*Our INEQE Safeguarding Surveys are now closed*
The Diocese of Leicester and Leicester Cathedral have taken part in an independent safeguarding audit carried out by the INEQE Safeguarding Group.
INEQE has been appointed by the Archbishops’ Council to take an independent look at safeguarding across Church of England dioceses and cathedrals, as well as the National Safeguarding Team.
They want to check how things are working day to day and help us make sure our churches and worshipping communities are places where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.
Once published, INEQE’s independent safeguarding audit report will be made available on their website, as well as our diocesan and cathedral sites.
Audit timeframe:
June 2026: Evidence Submission
Our team to submitted evidence of our safeguarding practices.
June 2026: Surveys
Online surveys were live to the whole diocese, hosted on INEQE’s webpages.
October 2026: Audit Visits
INEQE Auditors visit the diocese and cathedral to review practice, gather evidence and hear more voices.
January 2027: Report Published
The full report published online with comment from senior staff.
Most dioceses have received over 30 recommendations.
The National Safeguarding Standards
INEQE are carrying out the audit in relation to five safeguarding standards that were established by the National Safeguarding Team of the Church of England.
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.
Find out more about the standards here.
Support
If you need advice about a safeguarding matter, please visit our diocesan website safeguarding pages or contact the diocesan safeguarding team.
Alternatively, call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk
Read more about the Safeguarding Audit on the INEQE website.