Safeguarding Independence

The following message was sent to all clergy, readers, churchwardens and parish safeguarding officers in St Albans Diocese on 3rd March 2025.

You may have seen various reports and discussions about what happened at General Synod last month regarding independent safeguarding in the Church of England. For some people, especially parish safeguarding officers who volunteer so much of their time to help make our churches safer places, this may have felt dispiriting and have given the impression that the wider Church of England does not share their commitment to safeguarding and transparency.

As two members of General Synod from the Diocese of St Albans, we would like to set out what happened at Synod and how we believe it will contribute toward making the Church of England an institution that puts the needs of victims, survivors, and vulnerable people first. 

The Revd Canon Lucy Davis 

Vicar of St Andrew’s Bedford and Dean of Women’s Ministry 

Canon Peter Adams 

Lay Chair of St Albans Diocesan Synod 

What was the debate about?

Synod debated how best to ensure independent oversight and scrutiny of safeguarding across the Church of England. The need for this has been accepted at every level of the Church; the debate was about how to implement it effectively. 

Synod considered two main options: 

• Model 3: Keeping safeguarding staff employed within dioceses and cathedrals, while creating a fully independent body to oversee safeguarding practices, carry out audits, and handle complaints. 

• Model 4: Establishing a fully independent body both to oversee safeguarding (as in Model 3) and to employ all safeguarding professionals in the Church of England, removing their employment from dioceses and the national church entirely. 

What was decided?

Synod voted to reject Model 3 as it originally stood, feeling that it did not go far enough in ensuring independent safeguarding. Instead, an amended motion was passed that strengthened the independence of safeguarding oversight while also committing to further work on moving towards Model 4 in the future. 

The model Synod adopted clearly makes safeguarding independence at the national level an absolute priority. It also provides a degree of honesty about the process towards wider independent scrutiny that the phrase ‘direction of travel’ lacks. The inevitable delay, as extremely complex arrangements for the independence of diocesan roles are put into place, would risk victims and survivors once again feeling let down and betrayed. 

Additionally, we were concerned about the continuity of provision offered by our excellent diocesan safeguarding team, were we to have a long period of uncertainty about their employment. The vital work of safeguarding our children and vulnerable adults is carried out in our local churches, schools, and chaplaincies, and we need to ensure that work has all the professional support it needs to reduce the risk of harm now. 

This means: 

• General Synod voted for an immediate ‘Model 3.5’ 

• An independent scrutiny body will be set up as a priority, likely on a statutory basis with legal authority to enforce its recommendations 

• Further work will be carried out to explore the legal and practical challenges of moving to Model 4 in the future 

• Synod also formally lamented and repented for the Church’s past failures in safeguarding

The Church has not rejected independence in safeguarding—it has committed to independent oversight immediately while considering a move to full structural independence in the future. 

What does this mean for safeguarding in our diocese? 

Safeguarding within the Diocese of St Albans is already subject to multiple layers of independent scrutiny: 

• The Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP): An independent panel that provides oversight and advice to the Bishop and safeguarding team to ensure best practice 

• Local Authority Designated Officers (LADOs): Any allegations that may be criminal in nature are referred to the police and LADOs, ensuring that the Diocese does not investigate such matters internally 

• Working Together to Safeguard Children: The Diocese is now a ‘relevant agency’ under Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership, embedding it in the statutory framework, with similar recognition expected in Bedfordshire and Barnet  

• The Charity Commission: Serious incidents are reported to the Charity Commission, adding another layer of external accountability. 

The decision at Synod strengthens this existing structure by committing to a new independent body to scrutinise safeguarding across the Church of England. 

Addressing misunderstandings 

We understand that there has been frustration at how this decision has been communicated. Some media reports have wrongly suggested that Synod voted against independence. In reality, Synod has committed to greater independence than ever before, with a phased approach to ensure it is legally and practically workable. 

We also acknowledge the deep pain caused by the Church’s past failures in safeguarding. The commitment to independent scrutiny is one step in addressing this, but true safeguarding change requires a continued cultural transformation across every level of the Church.