The General Synod met this week in London and agreed an important step forward for Church safeguarding.
After five hours of at times respectful and deeply personal debate, all three houses of Synod – clergy, laity and bishops - voted for an amendment which agreed to outsource the national safeguarding team to an external body. It also sets up a second independent scrutiny body to resolve complaints about church safeguarding.
The vote also commits the Church to doing further work on how diocesan and cathedral teams could also be moved to this new independent body in the future.
The decision means in practice that there will be enhanced independent scrutiny of safeguarding, while still ensuring dioceses can employ safeguarding officers at a local level.
The debate can be listened to in full on the Church of England YouTube page.
Bishop Stephen, who was at synod, said: “The decision taken by General Synod on independent safeguarding is a significant step forward and one I support, as I have long called for independent oversight and scrutiny of safeguarding for the Church of England.
“We must urgently review and reform our complaints and discipline policies to ensure they are both trusted and transparent. Responsibility and accountability for safeguarding must continue to be everyone's responsibility. Victims and survivors must be at the heart of this coming period of change as we seek to rebuild trust which has been badly damaged, and the approach to this change must be trauma informed.
“I continue to be profoundly grateful to our voluntary safeguarding officers in our parishes, who work so hard to keep people safe, supporting their church community.”
The Diocese of Salisbury safeguarding was the first to be reviewed by independent auditors INEQE in January this year. Their report is available here.
If you have any safeguarding concerns contact our safeguarding team or the independent charity Safe Spaces, which provide free and independent support for anyone who has been abused by the church.