Debbie Innes-Turnill has been announced as the new interim Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel Chair (DSAP) for the Diocese of Liverpool. The DSAP provides external, independent scrutiny, challenge and support towards the development of safeguarding in the diocese.
As our Interim DSAP Chair, Debbie will be working to:
- Support and challenge where the Diocese Safeguarding is now against the CofE standards
- Support the establishment of a new DSAP in line with the agreed terms of reference including the recruitment of a substantive chair
- Establish and begin a programme of work for the DSAP to provide an evidence base for the upcoming INEQE review –including deep dives into each of the safeguarding standards
About Debbie:
Debbie is a safeguarding specialist with extensive experience in education and leadership. With a proven track record as both a Diocesan Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a head teacher, Debbie has dedicated her career to fostering safe and inclusive environments where children, young people and adults can thrive.
As a head teacher and deputy head teacher Debbie successfully led in schools implementing strategic initiatives to improve outcomes for pupils while maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding and pastoral care. Her leadership style is characterised by a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and the well-being of both those who need support and the staff who work with them.
She has worked tirelessly to ensure that those with whom she works build a culture of safeguarding providing training and support to staff, empowering them to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns effectively. Her deep understanding of safeguarding legislation for both children and adults, combined with hands-on experience, enables her to navigate complex safeguarding challenges with confidence and compassion.
In January 2025 she published her first book, Safeguarding in Classroom. She has an MSc in Advanced Child Protection Studies, which she then lectured on for 5 years. She is currently researching what makes a good safeguarding culture for her PhD.
Debbie runs her own consultancy business founded on helping schools, charities, religious and sporting organisations to build their safeguarding culture. Her bespoke audit, training and development processes ensure that the context of the organisations she works with is taken into account, working alongside leaders to ensure that everyone is kept safe.
