Safeguarding Charter for Victims and Survivors

English Province of the Order of Preachers (Dominican Friars in Britain)

1. Our Commitment

The English Province of the Order of Preachers is firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and adults at risk. We adhere strictly to the safeguarding norms established by the Catholic Church in England and Wales and maintain a zero-tolerance stance towards all forms of abuse and maltreatment.

This commitment is rooted in the Christian belief that every individual is made in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity and worth. Each person has the right to receive care, protection, respect, and encouragement within a safe and supportive environment.

We recognise with sorrow and repentance the harm caused by abuse within the Church and within religious life, and we acknowledge with gratitude the courage of all who come forward.

Inspired by the Dominican charism of truth, and by our tradition of working for justice in a spirit of compassion, we pledge to all victims and survivors:

• We will work for and with you, guided by the professional expertise of the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS), and always in a spirit of respect, dignity and humility.
• We will value and respect you as a unique person, always recognising the individuality of your experience.
• We will listen carefully and compassionately, learning from what you tell us in order to respond appropriately and sensitively.
• We will engage with empathy, warmth, and trust, acknowledging the courage it takes to come forward.
• We will act with transparency and honesty — making clear what we can and cannot promise, and what steps will follow.
• We will support you and seek justice, ensuring full cooperation with statutory authorities and canonical/Church processes.
• We will contribute to a culture of safety and renewal, committed to preventing further harm and to learning from the past.
• We will offer pastoral support from a Dominican friar, if desired — in addition to, or in coordination with, Religious Life Safeguarding Service care.

2. Our Safeguarding Framework and Governance

• The English Province of the Order of Preachers entrusts the professional oversight of safeguarding to the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS), the independent safeguarding body for religious life in England and Wales.
• The RLSS provides expert case-management, independent advice, survivor-led support, training, policy development, oversight and external accountability for the work of our Order in England and Wales.
• While the RLSS leads safeguarding and victim/survivor accompaniment, the Designated Safeguarding Lead of the Order in England and Wales— or another suitable friar — is available for pastoral, spiritual or emotional support, should you wish such accompaniment in addition to or instead of RLSS professional support.
• The Order and the RLSS work in full partnership to ensure that safeguarding is carried out with the highest standards of protection, care, transparency, and accountability.

3. What You Can Expect from the RLSS & the Province

When you contact the Province regarding abuse or safeguarding concerns, you can expect the following, delivered under RLSS supervision and guidance:

1. An explanation of what the RLSS can offer — support, advice, accompaniment — with time given so that you can consider whether you wish to proceed.
2. A safe and agreed mode of engagement — in person, by phone or by video call, at a time that suits you, with the option to have a support person present.
3. Full clarity about safeguarding responsibilities and reporting — including the role of statutory authorities (police, social services), and your rights (such as remaining anonymous).
4. Transparency about information-sharing — what will be shared, with whom (statutory bodies, insurers, the Order or other relevant stakeholders), and how we respect data-protection obligations.
5. A mutually agreed plan for how we engage — when, where, and how contact will take place; what support you need; and how we will conclude our involvement (the “exit” phase).
6. An invitation to give feedback — your views on the quality of the support and safeguarding process, and with your consent, anonymised feedback may inform the Province’s Reflection and Development processes under RLSS.
7. The possibility of anonymised data-sharing for learning and improvement — only with your consent, to help the RLSS identify emerging themes, trends, or areas needing improvement.
8. Access to a Complaints Procedure and to national oversight — if you have concerns about safeguarding practice, you will be informed how to pursue them within the Province, with referral to the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) or other appropriate bodies, with your consent.

4. Confidentiality & Its Limits

We understand and respect the importance of confidentiality. The RLSS and the Order are committed to protecting your privacy, but there are circumstances where confidentiality may need to be broken. We will always inform you if this becomes necessary.

We must share information (even if you requested confidentiality) if:

• you are at serious risk of harm to yourself or from others;
• you report a child or adult at risk whom you believe to be in danger;
• you disclose a situation in which someone else is at serious risk of harm from you;
• you disclose past abuse (whether physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, financial, domestic, discriminatory, neglect, self-neglect, modern slavery, or other forms of harm).

If such information needs to be shared, the RLSS will tell you: who will be informed; why; and what the next steps are — and will support you throughout.

5. Roles and Support: RLSS, the Province, and Pastoral Accompaniment

• The RLSS is a professional and independent safeguarding organisation: they direct policy, handle casework, provide training and independent advice, support the Order in complying with national safeguarding standards, and support victim/survivors who come forward in a manner congruent with the highest professional standards.
• The Order retains responsibility for complying with national safeguarding standards and for making pastoral and spiritual support available, including through a Dominican friar — a resource offered as additional support, not in place of RLSS professional care.
• If you request it, the Dominican priest (or another friar) may accompany you spiritually or emotionally. The Order will be guided at all times by the RLSS in safeguarding decisions, referrals, and the formal safeguarding process.
• Together, the RLSS and the Order aim is to offer compassionate and supportive accompaniment in a context of professional safeguarding standards.

6. If You Need Help Immediately or Want to Make a Disclosure

• If a child or at-risk adult is in imminent danger, call 999 immediately.
• Otherwise, for non-emergency concerns or disclosures:
  • Contact RLSS directly — Tel: 0151 556 2311 / Email: safeguarding@religioussafeguarding.org
  • Or contact Fr. John Patrick Kenrick, the Order’s Designated Safeguarding Lead in England and Wales: safeguarding@english.op.org

Approved: March 2026

Review April 2028