INEQE Safeguarding Audit - Liverpool Cathedral

About the INEQE Audit

Hearing the phrase “we’re being audited” can naturally cause some concern, but we want to reassure everyone at Liverpool Cathedral that this is a Church of England-wide process, not something specific to us. Every diocese and cathedral in the country is taking part.
This page explains what the safeguarding audit involves and what it means for you.

Who are INEQE?

INEQE Safeguarding Group is one of the UK’s leading independent safeguarding organisations. They have been commissioned by the Church of England to carry out a national audit across all dioceses and cathedrals.

As part of the audit, INEQE will review the information we provide about our safeguarding culture, strengths and areas for development. They will also visit the Cathedral and speak with a range of people about how safeguarding works in practice here.
This audit is mandatory for every diocese and cathedral, and many have already completed theirs. The overall process is overseen by the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST).

You can learn more about INEQE and watch a short video from their lead auditor, Jim Gamble, here.

What will happen at Liverpool Cathedral?

The INEQE safeguarding audit of Liverpool Cathedral will take place in early 2026.
In preparation, we will be gathering our evidence between November and December 2025.

During that time, INEQE will send out surveys inviting you to share your experiences and views on safeguarding at the Cathedral. We strongly encourage everyone to respond with honesty and openness. More information about these surveys will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

Some individuals may also be invited to speak directly with INEQE before their visit. If you are asked to do so, you will be notified in advance. We again encourage openness and transparency so INEQE can form an accurate picture of safeguarding at the Cathedral.

The aim of the audit is simple: to assess and strengthen safeguarding across the whole Church of England.

The National Safeguarding Standards

INEQE will be assessing the Cathedral using the five National Safeguarding Standards established by the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team. These standards are designed to promote safe, consistent and effective safeguarding practice across all church contexts.

The five standards are:

1. Culture, Leadership and Capacity
Church bodies have safe, healthy cultures with effective leadership, resources and appropriate oversight in place.

2. Prevention
Measures are planned and implemented to prevent abuse and promote safety.

3. Recognising, Assessing and Managing Risk
Risk assessments and safety plans are of high quality, with effective partnership working to achieve positive outcomes.

4. Victims and Survivors
Victims and survivors receive timely, supportive and appropriate responses that meet their needs and aid healing.

5. Learning, Supervision and Support
Everyone involved in safeguarding receives the training, development, supervision and support needed to respond effectively.

These standards demonstrate the Church’s commitment to safeguarding in all areas of its life and work. Not every standard must be fully met immediately, but they help us understand how we can continue to improve.

You can find out more about the National Safeguarding Standards here.

Questions and Feedback

We want everyone to feel informed and confident as we work together to meet the national safeguarding standards. Further updates will be shared over the coming weeks and months.