The Director of Safeguarding (‘Director’) is a senior leader in the Diocese whose authority is established by the ecclesiastical office.

The Director is required to:

• exemplify ethical and responsible decision-making and enacting best-practice governance standards for the Office of Safeguarding
• provide counsel to the Bishop, Vicar General and diocesan leadership
• work with all levels of diocesan personnel to ensure the Diocese’s compliance with civil legislation, statutory guidelines and Catholic Church safeguarding standards
• promote the inculcation of safeguarding practices as a fundamental part of the Diocese’s mission and in all Diocesan ministries, agencies’ activities and provisions of service.

To reinforce the importance and autonomy of the office, the Director reports to the Vicar General and works closely with the CEO and agency leaders to ensure application of and compliance with the Diocese’s safeguarding obligations, policies and procedures across the Diocese .

The Director is ascribed roles under civil law and Catholic Church standards, to fulfil obligations that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, including the delegate of the Head of Relevant Entity in accordance with section 65 Children’s Guardian Act 2019.

The Director is responsible for fulfilling the mandate ascribed the office of Director and managing the performance of personnel assigned to the Office of Safeguarding.

The Director is responsible for the development and implementation of the Office of Safeguarding’s Strategic Plan and will ensure that its Staff Charter is adopted.

The Director is an advocate for the Diocese’s commitment to safeguarding standards to both statutory authorities, community agencies and the general public, developing and maintain positive and appropriate relationships across a broad range of the community.

The Operations Manager is a leader in the Office of Safeguarding, who is given delegated authority from the ecclesiastical office of Director of Safeguarding.

The Operations Manager’s areas of responsibility include:

• managing the Diocese’s information gathering and provision of advice process known as ‘Intake’
• overseeing administrative inquiries conducted by the Office of Safeguarding, including being the decision maker on findings of fact
• overseeing individual safeguarding risk assessments and safeguarding risk management planning for individuals, programmes and sites
• overseeing the accuracy, contemporaneousness and applicability of the material offered as part of the Diocese’s safeguarding training regime.

The Operations Manager is responsible for the development and maintenance of an expert and motivated team of investigators, supported by the Senior Investigator who will undertake a range of processes pivotal to the Office of Safeguarding fulfilling its mandate.  

The Operations Manager contributes to the development of and leads in implementing the Office of Safeguarding’s Strategic Plan and models and promotes its Staff Charter.

The Operations Manager is a leading advocate and promoter of a safeguarding culture in the Diocese, including achieving and maintaining compliance with the statutory and Church safeguarding standards.

In conjunction with the Director of Safeguarding, the Operations Manager develops and sustains positive and appropriate relationships with:

• statutory authorities and Catholic entities assigned the responsibility to oversight the Diocese’s compliance with safeguarding legislation, regulation and standards; and
• Catholic and other religious and community entities with whom the Office of Safeguarding interact.

The Senior Investigator is a subject matter expert in child protection practices and the safeguarding of vulnerable persons and a specialist at conducting and assessing administrative inquiries into allegations of abuse against children and vulnerable persons, notably ‘reportable conduct’ inquiries conducted under Part 4 Children’s Guardian Act.

The Senior Investigator:

• supports the Operations Manager in their leadership within the Office of Safeguarding (OoSG)
• is a resource and support to OoSG investigators through consultation, guidance and other collaborative practices
• reviews, assesses and makes findings for administrative inquiries, risk assessments and safety planning conducted by OoSG investigators
• contributes to the accuracy, contemporaneousness and applicability of the material offered as part of the Diocese’s safeguarding training regime.

The Senior Investigator reports to the Operations Manager but also works closely and collaboratively with the Executive Manager, actively promoting the Diocese’s safeguarding agenda, contributing to the development and implementation of the OoSG’s Strategic Plan and models and promotes its Staff Charter.

The Senior Investigator provides advice to workers across the Diocese to support them in safeguarding children and vulnerable persons.

In conjunction with the Operations Manager, the Senior Investigator also contributes to developing and maintaining positive and appropriate relationships with external parties, including statutory and Church authorities.

The Investigator provides services to ensure that the safeguarding of children and vulnerable persons are an integral part of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s culture and daily practice.

The investigator:

• undertakes ‘Intake’ which is the process of recording, analysing, assessing, reporting, following up and advising on any concerns for children or vulnerable persons reported by Diocesan workers
• conducts administrative inquiries in accordance with OoSG policy and procedure
• undertakes individual risk assessments and support and oversight the development of individual and community safety plans
• contributes to other OoSG processes, particularly the provision of safeguarding training.

The Investigator reports to the Operations Manager but also take directions from the Executive Manager and works closely and collaboratively with the Senior Investigator.

The Investigator actively promotes the Diocese’s safeguarding agenda, contributing to the development and implementation of the OoSG’s Strategic Plan and acts in accordance with its Staff Charter.

The Investigator provides advice to workers across the Diocese to support them in safeguarding children and vulnerable persons.

The Executive Manager is a leader in the Office of Safeguarding, who is given delegated authority from the ecclesiastical office of Director of Safeguarding.

The Executive Manager’s areas of responsibility include:

• managing personal injury claims brought against the Diocese (including all parishes and agencies)
• managing the Diocese’s obligations to the National Redress Scheme and working with Catholic Redress Australia
• managing the Diocese’s safeguarding standards compliance (internal audit) programme
• overseeing the roll out of the Diocese’s safeguarding training regime
• managing the administrative support functions of the Office of Safeguarding.

The Executive Manager is responsible for the development and maintenance of an expert and motivated team with a variety of professions, qualifications and skill sets, who will undertake a range of processes pivotal to the Office of Safeguarding fulfilling its mandate. 

The Executive Manager contributes to the development of and leads in implementing the Office of Safeguarding’s Strategic Plan and models and promotes its Staff Charter.

The Executive Manager is a leading advocate and promoter of a safeguarding culture in the Diocese.

In conjunction with the Director of Safeguarding, the Executive Manager has significant outward looking responsibilities, developing and sustaining positive and appropriate relationships with:

• statutory authorities and Catholic entities assigned the responsibility to oversight the Diocese’s compliance with safeguarding legislation, regulation and standards; and
• Catholic and other religious and community entities with whom the Office of Safeguarding interact.

The Compliance and Training Specialist (‘Specialist’):

• assesses and determines the degree of compliance of diocesan agencies (schools, early education and care centres, OOSH and community programmes) and parishes with the NSW Child Safe Standards and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (in combination the ‘Standards’)
• coordinates the development and presents safeguarding training material that constitutes part of the Diocesan safeguarding training regime.

The Specialist is a key resource and support for diocesan agencies to achieve and maintain compliance against the Standards.

The Specialist reports to the Executive Manager but also works closely and collaboratively with the Operations Manager and Director of Safeguarding, actively promoting the Diocese’s safeguarding agenda, contributing to the development and implementation of the OoSG’s Strategic Plan and models and promotes its Staff Charter.

The Specialist will develop and maintain effective and supportive relationships with the leadership of diocesan agencies and the parishes in the Diocese, promoting a safeguarding culture that listens to the child’s voice, informs and engages with families, values diversity and reviews and improves its safeguarding practices.

The Redress  Coordinator (‘Coordinator) is experienced in working in the field of personal injury compensation or other areas of legal or insurance practice.

The Coordinator supports the Executive Manager to:

• case manage the Diocese’s portfolio of claims for compensation for personal injuries sustained as a consequence of having suffered child sexual abuse
• respond to requests for information from the National Redress Scheme (NRS).

In collaboration with the Executive Manager, the Coordinator works with legal counsel engaged by the Diocese to act on its behalf, as well as legal teams working for other parties.

The Coordinator actively promotes the Diocese’s safeguarding agenda, particularly in the area of providing a just and equitable response to those seeking redress for past abuse and work responsively to directives given by the Office of Safeguarding Leadership Group.

In conjunction with the Executive Manager, the Coordinator contributes to developing and maintaining positive and appropriate relationships with external parties, including legal firms and Church authorities.

The Office Administrator assists and supports Office of Safeguarding staff to fulfil their roles and responsibilities across the Diocese.  The Office Administrator reports to the Executive Manager and closely supports the Operations Manager and the Director of Safeguarding.

The Worker is a caring, supportive and welcoming presence to all people who attend the Office of Safeguarding.  The Worker manages and assists people who may be emotionally labile and can present in an elevated state.

The Worker contributes to developing and maintaining positive and appropriate relationships with other Diocesan agencies and parishes and contributes to the promotion of the Office of Safeguarding agenda.