Safeguarding update: PCR2 findings released
On Wednesday (5 October), the Church of England released the findings of an independent review of all national church and diocesan files, both physical and digital. The Past Case Review 2 (PCR2) reviewed these files to discover if there were any safeguarding concerns that were previous not known about or that were not handled properly.
PCR2 in our Diocese took place between April 2021 and March 2022 and was carried out by four independent reviewers. Personnel files relating to clergy, lay ministers, church officers and diocesan staff and volunteers were all reviewed. The Cathedral particpated fully in this review providing all our current and past files (digital and paper) files related to personnel.
The Executive summary of the PCR2 of Portsmouth Diocese may be found here →
The full report related to the Diocese may be accessed here →
Dean Anthony says "My first priority within our Cathedral community is to provide a safe place for God's people to gather and to hear and share the good news of His word and for all those who visit St. Thomas's in any capacity. I welcome this report and its recommendations. I am heartened that the Diocese has already taken steps to implement its recommendations including expanding the safeguarding team, placing a continued emphasis on training and safer recruitment. Safeguarding is never something that we 'complete,' but rather it is an ongoing commitment to review and improve."
Canon Kathryn (Cathedral Chapter Safeguarding lead) says "Along with the independent SCIE Safeguarding Audit, PCR2 has been incredibly useful in helping us to 'hold a mirror up' to our safeguarding practice. We already have a close working relationship with the Diocesan Safeguarding team, often we are in daily contact. We are committed to and undertake Safer Recruitment in every aspect our Cathedral life from recruitment of volunteers to members of Chapter and its committees. Equally, safeguarding training is just part of how we operate and we carry this out with Cathedral staff and volunteers alike. Together we work to and are committed to providing that safe environment for all who participate in the life of the Cathedral."