Safeguarding update

Bishop Julie Conalty, Bishop of Birkenhead and lead bishop for safeguarding in the Diocese of Chester, has thanked everyone who contributed to the recently published independent safeguarding audit and reaffirmed the Diocese's commitment to implementing its recommendations.

The INEQE independent audit of the Diocese of Chester and Chester Cathedral was published on 1 September this year, providing an independent assessment of safeguarding arrangements, culture and practice across both institutions

Reflecting on the report, Bishop Julie, Chair of the Safeguarding Executive Group, expressed her gratitude to the many people who took part in the process and helped ensure that a wide range of experiences and perspectives were heard.

"I am grateful to the 1,317 people who completed the audit questionnaires, to those who took part in the six focus groups and to the 91 people who engaged individually with the auditors.

"Thank you to everybody who took part. It's been a really constructive process."

The audit represents one of the most extensive safeguarding reviews undertaken within a Church context, drawing on feedback from clergy, lay leaders, volunteers, staff, survivors and other members of church communities across the Diocese and Cathedral.

While recognising the significant progress that has been made in recent years, Bishop Julie said it was important to acknowledge past shortcomings and remain committed to learning and improvement.

"I'd like to be celebratory because I am really proud of the progress we've made in the Diocese and Cathedral over the last few years in safeguarding.

"But also I need to recognise that there have been failings in the past and that we don't always get things right."

The audit identifies a number of strengths and areas where further development is needed. In response, work is already underway to develop a detailed action plan to address the recommendations and build on the progress that has been made.

"The audit does give us some actions that we need to take and what I want to say now is that's what we're going to be doing."

Bishop Julie said the focus now would be on carefully considering each recommendation and ensuring that the Diocese and Cathedral continue to strengthen safeguarding practice at every level.

"We're drawing up an action plan in response to the recommendations and we're going to carefully look at how we take forward those recommendations as we continue to build on progress, as we tackle those areas in which we're weakest and as we enact the things that we've been told we ought to do."

She added that safeguarding remains a shared responsibility and that the findings of the audit provide a valuable opportunity for continued growth, accountability and learning.

The Diocese of Chester and Chester Cathedral will now work through the audit's recommendations and publish further information about the action plan and progress made in due course.