On 22 April, the National Safeguarding Panel met at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge for a day of focused scrutiny of the Church's safeguarding audit programme. I want to share what we heard, what encouraged us, and where we believe more work is still needed.
What we discussed
Our morning session was led by Jim Gamble and Hannah Paul from INEQE, who presented headline findings from their audit of the National Safeguarding Team (NST). This is a substantial programme, it has now engaged with over 16,000 stakeholders across dioceses, cathedrals and parishes, including more than 330 victims and survivors. That level of survivor engagement is significant, and represents real progress compared to earlier years.
In the afternoon, we were joined virtually by Kate Dench, Chief of Staff to the National Director of Safeguarding, who offered the NST's own reflections on the audit findings. It was a valuable and candid conversation.
Reasons for genuine encouragement
There is real commitment across the Church to improving safeguarding culture, and the national safeguarding standards are making a positive difference, people feel more aware and more confident to raise concerns. Kate confirmed that culture, governance and awareness are improving overall, and I want to acknowledge that. Progress is happening.
Where the challenges remain
Progress is not yet consistent enough, and the Panel would not be doing its job if it did not say so plainly. The audit identified ongoing issues with safer recruitment and DBS practices, weaknesses in case management including the software and data quality, and the absence of a central place where learning from across the Church can be held and shared. There are also real capacity pressures on safeguarding teams in dioceses and cathedrals, people are working hard, but the demands are significant.
We also discussed accountability. Audit recommendations are not currently mandated, bodies must publish action plans, but where progress is slow, enforcement mechanisms are limited. The Panel believes future arrangements must strengthen this. Good safeguarding cannot rely on goodwill alone.
Victims and survivors at the centre
The Panel gave significant time to the question of survivor engagement. Improvements have been made, and we welcome them. But we are not yet where we need to be. Survivor involvement remains fragmented and insufficiently strategic, it must be woven into quality improvement, learning and audit follow-up in a way that is coordinated, transparent and genuinely meaningful. Kate acknowledged this, and the Panel will continue to press on it.
Our position
The Panel has endorsed the INEQE audit process and supports its recommendations in principle. The audit programme is providing an increasingly robust evidence base, and that matters. We cannot improve what we cannot honestly see.
The Panel's role is to provide independent scrutiny and assurance on safeguarding across the Church of England. We are grateful to INEQE, to Kate Dench and the NST, and to all those — especially survivors — whose participation makes this work possible.
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