Earlier this year, to better understand our culture around safeguarding as a diocese, the Bishops’ Leadership Team commissioned an independent facilitator, Margaret Gildea, to run a series of focus groups and online survey with clergy, lay ministers and parish safeguarding co-ordinators.
In total, about 150 people from across the Diocese of Leicester took part, answering questions about the approachability of the bishops and senior leaders in the diocese on safeguarding, the ease of challenging them, whether they felt heard and confident action would be taken when a concern was raised, and how safeguarding across the diocese could be improved.
The recommendations which emerged from the report will be translated into an action plan and taken forward by the Bishops’ Leadership Team and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
Margaret Gildea said: “I was greatly impressed by the number of people across the diocese who took part in the focus groups and the survey, and their thoughtful engagement and commitment to safeguarding.
“While there is always more to improve when it comes to safeguarding, there is clear confidence in the diocesan safeguarding team, and the majority of people who have approached the diocesan leadership team about safeguarding have felt heard and supported.”