AN INDEPENDENT audit of safeguarding in the diocese of Oxford has found a “solid safeguarding foundation” upon which improvements in training, survivor engagement, and individual safety plans can be made.
As part of the ongoing national audit programme, INEQE Safeguarding Group analysed 250 documents in the diocese before conducting interviews with church staff and volunteers, victims and survivors, and others; six focus groups; and analysing information from responses to a confidential contact form. The report also includes 335 anonymous survey responses.
Progress by the diocesan board of finance (DBF), overseen by the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel, has been “strong” in response to the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) audit, PCR2 findings, and Lessons Learned Reviews, it says. The various “considerations” have been actioned.
The report points to the “extremely high profile” case of a former churchwarden in the diocese, Benjamin Field, who, in 2019, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Peter Farquhar in 2015 (News, 25 October 2019). The INEQE report says: “Some individuals are receiving ongoing support as a result of this case, and parishes continue to be encouraged to question when things do not seem right.”
Training on the abuse of trust and power dynamics has been conducted to address issues of culture, and the result has been “positive”, the INEQE report says. Efforts surrounding inclusion, disability, and equality have also “accelerated” with the establishment of a diocesan policy and an LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy.
On leadership, the report states: “The Bishop of Oxford [Dr Steven Croft] is reflective and consciously applies the lessons that he has personally learnt during his tenure. He acknowledges past criticism and accepts the need to demonstrate that leadership in the Church has learnt from past errors of judgement.”
He is “clear” about his position and responsibilities, and is “an active safeguarding voice at national level”. The Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, who is the diocese’s appointed lead safeguarding bishop, is also praised as being “well informed, highly effective” and as having “built a significant level of knowledge and expertise”.
Parish safeguarding officers, the diocesan website, and working policies are particularly commended, as is the late Bishop of Buckingham, Alan Wilson, for his work with victims and survivors.
But the audit is clear that “safety plans” for individuals of concern — those who pose a risk of harm — should include a clause to ensure that this includes other churches and church settings.
“The Audit acknowledges that the national template itself does not take account of the likelihood of an offender attending multiple Church or Church-related settings. The issues related to the national template will be drawn to the attention of the NST [National Safeguarding Team].”
It also takes a dim view of a safety plan being discussed with the individual of concern within the home of a parish safeguarding officer. “Given such plans involve individuals who are known to pose a risk of harm, the Audit do not consider such an approach to be good practice either in terms of staff/volunteer safety or reinforcing the formality attached to these arrangements.”
Among the 40 recommendations are the expansion of safeguarding training, the appointment of a director of safeguarding, and that the Bishop’s Council and safeguarding panel carry out a skills, inclusion, and diversity audit.
The DBF should create a “standalone safeguarding risk register”, provide “reassurance regarding relevant religious communities”, and “develop a better understanding of the range and safeguarding arrangements applied in such settings”.
No recommendations are made about the clergy blue files, because these are currently subject to a national review.
The audit concludes: “Notwithstanding the stubborn and very real challenges the DBF has faced over recent years, its culture and leadership has developed to a position of strength.”
And, while further work is needed in some areas, including victim and survivor engagement, “given the significant strengths highlighted . . . the DBF only needs to reinforce its capacity and implement the recommendations herein to become an exemplar in its field.”
Dr Croft thanked the PSOs and others commended in the report.
Unlike in other dioceses, as a Royal Peculiar, Christ Church Cathedral has been audited separately.