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The Catholic Church in England and Wales has appointed its first director of child protection, writes Anabel Unity Sale.

Eileen Shearer will oversee the Catholic Church’s national strategy for child protection, and in the new Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults will advise the Church on best practice in the field. She will also co-ordinate the development of policies and procedures on the prevention of abuse and the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The COPCA was established following a recommendation in last November’s final report of the independent review on child protection, which was chaired by Lord Nolan.

Shearer said: "I am absolutely convinced that the Roman Catholic Church has listened to Lord Nolan’s report and is taking this seriously."

She said her first task was to discuss with the child protection unit’s management board and a timescale for its work. This includes awareness raising throughout the Church; reviewing the selection procedures and training standards for staff and volunteers, and responding to allegations of abuse.

Shearer, who admitted she was agnostic, has spent 25-years working in children’s services including time with the NSPCC. She said she accepted the job because she was "very committed to making sure children are protected wherever they might be".

Announcing her appointment, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, chairperson of the COPCA management board, said the Catholic community has worked hard to respond to the phenomenon of child abuse.

He added: "This appointment is a demonstration of our commitment to take a serious and conscientious approach to the children in our care."

He dismissed claims that the child protection unit would not be independent from the Catholic Church. "This office will be at a clear distance from, for want of a better word, ecclesiastical bureaucracy," he said.