Standard Five: Management and Support of Subjects of Allegations and Concerns (respondents)
Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 @ 10:27 am
The fifth standard relates to having a robust system for managing and monitoring, and an effective system for supporting respondents.
Each Church body will have in place an effective process for responding to safeguarding concerns and allegations, which includes a robust system for managing and monitoring, and an effective system for supporting respondents.
The criteria which indicate that this standard is being met include…
SMR1: Management
The Church body will:
- Have access to personnel that have been trained in providing management, monitoring and support of respondents.
- When required, ensure that preliminary investigations and canonical investigations into allegations, including through referral to the National Tribunal Service, take place in compliance with can. 1717 §§1- 3, other relevant provisions of the 1983 Code of Canon Law and any lawfully promulgated revisions, Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (as amended in 2010), Vos Estis Lux Mundi (2019, revised 2023), the DDF’s Vademecum (2022) and other applicable law and instruction from the Holy See.
- Access suitably accredited professionals to conduct risk assessments to inform the provision of safeguarding plans.
- Enable respondents to safely participate in the life of the Church through the use of regularly reviewed safeguarding plans.
- Maintain confidentiality whilst meeting disclosure requirements to statutory and canonical authorities.
SMR2: Support
The Church body will:
- Adhere to national policies and/or practice guidance that set out how a respondent is to be informed when an allegation has been made, and supported afterwards.
- Be mindful of the impact on the wellbeing of the respondent and appoint a support person with the responsibility for listening to and addressing the pastoral needs of the respondent.
- Access suitably accredited professionals to deliver professional mental health and other appropriate support when required.
- Ensure that the respondent has access to suitable legal representation when subject to statutory/canonical investigation.
The Church body may evidence that it is meeting this standard by:
- Appointing appropriately trained and experienced personnel.
- Demonstrating adherence to national policy through how they inform, support, manage, and monitor respondents.
- Facilitating leave from sacred ministry.
- Managing the return of the respondent to ministry when there is no case to answer or the allegation has been shown to be false.
- Conducting appropriate safeguarding risk assessments.
- Providing records detailing the steps taken to monitor respondents.
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