ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

Following the publication of the Church of England's national Past Cases Review 2 report, the Diocese of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú and ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Cathedral have published an executive summary of their joint local report. This gives an overview of the findings of the independent reviewers, as well as recommendations to improve Safeguarding practice and culture across the Diocese and Cathedral. 

The ‘Past Cases Review 2’ (PCR2) is a national independent review of the handling of Safeguarding cases in the Church of England over many years. The purpose of the PCR2 is to ensure that all known cases of concerns about the behaviour of clergy and church officers towards children and vulnerable adults have been dealt with appropriately. It was launched in the summer of 2019 and saw the most extensive review of files ever conducted in the Church of England, with more than 75,000 files being independently reviewed - including those from dioceses, cathedrals, training institutions, religious communities, the National Church Institutions and Provincial Offices. The review of files concluded in April 2022.

In their introduction to the local Executive Summary, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, and the Very Revd Dr Jane Hedges, Acting Dean of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, said: "The reports are clear that we haven’t always got things right. Sometimes we have failed to protect people or to take the right action at the right time – and for that we are deeply and truly sorry. But we know that words without actions do not make for a better world. We have already made good progress on implementing the detailed recommendations of the report – and we remain firmly committed to being held accountable on these issues."

The independent reviewers for ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú and Cathedral considered a total of 968 clergy, employee and Safeguarding files that were within the scope of the review. From those files they identified two cases (representing 0.2% of all the files reviewed) that had previously not been known to the Safeguarding Team. In neither case was anyone at immediate risk of harm. There were a further eight cases, where the independent reviewers felt, on their interpretation of procedure, that further actions needed to be taken. For example, in three of these cases the reviewers requested that a ‘lessons learned’ meeting be held in order for the Diocese and Cathedral to reflect on their learnings. In all cases these further actions have now been completed.

Further issues were raised within the review concerning the need for the good processes already in place to be better adhered to and more consistently followed. The independent reviewers also identified at least nine cases of best practice. 

Carol Iddon, Independent Safeguarding Chair for ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, said: "The ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú PCR 2 process was a very thorough review of Safeguarding practice across the Diocese and Cathedral and engaged all the relevant agencies including our external statutory partners. There are lessons to be learnt from the past handling of some cases and we have a robust action plan in place to ensure we continue to improve our Safeguarding practice in the future. This plan will be regularly reviewed at the Independent Safeguarding Advisory Panel. The PCR2 process is not the end, but an important milestone on the next stage of our journey towards becoming a safer Church."
 
For more information, contact Orla Garratt:
communications@diocant.org / 07753454586