The purpose of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel is to provide advice, scrutiny and, where necessary, challenge to the Diocesan Bishop, the Diocese and Chichester Cathedral regarding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. The panel aims to ensure that both the current statutory and relevant House of Bishops’ practice guidance is adhered to by the Bishop and by all diocesan and cathedral staff and office holders.
The panel is independently chaired and is made up of senior church officers and independent members with safeguarding expertise drawn from a wide range of agencies including local authorities’ children and adult services, the police, survivors support advocacy, health clinical commissioning group and education.
The members offer expert advice regarding the setting, revision and implementation of policies, protocols and priorities relating to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. This includes advice on practice and policies that, while not directly about safeguarding, nevertheless have an impact on the implementation of sound safeguarding practice in the Diocese, such as the management and retention of clergy records, the recruitment of clergy, staff and volunteers.
The Panel provides an accountability structure for the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser through professional oversight and scrutiny of safeguarding practice through quality assurance and audits. It regularly reports on safeguarding to the Bishop’s Council. It also acts as the primary point of strategic liaison between the Diocese and the public authorities in East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove that are involved in the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
The current chair of the Panel is Jane Wooderson, who can be contacted by letter c/o Church House, 211 New Church Road, Hove, BN3 4ED or if appropriate via the Safeguarding Team via email at safeguarding@chichester.anglican.org