A DIRECTOR of social work, Alexander Kubeyinje, who is the son of Nigerian immigrants, has been appointed the next National Director of Safeguarding for the Church of England, it was announced on Wednesday.

He succeeds Zena Marshall, who has been the interim director since Melissa Caslake resigned after just 18 months in the post (News, 30 December 2020; 12 April 2019)

Mr Kubeyinje is currently completing an interim post as director of children’s social care for Herefordshire, and has previously worked in similarly senior positions in Lambeth, Southend, and Bedford. He studied at Havering College of Further Education.

He said on Wednesday that he was “passionate about equality, diversity, and the protection of the most vulnerable” in communities.

The Archbishops’ Council’s Secretary General, William Nye, said that, “while we acknowledge there is still a lot of work to do”, Mr Kubeyinje’s experience would build on previous work.

The lead bishop for safeguarding, the Bishop of Huddersfield, Dr Jonathan Gibbs, said: “While there have been many safeguarding improvements in the past few years, we must be mindful we have not responded well to survivors and victims, and that must be our priority.”