The INEQE Safeguarding Audit Report for the Diocese of Carlisle and Carlisle Cathedral has been published, following an independent safeguarding audit. The audit was undertaken by a team from safeguarding specialists INEQE, who visited Cumbria in January.
The team conducted a comprehensive review of our safeguarding practices and protocols and their report is split into two distinct sections: Diocesan and Cathedral.
The auditors have praised a “strong commitment” to ensuring our worshipping communities are safer places for all. Their report has found that the Cathedral’s staff and worshipping community recognise a “robust safeguarding culture” which has been embedded. Meanwhile a “strong sense of safety and a positive safeguarding culture are evident across the Diocese and its parishes”.
This reflects the wonderful work of the Cathedral Safeguarding Team as well as Parish Safeguarding Officers and volunteers alongside that of our Diocesan Safeguarding Officer. A commitment to safeguarding from the Diocese and Cathedral’s senior leaders is highlighted. The Cathedral’s annual Safeguarding Season is also praised, through which we are encouraged to listen, learn and lament from the Church’s past failings around sexual abuse.
The report contains 39 recommendations for the Cathedral and Diocese which we are committed to exploring in detail as we constantly strive to do and be better around safeguarding. It also highlights capacity issues for the Diocesan and Cathedral Safeguarding Teams and there’s encouragement to adopt new approaches to operational and leadership arrangements for safeguarding. The Diocese and Cathedral are also encouraged to explore a future shared service for safeguarding provision.
You can read the INEQE report here and the full press release here.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the INEQE Surveys in Autumn 2024 and the Audit in January.
