Safeguarding
The Church of England commissioned SCIE (the Social Care Institute for Excellence) to undertake an audit of the safeguarding provision of all of the Dioceses and Cathedrals in England. As part of this process, Southwell Cathedral was visited by SCIE to audit its safeguarding provision during September 2021.
The Chapter of Southwell Cathedral welcomed the SCIE report and noted the auditors’ comment that: “Arrangements for keeping safe the Minster and associated buildings and those working in and visiting them are generally good. Staff, volunteers and congregants are confident that they are kept safe”. Chapter has accepted the findings in full and continue to be committed to the development of safeguarding. The next independent audit is scheduled for 2026.
The SCIE report and Cathedral action plan can be found by clicking here.
Church of England Standards
The Church of England has been in the process of developing a set of National Safeguarding Standards since which have now been launched 2024. The Chapter of Southwell Cathedral welcome the standards and are committed to ensuring they are meeting what is required and beyond.
The standards can be found here National Safeguarding Standards | The Church of England
The Standards are essential for the Church to understand the quality and, most importantly, the impact of its safeguarding activity. In addition, the Standards provide a simple construct which integrates the complexity of all safeguarding activity in the Church. All such activities, at all levels across the Church, will relate to at least one Standard. Thus, the Standards provide a means of connecting and integrating what might otherwise be experienced as disconnected activities and also enable the Church to easily communicate its commitment to safeguarding.
The Five Standards are:
- Culture, Leadership and Capacity: Church bodies have safe and healthy cultures, effective leadership, resourcing and scrutiny arrangements necessary to deliver high-quality safeguarding practices and outcomes.
- Prevention: Church bodies have in place a planned range of measures which together are effective in preventing abuse in their context.
- Recognising, Assessing and Managing Risk: Risk assessments, safety plans and associated processes are of a high quality and result in positive outcomes. The assessment and management of risk is underpinned by effective partnership working.
- Victims and Survivors: Victims and survivors experience the timeliness and quality of Church bodies' responses to disclosures, and their subsequent support, as positively meeting their needs, including their search for justice and helping their healing process.
- Learning, Supervision and Support: All those engaged in safeguarding-related activity in Church bodies receive the type and level of learning, professional development, support and supervision necessary to respond to safeguarding situations, victims and survivors, and respondents, effectively.
Promoting a Safer Cathedral
Southwell Minster is committed to ensuring that children, young people and adults at risk who come to visit us may worship, learn, and grow in Christ safely.
As part of their commitment to safeguarding children, young people and adults – especially vulnerable adults – the Dean and Chapter has in place a safeguarding policy and arrangements which include:
• Procedures to respond to and report concerns
• A Safeguarding Policy
• Safer recruitment procedures
“The care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Cathedral activities is the responsibility of the whole Cathedral. Everyone who participates in the life of the Cathedral has a role to play in promoting a Safer Church for all.”
We have also adopted the Principles of the House of Bishops on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk who enter Southwell Minster which is based on the following six overarching policy commitments:
• Promoting a safer environment and culture
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the Church
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
• Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
• Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others
Survivor Support and Engagement
View Southwell Minster's Safeguarding Policy Statement
Local Authority Designated Officer
The National Safeguarding Standards
Helpful Safeguarding Numbers/emails and contacts
What you should do if you have a concern.
You can download this document as a pdf from the toolbar
Further Safeguarding Resources
- Church of England Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance
- Southwell Minster's Safeguarding Policy
- Southwell Cathedral Chapter Safeguarding Procedure (Agreed by Chapter, Sept 2023)
- Safeguarding Policy for Southwell Minster Choristers
- Responding Well Guidance
- Diocesan Safeguarding information
- Safer Recruitment and People Management Guidance | The Church of England
- Southwell Minster Training and DBS Requirements
- Domestic Abuse Training Schedule
- Cathedral Training Schedule
- Leadership Safeguarding Training Schedule
- Training - Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham (anglican.org)
- Recruitment of Ex-offenders Policy
- Pastoral Care Policy
- Safeguarding Policy for Children, Young People and Adults at Risk
- Southwell Cathedral Chapter Lone Worker Policy and Procedure (Agreed by Chapter, Sept 2023)
- Lone Worker Policy and Procedure for Sacrista Prebend (Agreed by Chapter, Sept 2023)
- Southwell Cathedral Chapter Procedure for dealing with a Lost Child or Vulnerable Adult (Agreed by Chapter, Sept 2023)
- Safeguarding Records Retention 2024
- Working and volunteering safely with children & young people guidance
The Cathedral’s Safeguarding Lead is David Coulthard, Interim Chief Operating Officer, the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer Penny Turner, and Canon Paul Rattigan as Chapter Lead.
If you have a Safeguarding Concern
In the Minster
Any suspicion or disclosure of abuse should in the first instance be reported to the Cathedral Safeguarding Team, either Penny Turner or Vicky Thorpe, email:
Penny Turner: safeguarding@southwell.anglican.org
Vicky Thorpe: safeguarding@southwellminster.org.uk
If not available, contact either the Canon in Residence or the Chief Operating Officer (interim) david.coulthard@southwellminster.org.uk
In the Diocese
All safeguarding concerns should be directed to the Diocesan Safeguarding team on 01636 817200 during working hours. For non-urgent advice and queries including DBS advice, please email the safeguarding team at safeguarding@southwell.anglican.org
In an emergency, please contact the police by calling 999.