’ team of Safeguarding Officers in supporting Religious Life Groups with advice and guidance (including trustee responsibilities), preparation for CSSA audit and policy reviews. He has oversight of case management and systems and care and safety management plans.
Harriet Ingham
Training Manager
Harriet joined the RLSS in 2023 and became Training Manager in 2024. She brings extensive experience from the voluntary sector, supporting older adults at the Stroke Association, Age UK and Independent Age. As Safeguarding Lead at both Age UK Camden and Independent Age she was responsible for embedding safeguarding best practice across the charities and also other affiliated charities. Harriet also represented the voluntary sector on Camden’s Adult Safeguarding Board and High Risk Panel, contributing to efforts to prevent abuse and neglect of adults at risk. With a degree in Speech Sciences from University College London Harriet draws on this knowledge and experience in her work on the RLSS Care Project, in collaboration with the Conference of Religious. Harriet is passionate about developing and delivering training that equips RLSS members, staff and volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to respond to safeguarding situations.
Harriet Ingham
Training Manager
Harriet joined the RLSS in 2023 and became Training Manager in 2024. She brings extensive experience from the voluntary sector, supporting older adults at the Stroke Association, Age UK and Independent Age. As Safeguarding Lead at both Age UK Camden and Independent Age she was responsible for embedding safeguarding best practice across the charities and also other affiliated charities. Harriet also represented the voluntary sector on Camden’s Adult Safeguarding Board and High Risk Panel, contributing to efforts to prevent abuse and neglect of adults at risk. With a degree in Speech Sciences from University College London Harriet draws on this knowledge and experience in her work on the RLSS Care Project, in collaboration with the Conference of Religious. Harriet is passionate about developing and delivering training that equips RLSS members, staff and volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to respond to safeguarding situations.
Cameron Saunders
Membership Manager and DBS Lead
Cameron Saunders has over three years of experience of working within the Catholic Church in England and Wales. He holds a master’s in Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s in Sociology from Liverpool John Moores University. Cameron has worked in various roles, which all held a strong focus on DBS not just within the Catholic Church but also the NHS for several years. Cameron is now the Membership Manager & DBS Lead, where he has been instrumental in ensuring Religious Life Groups are updated on best practices and making sure they are upheld not just for their own communities but also the wider Catholic Church.
Courtney Longmore
Corporate Support Manager
Courtney joined RLSS in January 2026 as Corporate Support Manager. She holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Liverpool John Moores University, with her dissertation examining the criminal age of responsibility and the influence of social media. Courtney has over ten years of experience within the NHS, during which she held a variety of roles across compliance, implementation, and workforce management. Prior to joining RLSS, Courtney served as a Regional Recruitment Manager.
Courtney Longmore
Corporate Support Manager
Courtney joined RLSS in January 2026 as Corporate Support Manager. She holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Liverpool John Moores University, with her dissertation examining the criminal age of responsibility and the influence of social media. Courtney has over ten years of experience within the NHS, during which she held a variety of roles across compliance, implementation, and workforce management. Prior to joining RLSS, Courtney served as a Regional Recruitment Manager.
Charley Alvis
Safeguarding Trainer
With over a decade of experience in education, Charley Alvis has built a career rooted in compassion, care, and leadership. Her early focus on pastoral management and safeguarding laid a strong foundation for her transition into bereavement support – an area that would soon become her professional calling. Charley’s dedication led her into the charity sector, where she specialised in suicide bereavement. Her expertise and empathetic approach saw her invited to lead a pioneering public health suicide postvention initiative. Originally launched across Cheshire and Merseyside, her leadership helped expand the programme nationally within just two years. In September 2024, Charley joined the RLSS as a Safeguarding Trainer. She now delivers up-to-date training programmes while also developing new materials tailored to the evolving needs of the Religious Life Groups supported by RLSS. Charley brings both deep subject knowledge and a human-centred approach to her work, ensuring that those she trains are not only informed but empowered to make a meaningful difference.
Sophia Rattigan
Safeguarding Officer
Sophia holds a master’s degree in social work and has been a registered Social Worker since 2017. Prior to qualifying, Sophia worked as a support worker with adults experiencing homelessness, criminality, and substance misuse. As a Social Worker, Sophia has worked exclusively within safeguarding. Sophia trained in and worked as a Child Protection Social Worker which involved triaging referrals and undertaking investigations, assessments, court reports, leading Child in Need and Child Protection Plans and providing interventions to children and families. Following on from Local Authority safeguarding work, Sophia worked in Safeguarding Teams as a Safeguarding Practitioner within NHS hospitals. This included delivering mandatory safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act training to nursing and medical staff, providing advice and guidance, reporting and referring concerns to the Local Authority and quality assuring mental capacity assessments and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications. In her last NHS role, Sophia acted as the Trust’s Prevent Lead, as well as working with community groups for additional needs (including learning disabilities, autism, and dementia) and being a part of working groups for the Local Safeguarding Adults Board. Sophia is currently a Safeguarding Officer within the Safeguarding Team and is currently co-working on a Porticus funded project surrounding safeguarding older Religious with both her RLSS colleague Harriet Ingham (Training Manager) and Conference of Religious.
Sophia Rattigan
Safeguarding Officer
Sophia holds a master’s degree in social work and has been a registered Social Worker since 2017. Prior to qualifying, Sophia worked as a support worker with adults experiencing homelessness, criminality, and substance misuse. As a Social Worker, Sophia has worked exclusively within safeguarding. Sophia trained in and worked as a Child Protection Social Worker which involved triaging referrals and undertaking investigations, assessments, court reports, leading Child in Need and Child Protection Plans and providing interventions to children and families. Following on from Local Authority safeguarding work, Sophia worked in Safeguarding Teams as a Safeguarding Practitioner within NHS hospitals. This included delivering mandatory safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act training to nursing and medical staff, providing advice and guidance, reporting and referring concerns to the Local Authority and quality assuring mental capacity assessments and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications. In her last NHS role, Sophia acted as the Trust’s Prevent Lead, as well as working with community groups for additional needs (including learning disabilities, autism, and dementia) and being a part of working groups for the Local Safeguarding Adults Board. Sophia is currently a Safeguarding Officer within the Safeguarding Team and is currently co-working on a Porticus funded project surrounding safeguarding older Religious with both her RLSS colleague Harriet Ingham (Training Manager) and Conference of Religious.
Isaac Smith
Safeguarding Officer
Isaac qualified as a Social Worker in 1995 and has a wide range of experience in the voluntary and statutory sector. Isaac has worked across many areas including statutory Social Work where he worked on a busy team to support children and families to stay safe carrying out safeguarding investigations and implementing safeguarding strategies to improve children’s lives. Isaac also worked for many years with vulnerable teenagers and was the Looked After Children’s coordinator for the Connexions Youth Service in Manchester. Isaac then spent several years working with vulnerable adults on a project with Manchester Probation Service supporting military veterans who had come into the criminal justice system. Following the end of the veteran’s project Isaac worked for four years at a large comprehensive school in Manchester as part of the Safeguarding Team focusing on offering early intervention to support families. Isaac is now a Safeguarding Officer with RLSS. Throughout his work Isaac has worked with people who have experienced various forms of abuse and has developed his skills in supporting those with lived or living experience of abuse with sensitivity and empathy.
Sarah Humberstone
Finance Administrator
Sarah has many years experience as a qualified Trainer and Assessor within both the Airline Industry and the Police Service. Sarah progressed to the Volunteering Unit Manager within the Police Service with responsibilities for the recruitment, initial training and deployment of Volunteer Police Officers, Police Cadets, Citizens in Policing and an annual 12 week Internship programme for undergraduates. After living abroad for two years Sarah has had a complete change in career direction and joined RLSS in 2024 as our Training & Business administrator on a part-time basis providing support to our projects, alongside her role as a Deputy Registrar for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies.
Sarah Humberstone
Finance Administrator
Sarah has many years experience as a qualified Trainer and Assessor within both the Airline Industry and the Police Service. Sarah progressed to the Volunteering Unit Manager within the Police Service with responsibilities for the recruitment, initial training and deployment of Volunteer Police Officers, Police Cadets, Citizens in Policing and an annual 12 week Internship programme for undergraduates. After living abroad for two years Sarah has had a complete change in career direction and joined RLSS in 2024 as our Training & Business administrator on a part-time basis providing support to our projects, alongside her role as a Deputy Registrar for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies.
Beverley Clarke
Project Worker
Beverley is a qualified Social Worker. She has worked in Safeguarding Teams in London and as a Service Manager in the NSPCC Specialist Investigation Service investigating large scale abuse and allegation management of professionals. Beverley worked as a Child Welfare Officer for the Government in Western Canada where she also qualified as a Commissioner of Oaths. On her return to the UK, Beverley managed teams within the Family Courts in London dealing with children’s private and public law cases. Through this role, Beverley qualified as an Expert Witness for the criminal and civil courts. Beverley was a Panel member in the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Northern/North Ireland. She was a Truth Facilitator in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (England and Wales) for the duration of the Truth Project. She currently sits as a non-judicial panel member in the legislated Historical Abuse Redress Board and as a panel member in the Truth Recovery Independent Panel investigating Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdaline Laundries and Workhouses in Northern/North Ireland. Beverley continues to work as a Safeguarding Officer in the RLSS Safeguarding Team on a part time basis.
Sarah Ward
Project Coordinator
Sarah was a teacher for over twenty years and spent a number of these working with children and families at risk of harm as the Designated Safeguarding Lead. As part of this role, Sarah worked closely with local authorities and other safeguarding organisations to help identify and provide the support required. Sarah joined the RLSS in 2022 as Head of Training and worked closely with many Religious Life Groups to create, deliver and continuously revise the training and resources available for Religious. Sarah now works with the RLSS as Project Coordinator on a part-time basis alongside her role as a National Safeguarding, Culture and Wellbeing Manager in the sports sector.
Sarah Ward
Project Coordinator
Sarah was a teacher for over twenty years and spent a number of these working with children and families at risk of harm as the Designated Safeguarding Lead. As part of this role, Sarah worked closely with local authorities and other safeguarding organisations to help identify and provide the support required. Sarah joined the RLSS in 2022 as Head of Training and worked closely with many Religious Life Groups to create, deliver and continuously revise the training and resources available for Religious. Sarah now works with the RLSS as Project Coordinator on a part-time basis alongside her role as a National Safeguarding, Culture and Wellbeing Manager in the sports sector.
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.