Safeguarding is about more than responding to individual allegations. For the Church of England , it is about creating a culture in which concerns can be raised, individuals are listened to, and appropriate action is taken promptly and transparently.

Recent safeguarding controversies involving senior clergy have again brought these responsibilities into focus. The recent resignation of the Bishop of Lincoln, following his suspension while safeguarding and police investigations remain ongoing, is the latest situation to raise wider questions about accountability within the Church. Importantly, resignation does not bring the Church’s safeguarding process to an end.

Previous reviews into safeguarding failures within the Church have demonstrated that having policies and procedures is not enough. Effective safeguarding requires clear responsibility, appropriate escalation, information sharing and, crucially, follow-up. Where several people or organisations are involved, there is a danger that responsibility becomes fragmented or that assumptions are made that someone else has taken the necessary action.

This is particularly significant for the Church because clergy and church communities occupy positions of considerable trust and may work closely with children, vulnerable adults and people experiencing difficult periods in their lives.

Safeguarding failures can therefore have consequences far beyond an individual case. They can affect survivors’ confidence in coming forward and undermine the confidence of congregations and the wider public in the institution itself.

For the Church of England, the challenge is consequently not simply to demonstrate that safeguarding procedures exist, but that they apply consistently at every level of the organisation, including to its most senior figures.

Ultimately, rebuilding public trust will require more than revised policies. It requires transparency, accountability, effective leadership and a willingness to learn from previous failings.

The real measure of the Church’s commitment to safeguarding will be whether it can demonstrate through its actions, rather than its policies alone, that the protection of those at risk and proper accountability remain at the heart of its responsibilities.

How Switalskis can help

Survivors of abuse deserve justice and accountability.  If you have been impacted and would like to discuss your experience in confidence, our abuse team can help. Call 0800 1380458 or email help@switalskis.com .  At Switalskis our specialist abuse lawyers have decades of experience dealing with such matters of church abuse and can help you through the process.