A report following an independent review of the Diocese of York and York Minster’s safeguarding work has been published. Carried out by INEQE in March, the audit is part of a national programme, commissioned by the Archbishops’ Council to look at safeguarding in each diocese and cathedral in the Church of England.
The report is split into two sections; the first half covers the Diocese of York, and the second, York Minster. It can be viewed or downloaded here:
Archbishop Stephen says: “It is heartening that the report found the Diocese of York has a sound safeguarding culture, with clear recognition of safeguarding not merely as a procedural requirement but as a fundamental aspect of Christian life.
“The report particularly notes the hard work and commitment of the many volunteers who give dedicated service in our parishes and those trusted with local leadership, who are credited with creating environments within which concerns can be raised with confidence and without fear of reprisal. My personal thanks go to all those who give so freely of their time and of themselves to serve their communities, and to those who spoke with the auditors to offer their perspectives.
“The proactive contribution of our diocesan Safeguarding Team is seen as being central to building the foundations on which the recent improvements in safeguarding culture and practice are being delivered. The report also recognises the strength of the governance mechanisms in place in the diocese, finding these to be well-structured, effectively providing challenge and focused on key safeguarding standards. The report does make recommendations as to how our journey of improvement can be further accelerated, and how we can all continue to ensure that we are equipped to play our part in caring for each other, and for those who come to us seeking shelter and support.
“Here in the Diocese of York and in York Minster, we embrace this report, not simply because of the good practice that it has identified, but also for the ways in which it helping us look to the future, to ensure that safeguarding is at the heart of everything that we do, so we can continue to fulfil God’s command to love one another.”
The Very Revd Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, says: “The Chapter of York welcomes the report by INEQE. We are pleased that it acknowledges the high-quality work being carried out at York Minster. I’d like to add my personal thanks to the team of staff and volunteers who contribute towards creating a safer place for all.
“We also welcome the report’s recommendations, which will help us build on our existing progress and further strengthen our commitment to best practice in safeguarding.”
INEQE Audit Progress Update – September 2026
Following the independent safeguarding audit carried out by INEQE, the Diocese of York has continued work to strengthen safeguarding practice across diocesan life.
As of September 2026, nine recommendations have been fully completed, with substantial progress made across many of the remaining actions.
Safeguarding is central to our mission and ministry. We want our churches and communities to be places where children, young people, and vulnerable adults are safe, respected, and supported. The INEQE audit gave us an important opportunity to review our practice, recognise strengths, and identify where further change is needed.
In response, we developed an action plan covering safeguarding governance, recruitment, training, risk management, parish support, and our work with victims and survivors.
What has changed?
Completed improvements include:
- stronger management of clergy safeguarding records, through a revised Clergy File Policy and clearer oversight arrangements;
- safeguarding embedded more consistently in recruitment, across diocesan and clergy vacancies;
- improved information and support for victims and survivors, including resources available through our website and safeguarding services; and
- better guidance and signposting for parishes, including support for responding to wider wellbeing and mental health concerns, with input from specialist organisations.
- better evaluation of training, with systems in place to gather and review feedback more consistently;
- measuring longer-term impact, to understand how training affects confidence, culture, and safeguarding practice, rather than focusing only on attendance figures; and
- a stronger place for safeguarding within Ministerial Development Reviews, making it a more consistent part of conversations about ministry, leadership, and ongoing development.
Together, these changes are helping to strengthen both the systems that support safeguarding and the way safeguarding is understood and practised across the diocese.
Work still to do
Although significant progress has been made, the action plan is not complete.
Work is continuing to:
- strengthen safeguarding leadership capacity;
- improve engagement with parishes;
- develop survivor participation;
- further enhance safeguarding learning and development; and
- strengthen the support available to parishes and individuals.
These areas remain part of the diocese’s ongoing implementation programme and will continue to be monitored.
We are grateful to the clergy, Parish Safeguarding Officers, volunteers, diocesan staff, senior leaders, victims and survivors, and others who continue to contribute to this work.
The INEQE audit has provided valuable independent challenge and a clear framework for improvement. We will continue working through the remaining recommendations and strengthening safeguarding across the Diocese of York.