About the INEQE Audit
The phrase, we’re being audited can create anxiety and confusion amongst those throughout the Diocese but we want to assure you that this is something which is occurring throughout the entirety of the Church of England and not specific to Liverpool. Here, you will find out more about the safeguarding audit and what it means for you.
INEQE Safeguarding Group are one of the country’s leading safeguarding organisations and are independent from the Church of England. They have been commissioned by the Church of England to conduct this audit of all dioceses and cathedrals. INEQE will look at all evidence and information we provide on our strengths and weaknesses as well as visiting us and having conversations with various people about how we work in relation to safeguarding. This audit is mandatory to for all dioceses and cathedrals, with many already completed theirs. The Audit will also be over seen by the National Safeguarding Team (NST).
The INEQE Safeguarding Audit will be carried out across the Diocese of Liverpool in early 2026, visiting us between 2nd – 6th March 2026. The Diocese of Liverpool will be gathering our evidence in INEQE’s audit between November and December 2025. During this period, the diocese will be sending out surveys from INEQE that ask you about safeguarding. We strongly encourage you to answer these with the utmost honesty and openness. More information about these surveys will be published when more information is available.
You may be asked to speak to INEQE as part of the audit prior to their visit. You will be notified of this request prior to their arrival. Again, we encourage you to speak to them with honesty and transparency to allow them to conduct a true audit of safeguarding here in Liverpool.
The overall aim of this audit is to assess and improve safeguarding across all Dioceses and Cathedrals in England.
You can find out more about INEQE and watch a video from their lead auditor Jim Gamble here.
Bishop Ruth’s Message Ahead of the Audit
Bishop Ruth’s shares a message to clergy, parishioners, curates and everyone in our the Diocese of Liverpool ahead of the INEQE Safeguarding Audit.
Letter Ahead of the Audit from Diocesan Secretary Sharon Parr and Bishop Ruth
Here you can find a letter from Diocesan Secretary Sharon Parr and Bishop Ruth ahead of the upcoming safeguarding audit in 2026.
Click here to read the open letter.
The National Safeguarding Standards
INEQE are carrying out the audit in relation to five safeguarding standards that were established by the National Safeguarding Team of the Church of England.
These are
- Culture, Leadership and Capacity: Church bodies have safe and healthy cultures, effective leadership, resourcing, and scrutiny arrangements necessary to deliver high-quality safeguarding practices and outcomes.
- Prevention: Church bodies have in place a planned range of measures which together are effective in preventing abuse in their context.
- Recognising, Assessing and Managing Risk: Risk assessments, safety plans and associated processes are of a high quality and result in positive outcomes. The assessment and management of risk is underpinned by effective partnership working.
- Victims and Survivors: Victims and survivors experience the timeliness and quality of Church bodies’ responses to disclosures, and their subsequent support, as positively meeting their needs, including their search for justice, and helping their healing process.
- Learning, Supervision and Support: All those engaged in safeguarding-related activity in Church bodies receive the type and level of learning, professional development, support, and supervision necessary to respond to safeguarding situations, victims and survivors, and respondents, effectively.
They were developed to show a clear commitment to safeguarding in all our church activities. We are not expected to meet every standard straight away but they do give us the ability to look at how we can improve our commitment to safeguarding. You can find out more about the standards here.
You can also download posters to display in your church showing your commitment to the five standards here.
Questions and Feedback
We want you to feel confident in your understanding and commitment to the national safeguarding standards. We will be publishing further updates in the next few weeks and months as we all work to improve safeguarding in our diocese.
Contact details for the safeguarding team:
Mick Murphy, Acting Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor
07376431466 michael.murphy@liverpool.anglican.org
Karen Williams, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor
07946 189061 karen.williams@liverpool.anglican.org
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Safeguarding Officer Lauryn Dobie – Normal hours of work Monday – Wednesday – lauryn.dobie@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk
Sarah McKeown Safeguarding Training Officer – Normal hours of work Monday-Wednesday –sarah.mckeown@liverpool.anglican.org or safeguarding.training@liverpool.anglican.org
Deborah Doran, Safeguarding Support – contact for issues relating to Safer Recruiter, DBS, Parish Safeguarding Officer Support and Lead and Additional Recruiter information. Hours of work, Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 – 5:30 pm. Tel 0151 705 2124, email – deborah.doran@liverpool.anglican.org
If you wish to report any safeguarding concerns directly to the National Safeguarding Team please email safeguarding@churchofengland.org.