The Diocese of Blackburn as a whole has a ‘strong commitment to safeguarding’ according to the findings of a newly-published independent audit.  

Meanwhile, Blackburn Cathedral’s approach to safeguarding requires ‘urgent improvement’.

The audit was carried out by the INEQE Safeguarding Group as part of a rolling programme across The Church of England to be completed by 2028 and involving all dioceses. It was commissioned by The Archbishop’s Council in conjunction with the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST).

It assesses safeguarding arrangements against National Safeguarding Standards to gauge how effectively Dioceses and Cathedrals are fostering environments where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.

In this context, the independent audit, which is published today, concludes that there is a strong commitment to safeguarding in the diocese, driven and supported by the parish safeguarding officers and the diocesan safeguarding team.

The diocese works with a ‘safeguarding first approach prioritising the safety of people and not hesitating, when appropriate, to make difficult decisions’. In addition, the survivors’ Consultative Group provides a valuable platform to build upon to ensure that victim and survivors' voices are heard.

Key messages from the audit report for the diocese include:

• Survey responders using words like ‘inclusive’ and ‘collaborative’ to describe  safeguarding culture
• A Diocesan Safeguarding Team that has a survivor-centred approach, recognising individual needs and empowering survivors to direct their own care
• Local practice in safer recruitment is effective, including comprehensive training for recruitment personnel and accessible online resources
• Safeguarding awareness is actively promoted through drop-in sessions, peer networking, collaboration with regional and national networks and diocesan communications, including regular ebulletins and easy access to key information on the Diocesan website
• The diocese has ‘a thorough approach to its prevention activity’
• Early reporting and open dialogue is encouraged at all times
• There is ‘strong use of safeguarding plans’ including multi-agency collaboration and the setting out of clear expectations
• And training is accessible with tailored courses available meeting specific needs

To further enhance its safeguarding work the audit also makes a series of key recommendations to strengthen all aspects of what the report describes as a Diocese which is on a ‘positive trajectory’ with a ‘strong commitment to safeguarding’ and a clear ‘safeguarding first approach’ guiding decisions at all times.

These recommendations for the diocese include addressing capacity constraints within the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (DST). Doing this, the report says, will support considerations of how the Diocese might reconfigure safeguarding arrangements to deliver clearly autonomous and operationally independent safeguarding.

Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn, responded today saying: “The outcome of the audit into our safeguarding work across the whole Diocese of Blackburn is a fair assessment of the progress made in our ongoing work to make the Church a safer place.

“I am grateful to INEQE for highlighting areas which will be avenues for improvement and have already set to work on a number of these. For example, the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) directors, have already appointed a further case worker to the Safeguarding Team.

“We have also taken steps to grow our survivor group which advises the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) making sure survivors of abuse are at the centre of decision making in safeguarding matters and ensuring that their voice will be heard. INEQE also identified our Parish Safeguarding Officers as key partners in our work.”

At the same time as carrying out the audit of the Diocese, INEQE Safeguarding Group also conducted a similar independent audit of Blackburn Cathedral. Together these audits make up parts 1 and 2 of the report issued today.

• You can read the full audit report here on the Church of England website or here on the INEQE website.

While Dioceses and Cathedrals are both part of the Church of England they operate as distinct entities, with the Cathedral in any Diocese functioning independently as a charity with responsibility for its own autonomous safeguarding arrangements.

The audit of Blackburn Cathedral does acknowledge positive aspects within the Cathedral's approach to safeguarding (particularly in relation to good practice for safeguarding in the choir school and the commitment of some leaders, staff, and volunteers); but overall it also highlights what it describes as ‘critical vulnerabilities that demand urgent and comprehensive attention’.

It goes on to say there has been ‘questionable decision-making, inadequate safeguarding capacity and expertise, poor communication, inconsistencies in practice, and a failure to embed robust governance, oversight and accountability’.

Addressing the report for the Cathedral, Bishop Philip commented: “The report highlights a number of urgent actions required at the Cathedral and, whilst there is some good practice, significant work is needed.

“I have met with Cathedral Chapter this week and I am pleased to hear their commitment to immediately taking action on the recommendations found in their report.”

Bishop Philip continued: “It is clear from the audit published today there is a need for the Cathedral to act swiftly to make improvements and the Diocese continues to be happy to offer support to the Cathedral to implement in full the recommendations contained in the report.”

The full audit of the Diocese and Cathedral was conducted from October 2024 to February 2025 and included a comprehensive review of 470 key documents; seven focus groups; 423 responses to an anonymous online survey and interviews with staff, volunteers and a broad range of stakeholders.

Bishop Philip added: “Thank you to those who answered questionnaires and met with the auditors, particularly survivors of abuse who were prepared to share their stories with bravery and openness. We are committed to placing survivors at the centre of our decision-making and we will continue to ensure this remains key to our approach to safeguarding.”

• If you need safeguarding support - now or in the future - you can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 01254 503088; via safeguarding@blackburn.anglican.org or you can call Catherine Smith, Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser on 07711 485170 or Sophie Booth, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser on 07468 971759. You can also find contact information on the diocesan website here.

Blackburn Cathedral's response to the Audit is here. 

The Safeguarding section of this website has a dedicated page for The Ineqe Audit which is here. The page contains a short summary; link to the report and other key related information; alongside details of how to obtain further support from the Diocese or, if you prefer, from other outside organisations. 

A reminder you can read the full audit report here on the Church of England website or here on the INEQE website.

July 3, 2025