New DSAP member, INEQE plans & new safeguarding resources | DSAP April 2026
The Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) met on Wednesday 29th April to discuss safeguarding strategy, guidance and support. The meeting was one of the panel’s regular, quarterly opportunities to come together as a panel to discuss these important topics.
Sally Hodges, the Independent DSAP Chair, has summarised the following key messages that emerged from the meeting:
1. Welcoming a new DSAP member
We were pleased to welcome a member to the panel, who joins us with lived experience of church abuse. Their valuable contributions will help to make sure that the voices of church abuse survivors are heard in our safeguarding work going forward.
2. Feedback for 3 year strategy draft
DSAP spent some time looking at a drafted 3 year strategy, which aims to set out our ambitions for how safeguarding in the diocese will continue to progress and improve in the future. We originally hoped to review the strategy in light of the final INEQE audit report so that their recommendations could be included, but we are still waiting on the report to arrive with us.
Nevertheless, the initial verbal feedback from INEQE feedback has enabled DSAP to incorporate many helpful ideas and there was much fruitful discussion that helped to shape the next version of the strategy.
3. Survivor support for the INEQE report publication
It was agreed that there needs to be good support in place for those with lived experience of church abuse when the INEQE report becomes public. The Diocesan Safeguarding Team will work with our Lived Experience Representative to identify the most appropriate way to extend our support wherever it’s needed.
4. Refreshed web pages
Work has already started on refreshed safeguarding pages for the diocesan website, which DSAP agreed should be a priority. In addition, our new DSAP Lived Experience Representative will help us to focus particularly on our messages and support for those accessing the website with present or past lived experience.
5. New safeguarding leaflet
DSAP received an excellent new safeguarding leaflet which is currently available in Southwell Minster, where it is on every seat and readily available to all visitors and congregation members. It is clear, easy to follow and very helpful. The diocesan safeguarding and comms teams are collaborating on a templated version which can be distributed more widely across our churches.
6. National quality assurance framework
DSAP learned about the new National quality assurance framework which will look at the safeguarding work in the diocese in relation to the 5 national standards. This programme will run over the next 15 months.
Get in touch
If you would like more information about any of the topics discussed in the DSAP meeting, or you are seeking safeguarding support of any kind within our diocese, please contact the diocesan safeguarding team using the button below.