In August 2023, INEQE Safeguarding Group was appointed by the Archbishops’ Council to carry out the next round of independent external audits of Church of England dioceses and cathedrals. The purpose of these audits is to make sure dioceses, cathedrals and palaces are doing all they can to create environments where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.
Your views matter – please complete the survey on the INEQE website before 8 April:
The independent audit programme will run for 5 years from 2023 to 2028, with audits commencing in January 2024. Audits will be carried out in the diocese and cathedral at the same time (previously this was done separately).
The Diocese of Southwark’s audit period will take place between February and June 2026 where we will be audited against the five National Safeguarding Standards listed below:
- Culture, Leadership and Capacity: Church bodies have safe and healthy cultures, effective leadership, resourcing and scrutiny arrangements necessary to deliver high-quality safeguarding practices and outcomes.
- Prevention: Church bodies have in place a planned range of measures which together are effective in preventing abuse in their context.
- Recognising, Assessing and Managing Risk: Risk assessments, safety plans and associated processes are of a high quality and result in positive outcomes. The assessment and management of risk is underpinned by effective partnership working.
- Victims and Survivors: Victims and survivors experience the timeliness and quality of Church bodies’ responses to disclosures, and their subsequent support, as positively meeting their needs, including their search for justice and helping their healing process.
- Learning, Supervision and Support: All those engaged in safeguarding-related activity in Church bodies receive the type and level of learning, professional development, support and supervision necessary to respond to safeguarding situations, victims and survivors, and respondents, effectively.
How can Parishes help us?
- By advertising the surveys in the links below.
- By supporting the groups within the survey demographics to complete the survey if help is needed.
- By participating in focus groups when required.
Links and resources:
- Church of England Privacy Notice – Ineqe Safeguarding Group
- Church of England – Ineqe Safeguarding Group
- Here’s a link to the CofE support: Church of England – Southwark – Ineqe Safeguarding Group
- Privacy policy: PrivacyPolicy_IndependentSafeguardingAudit_ChurchofEngland2024.docx
- Letter for Diocese Workforce
- Letter for Diocese Community
- PowerPoint for Diocese
- Poster for Diocese
