The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) will visit the Diocese of Dunkeld in February to complete its latest audit of Safeguarding practice at diocesan level in Scotland.
SCIE brings significant experience of conducting adult and child safeguarding audits in English diocesan and wider organisational contexts.
The Independent Review Group (IRG), chaired by Baroness Helen Liddel, initiated this practical review audit work at local diocesan level to consider how leadership, culture and safeguarding practice has developed following the McLellan Report (2015).
The rolling programme of independent safeguarding audits began with audits of the Dioceses of Galloway and Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh (published January 2020) followed by the dioceses of Motherwell and Aberdeen (published January 2021).
John Smith, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor for the Diocese of Dunkeld stated, ‘The purpose of the upcoming audit is twofold:-
“Firstly, to provide to the Diocese a constructive contribution to the improvement of our safeguarding practices and secondly to allow SCIE to draw together learning from all of the diocesan audits to identify common issues and underlying themes. This second stage of work is designed to inform the IRG’s wider work.”
John continued, “The overarching aim of the audit is to support safeguarding improvements within our Diocese. The audit will look to assess progress in the diocese following the publication of ‘In God’s Image’ and the introduction of the safeguarding standards. The Audit Report and conclusions will pose questions for diocesan leadership to consider when addressing any identified areas of improvement as well as promoting areas of good practice.”
The audit process will involve reviewing documentation as well as talking to key people within safeguarding in the Diocese. Importantly, the views and experiences of different contributors, including survivors of abuse, will be sought, and reflected in the final report.
A call for abuse survivors to help with the review
Further details of how you may be able to contribute to the audit process will be available in the week ahead.