The Church of England has made significant progress in strengthening its safeguarding culture, but further work is needed to ensure consistent standards across the country, according to a new report from independent auditors INEQE.
The report draws together findings from the first year of safeguarding audits carried out in ten dioceses and nine cathedrals. Based on interviews, surveys and document reviews involving thousands of clergy, staff, volunteers, worshippers and survivors, it concludes that safeguarding is becoming more deeply embedded in the life of the Church.
Auditors found encouraging signs that safeguarding is increasingly being treated as a core responsibility rather than a compliance exercise. Many respondents said they felt safe in their church communities and believed safeguarding had improved in recent years.
Strong leadership, dedicated diocesan safeguarding teams and closer collaboration with statutory agencies were all identified as contributing to this progress.
The report highlights examples of good practice, including improved governance, more robust risk management and a greater emphasis on listening to victims and survivors. In many places, safeguarding professionals were praised for their commitment and expertise in supporting those at risk.
However, INEQE cautions that progress has been uneven. The quality of safeguarding arrangements still varies between dioceses and cathedrals, with differences in leadership, resources and capacity affecting the consistency of practice. Some safeguarding teams are operating under considerable pressure, while weaknesses remain in areas such as information sharing, record keeping and responding to concerns.
The experience of victims and survivors also remains mixed. While many spoke positively about the care they had received, others described feeling unheard or unsupported by Church processes, underlining the need for continued improvement.
Lead Auditor Jim Gamble warned the Church not to be complacent and said it must set a "firm deadline for moving beyond the current ambiguity" around safeguarding structures.
"Real progress has been made; the last thing the wider Church now needs is drift. Whatever comes next must command the confidence of all stakeholders, and that confidence will be built on evidence, clarity and a meaningful timeline," he said.
Among its key recommendations, the report calls for stronger governance and greater operational independence for safeguarding teams, while maintaining accountability within the Church's structures. It argues that professionally led safeguarding services, supported by independent oversight, will be essential if recent progress is to be sustained.
The report also stated that “a small group of influential senior officers at the diocesan level and certain individuals within the national Church” were the primary inhibitors to “progress”.
“Their impact is disproportionately significant, and this must be addressed," the report said.
"That said, none of this diminishes our confidence in the overall direction of travel. The inhibitors described in this report are real but not insurmountable; they are far outweighed by the commitment, professionalism, and candour we encountered across every audited body.”
Commenting on the report, the Church of England's Lead Safeguarding Bishop, Bishop Robert Springett, said, “External scrutiny is vital and I welcome this report and its findings. While it shows that progress has been made, it also points to areas that can still be improved.
"I spoke recently at the General Synod of the Church of England of the importance of our engagement with victims and survivors and of how much I personally had learnt from them.
“I therefore especially welcome the recommendations for further engaging with them as this will support us to improve the quality and consistency of our responses and the care we provide, to help us build a safer Church for all.”
