Improvements to Safeguarding Protocols at Caldey Abbey
• Father Jan Rossey was appointed acting Abbot in January 2023. This was confirmed through his election as Abbot in April 2024.
• In June 2023 Father Jan Rossey appointed a new Caldey Island Manager and a volunteer Safeguarding Lead.
• In July 2023, Father Jan Rossey appointed a new Board of Directors and Trustees bringing in two lay people with legal/governance and financial expertise. The Board agreed new Terms of Reference and governance structure which ensured safeguarding is reported to every meeting, held at least bi-monthly. The island manager is accountable to the Board.
• Father Jan Rossey asked the volunteer Safeguarding Lead to review the safeguarding files held by the former Caldey Abbey solicitors and the former safeguarding lead. The review was completed in December 2023.
• This led to Father Jan Rossey commissioning in March 2024, with the agreement of the monastic community, an external independent review into historical allegations of abuse made by Mr. Kevin O`Connell. He committed to extend the review depending on the evidence received.
• Father Jan Rossey extended the review in June 2024 to all allegations of historic and non -recent child abuse connected with Caldey Island
• Before the tourist season commenced in April 2024, all the monastic community, employees, volunteers and islanders received safeguarding training. This was to raise awareness of what constitutes safeguarding and to improve reporting.
• The mandatory requirement for monks to have a DBS checks was extended to all islanders, volunteers and employees. The monastic community had been DBS checked in January 2023.
• In addition, the Safeguarding Policy was reviewed and agreed by the Board, a dedicated safeguarding telephone number and e-mail address set up, safeguarding posters displayed at key sites on the Island, a missing child form adopted and the emergency plan agreed with the authorities.
In July and August 2024 the Board agreed the following safeguarding policies and procedures:
• Caring Safely for Others including that every member of the monastic community was mandated to read the policy and sign they had read and agreed to adhere to it.
• An application process for new tenants to include original identification documents, DBS checks, references, NI number and interview with the Abbot and Island Manager
• An application process for visiting priests which requires the safeguarding Lead to be notified by the Abbot, and checks with the Safeguarding Team in the priest’s diocese.
• Managing Concerns/Allegations policy based on the Catholic Safeguarding Services Authority (CSSA) model, including establishing an independent Safeguarding Sub-committee should the application to come under the safeguarding umbrella of the Diocese of Menevia not go ahead.
• Safe Boundaries Guidance for Catholic Priests and Monks in line with 'Caring Safely for Others'.
• Caldey Abbey Safeguarding Risk Register.
Other important changes:
• A qualified and experienced Social Worker who did not live on the Island was employed part-time as the interim Safeguarding Lead in October 2024.
• A Safeguarding Sub-committee was established in October 2024, comprised of independent professional people with safeguarding expertise in Health, Education, Children’s Rights and Human Resources and chaired by the Safeguarding Trustee. Terms of Reference were recommended to the Board by the Sub-committee and approved.
• A new computer system, ‘My Concern’, was purchased in October 2024 which will enable Safeguarding concerns to be stored in a timely and secure way, in accordance with GDPR rules. It will also enable the Safeguarding Lead to produce reports and statistics easily for the Board and Safeguarding Sub Committee and the CSSA and Religious Life Safeguarding (RLSS).
• Caldey Abbey advertised in November 2024 for a permanent part-time Safeguarding Lead who is an experienced qualified social worker and not resident on the Island. The permanent Safeguarding Lead was appointed in January 2025.
• Through 2023/2024 close links have been developed with Pembrokeshire County Council’s Safeguarding department and Dyfed Powys police and safeguarding referrals made when appropriate.
• Caldey Abbey receives the services and advice of the RLSS, which is an independent team of safeguarding professionals for religious bodies in the Catholic Church. The regulator is the CSSA, which will be auditing safeguarding on Caldey Island in 2025.