THE words “supportive”, “respectful”, and “welcoming” were the three most frequently used to explain the safeguarding culture across the diocese of Lincoln and at Lincoln Cathedral, the INEQE Safeguarding Group has reported.
“Several key individuals” within the diocese, nevertheless, described some safeguarding processes as “dysfunctional”, specifically within the arrangements between the suffragan bishops and archdeacons.
INEQE has been conducting an audit of each diocese and cathedral within the Church of England. The full report on Lincoln diocese was published on 13 March.
The Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, is praised for having a “clear and unambiguous commitment to safeguarding”, a judgement that, the auditors say, is backed up by documents that the auditors examined, and by individuals with whom they spoke.
The report recommends, nevertheless, that he develop a framework with diocesan safeguarding staff to set out clearly the responsibilities of suffragan bishops and archdeacons on issues that include clergy compliance with safeguarding training and DBS checks.
As in previous INEQE audits, it is suggested that the diocese establish the post of Director of Safeguarding, to offer “greater autonomy and credibility when difficult senior clergy and be certain that safeguarding is prioritised at the very best level”.
Another familiar theme from previous audits is the priority concerning the capability of the diocesan safeguarding team to deal, in the long run, with the quantity of labor.
“The team’s willingness to go above and beyond is commendable, but ultimately unsustainable,” the report says. It recommends the appointment of a latest member of full-time staff.
The team’s “low-threshold model of practice . . . promotes a culture that encourages reporting”, the audit says, praising this pretty much as good practice. But the tendency of some people to “use safeguarding channels for non-safeguarding issues” results in “unnecessary pressure” on the team.
To help manage capability issues, the auditors recommend that the team draw up a document defining the kinds of cases for which it’s responsible.
At parish level, most respondents to the audit survey said that safeguarding had improved, but INEQE advisable that more signposting to national church resources be integrated into communications.
Concerns concerning the “timeliness and consistency” of communications were also raised by some victims and survivors. INEQE recommends that the frequency and level of communication ought to be agreed with each individual on the outset, to be certain that it met their needs and that they knew what to anticipate.
In a press release, Bishop Conway said that he was “deeply grateful to everyone in our diocesan family who engaged in so some ways with this essential work. On behalf of us all, I would like to increase a selected thank-you to victims and survivors of abuse in church contexts who courageously shared their experiences and voices as a part of this process.”
He thanked INEQE, and said that he found the audit to be “each robust and intensely helpful. There is sweet news to be commended and latest learning for us all. . . With the publication of this report, now we have been given fresh energy to handle the nice work crucial to go forward, in order that we are able to go on growing safer with INEQE’s encouragement.”
The audit of Lincoln Cathedral concluded that, despite “ranging from a difficult position”, it was now “experiencing a wave of positive change”.
The latest Dean, the Very Revd Dr Simon Jones (News, 26 April 2024), is identified within the report as “instrumental” on this process, and described as “fostering a more open and collaborative environment”.
Dr Jones welcomed the report, but said that there was “no room for complacency”.
In a press release, he said: “We understand and acknowledge the life-changing impact that previous safeguarding failings have had on all those affected. We will proceed to review and refine our victim-centred approach to safeguarding and are committed to creating an environment based on the values of inclusivity, honesty and respect.”
Although the audit report on the cathedral was generally positive, INEQE said that a “significant minority” of staff felt that safeguarding was not fully embedded. “Addressing their concerns is crucial to maintaining momentum,” the auditors concluded.
A cathedral safeguarding officer has recently been appointed, and each Dr Jones and the designated cathedral safeguarding lead (CSL), Canon Nick Brown, understood and accepted their responsibilities for safeguarding.
INEQE recommends, nevertheless, that responsibility for safeguarding be transferred to an “independent non-executive”, to avoid any “perceived conflict of interest” by having a CSL who also holds other responsibilities within the cathedral.
Safeguarding allegations against a canon on the cathedral in 2019, which eventually concluded with a finding that there was no case to reply, led to the suspension of the then Dean and Bishop over concerns about handling of the allegations (News, 16 March 2020, 18 June 2021).
