Summary of National Safeguarding Steering Group May meeting 2023

New safeguarding practice review policy approved by General Synod

The independent lessons learnt review into the Church of England’s handling of allegations against the late Revd Trevor Devamanikkam has been published today.

New working group will bring together theologians, Church leaders and safeguarding professionals.

Past Cases Review 2: Publication of National Safeguarding Team’s Executive Summary

The Diocese of London, working with Lambeth Palace and the National Safeguarding Team, has responded to the Coroner following the Inquest into the death of Fr Alan Griffin. The submission may be read on the Diocese of London’s website along with the Terms of Reference for the independent review .

The meeting was chaired by the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop, Jonathan Gibbs, who welcomed members and congratulated Mark Steadman (currently Archdeacon of of Stow and Lindsey  in Lincoln Diocese) on his appointment to Chief of Staff at Bishopthorpe and welcomed new NSSG member Mark Humphries, Oxford Diocesan Secretary. Mark Steadman will continue on the NSSG in his new role.

Following a recent meeting with survivors of the abuse carried out by John Smyth QC, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has made the following the statement today: 

Following the conviction of Robert Bailey last year and criticism of the reference supplied by the Bishop of Carlisle, James Newcome, the National Safeguarding Team, NST, carried out an investigation into the bishop’s conduct according to House of Bishops guidelines.

A Betrayal of Trust, the independent report into the Church's handling of the allegations concerning the late Hubert Victor Whitsey, former Bishop of Chester, was published in October.