Church of England welcomes Professor Alexis Jay to develop Safeguarding

In the world of safeguarding, change is often the only constant. This is especially true for the Church of England, which has recently embarked on a new chapter in its safeguarding journey.  

The Church's Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB), once the beacon of its safeguarding practices, has been disbanded, and a new expert, Professor Alexis Jay, has been appointed to lead the way forward. 

Professor Alexis Jay OBE (Image Source)

The disbandment of the ISB, while a significant event, is not the end of the Church's commitment to safeguarding. Rather, it marks the beginning of a new era, one that promises to bring about a more robust and effective safeguarding structure. 

A New Leader Emerges 

The Church of England has welcomed Professor Alexis Jay, the former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), to develop proposals for a fully independent structure to provide scrutiny of safeguarding within the Church.  

This appointment comes after weeks of turmoil in church safeguarding, following the disbandment of the Church's ISB. Professor Jay, who will be supported by the former secretary to IICSA, John O’Brien, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role.  

Her leadership of the national inquiry into the extent to which institutions had failed to protect children from sexual abuse has given her a unique insight into the challenges and complexities of safeguarding. 

A Commitment to Independence 

The Church of England's commitment to safeguarding has been unwavering, despite the recent upheaval. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have pledged to work quickly to get independent oversight of safeguarding back on track, and have welcomed the scrutiny and challenge that comes with this. 

In a joint statement about Professor Jay’s appointment, the Archbishop’s said: 

“We are very pleased that Professor Jay has agreed to take on this vital role to ensure we move quickly towards objective, independent, credible and resilient oversight of safeguarding in the Church of England. This work will be entirely in their hands and fully external and independent; we will welcome the scrutiny and challenge that rightly comes with that. “ 

“As Archbishops we pledged to work as quickly as we can to get independent oversight of safeguarding back on track. We continue to reflect on recent events and this development is an important part of our safeguarding work with victims and survivors, children and vulnerable adults, as we make the Church a safer place for all.  

“This proposal was discussed in depth at this week’s Archbishops’ Council and there was collective agreement about this being an important next step in the work on independent scrutiny.” 

“We have asked Professor Jay to give us independent and rigorous recommendations for achieving this urgent and vital outcome. ” 

Professor Jay's appointment is a clear demonstration of this commitment. Her work will be entirely independent of the Church, and she has made it clear that any attempt to interfere with or hinder her work will result in her immediate withdrawal from the programme. 

Listening to the Voices of Victims 

One of Professor Jay's first tasks will be to hear the views of victims and survivors of church abuse, and to listen to those involved in safeguarding at all levels of the Church across England. 

This commitment to listening and understanding is a crucial step in ensuring that the new safeguarding structure is effective and responsive to the needs of those it is designed to protect. 

The road ahead is undoubtedly challenging. The Church of England must navigate the complexities of rebuilding their independent safeguarding body, while also rebuilding trust with the public and, most importantly, with the victims and survivors of abuse. 

However, with Professor Jay at the helm, the Church is well-positioned to meet these challenges head-on. Her expertise, combined with the Church's commitment to safeguarding, promises a new era of robust and effective safeguarding practices. 

At Personnel Checks, we understand the importance of safeguarding and the complexities that organisations face in implementing effective practices. We are committed to supporting organisations in their safeguarding journey and look forward to seeing the positive changes that the Church of England's new safeguarding structure will bring.