Diocese over-burdened with safeguarding cases and sex offenders - The Church of England Newspaper
Chichester diocese is overburdened as the diocese safeguarding team manage new cases and sex offenders in parish attendance, according to a new report. An Independent Safeguarding Audit of Chichester Diocesan Board of Finance and Chichester Cathedral has revealed that at the time of the Audit, there were 26 new concerns that had…
Chichester diocese is overburdened as the diocese safeguarding team manage new cases and sex offenders in parish attendance, according to a new report.
An Independent Safeguarding Audit of Chichester Diocesan Board of Finance and Chichester Cathedral has revealed that at the time of the Audit, there were 26 new concerns that had been reported in the month, 906 open cases and 52 filed cases. The audit was carried out last year by the independent safeguarding group INEQE.
In August 2023, an INEQE Safeguarding Group was appointed by the Archbishops’ Council to carry out around 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.
The audit has revealed the extent to which high-risk categories seeking participation in Church events or services are managed.
At the time of the Audit, 36 active church Attendance Agreements (Safety Plans) were in place monitoring individuals. While the Audit met with a support group for those subject to Safety Plans (“who clearly demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the process, recognising the severity of the situation and equally, the need to support all involved parties”) the report highlights that the number of plans in place provides an indication of the “extensive time invested” in this.
As the report notes, risk assessments are conducted by the Diocese Safeguarding Team (DST) over safeguarding concerns “involving Church Officials, members of the religious community, or individuals from specific high-risk categories seeking participation in Church events or services,” acknowledging that these assessments are “well documented, and prioritise the safety of victims, potential victims and vulnerable individuals.”
Highlighting the demands placed on DST’s, the report reveals that while the team has good experience in managing offenders based on their professional backgrounds, they lack “specific sex offender behaviour training.”
The Audit recommends enhanced training for those who work directly with this “cohort of offenders,” and points out that this is currently an issue being addressed by the National Safeguarding Team (NST).
The report highlights a discussion which took place between the Audit team “an individual ‘respondent’ who was “subject to a Safety Plan due to a conviction related to child sexual abuse.”
According to the report:
“The conversation explored the individual’s newfound faith while in prison, their desire to attend Church upon release, and the details of the Safety Plan. The respondent discussed the restrictions in place to protect others in the Church community, the support team available to them, and the process of regular reviews to assess the plan’s effectiveness. When tested, the individual demonstrated a clear understanding of the Safety Plan’s conditions and acknowledged the associated risks. They expressed appreciation for the support received from the Church community and recognised the necessity of the monitoring arrangements for their own well-being and the safety of others.”
In another instance, the Audit praises good communication and collaboration between a parish, the DST and the police whereby the DST engaged with the police to discuss the church attendance of a “known individual subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).”
The report notes that this “proactive approach facilitated effective management of the situation to ensure awareness of the individual’s presence within the Church community.”
According to the report he Audit “was informed of an informal process, referred to as a “watching brief”, used to address situations where concerns about an individual’s behaviour do not meet the threshold for a formal Safety Plan.”
According to the report:
“This process is typically employed when a person’s conduct causes unease or discomfort in others (e.g., perceived “overly friendly” behaviour). In such cases, a designated individual, such as a Church Warden, may discreetly monitor the individual’s behaviour to provide reassurance to those expressing concern and to prevent potential escalation.”
The report points out that the current national strategy for managing Safety Plans doesn’t take into consideration the possibility of persons of concern visiting other Churches or Church establishments.
The report reveals the extent to which DST’s are overburdened. The Audit notes that “capacity remains a challenge,” and that “the current workload is not sustainable.”
According to the Audit, despite the recent investment in a new member of staff, “the team has faced capacity constraints for a significant period. They are overburdened with a high volume of cases, leaving little bandwidth to manage critical incidents or unexpected extractions.” However it called the dedication of the current team “exemplary.”
It outlines that managing the capacity would require three new posts including a Director of Safeguarding and an additional Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (ADSA).
The Audit reveals that maintaining a work-life balance remains a challenge for the DST. “The reality is that safeguarding work is often pressured, and the team has limited capacity to alleviate workloads,” states the report.
It reveals that members of the DST have accessed individual clinical and therapeutic supervision as well as external support over the past twelve years to manage the emotional demands of their work. It also highlights that there is no specific service designed to help clergy manage the trauma of safeguarding. However, the Diocesan Wellbeing Service for Clergy and Families provides support for clergy involved in safeguarding situations and the DST regularly refers clergy to this service.
The report recommends that given the DSTs workload and its routine exposure to trauma, “independent psychological support should be more defined” within the DST’s support systems. It recommends that access to such support “should be mandatory as opposed to ‘available on request’.”
The report praises current Bishop, Martin Warner’s, safeguarding efforts, noting that “when scrutinising material, the Audit saw substantial evidence that the Diocesan Bishop has relentlessly driven the Diocese of Chichester’s safeguarding improvement journey,” with “a firm grip, a safeguarding focus and at pace.”
A statement issued by the Bishop and Dean of Chichester, Ed Dowler, said the Diocesan Board of Finance and Chichester Cathedral Chapter will now carefully consider all INEQE’s recommendations.
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