Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults

The English Province of the Order of Preachers is firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. 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.

If you have any safeguarding concerns, we strongly encourage you to come forward. Should you suspect or become aware of abuse, please do not hesitate to report immediately to the statutory authorities, contacting the police directly via 999 if someone is in immediate danger. Safeguarding concerns can also be reported to the Religious Life Safeguarding Service at 0151 556 2311 or safeguarding@religioussafeguarding.org.

We pledge full cooperation and transparency with statutory agencies to ensure allegations are promptly reported, thoroughly investigated, victims and survivors supported compassionately, and perpetrators held accountable. Together, we strive to create and sustain an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the English Province of the Order of Preachers is Fr John Patrick Kenrick OP, who can be contacted directly at safeguarding@english.op.org.

Survey of Survivor Experiences of Engagement and Support

The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) are undertaking a thematic inspection of survivor engagement and support, and the Archdiocese of Birmingham has been chosen as one of the Dioceses to be involved in this project.

As such, all Dioceses and Religious Life Groups (RLGs) have been asked by the CSSA to share a public survey inviting survivors to contribute their experiences. The purpose of this public call is to gather information from anyone who has had recent contact with the Archdiocese of Birmingham, or any other Diocese or RLG. This includes experiences that are new or ongoing, as well as those connected to non-recent abuse, both in a faith context and outside of faith. While the primary focus is the period from July 2024 onwards, the CSSA do not wish to limit what survivors choose to share.

Information regarding this survey can be found via: www.catholicsafeguarding.org.uk/contact-us-and-other-information/public-calls-for-information/

The direct link to the survey is: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=SSQzRY2fT0OpJmB_Xy63KLBEXoG2tlVAm_9UYqKjMSFUOTc5TzlLTEdTWkUySjhaTlU0QURaOU05SC4u

If you haven’t previously engaged with the English Province of the Order of Preachers about Safeguarding but feel that it would be helpful to do so, please don’t hesitate to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Fr John Patrick Kenrick (safeguarding@english.op.org), or the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (0151 556 2311 or safeguarding@religioussafeguarding.org).

The survey is an important step in ensuring that survivor voices are heard, valued, and used to shape future safeguarding practice. We are committed to supporting survivors with compassion and sensitivity and are grateful to all those who have already shared their experience and work in partnership with us to improve support for survivors”