Rollout of safeguarding complaints process underway

09 November 2026

National rollout of a new safeguarding complaints process is now underway following Archbishops’ Council approval.

The new process brings together a local resolution stage and an end-stage overseen by an independent safeguarding complaints body into a single, unified, national process. Church bodies can take the necessary steps now to voluntarily adopt the process ahead of the policy becoming mandatory next year through new legislation, subject to General Synod approval.

The new policy marks a longstanding commitment to change how safeguarding complaints are made, handled, and resolved in the Church. Drawing on proposals developed independently by the Safeguarding Structures Programme Board, the Archbishops’ Council approved the national rollout of the new complaints process at its meeting in October.

[…]

At its October meeting, the Archbishops’ Council also approved a detailed operating design for new safeguarding structures, including plans for a new independent safeguarding authority to oversee Church safeguarding.

The developments follow extensive engagement over the last 12 months to understand current safeguarding arrangements. A formal consultation on the early design proposals generated detailed submissions from survivors, churchgoers, safeguarding professionals, Church leaders, and trustees.

Under the design, day-to-day operations of the new safeguarding authority will be led by a Chief Safeguarding Officer, overseen by a majority-independent Board and Chair. The design also establishes robust structures to ensure operational safeguarding decisions remain independent. These protections will explicitly cover professional decisions on individual casework and risk assessments, scrutiny findings, enforcement action, and clergy disciplinary action. While local Church bodies will continue to manage daily safeguarding, the authority will hold powers to inspect them, issue compliance notices, and assess senior clergy risk.

[…]

This autumn, stakeholders will have opportunities to examine aspects of the detailed operating model, engage with the programme team, and meet the incoming Interim Chair, Felicity Mitchell (v infra).

Implementation of new safeguarding arrangements will happen in phases and will prioritise stability over speed to protect frontline capacity. The practical changes will be evaluated in real-world conditions and are likely to inform further refinements to the design over time. This iterative process will help to ensure that future legislation to make the arrangements mandatory is built on proven, robust practice.

Key implementation milestones:

• Late 2026: National rollout of a voluntary, unified complaints process, including access to an independent safeguarding complaints body.
•  2027: Legal establishment of the new independent safeguarding authority, leadership appointments, and implementation of initial scrutiny functions.
• 2028: Complete transfer of national safeguarding staff and operational functions, underpinned by new legislation.

Archbishops’ Council appoints Felicity Mitchell to lead next phase of Church safeguarding reforms

09 November 2026

The Archbishops’ Council has appointed Felicity Mitchell as Interim Non-Executive Chair of the Safeguarding Structures Programme Board with immediate effect.

Felicity is a qualified barrister who has worked for many years in the ombuds sector. She has served on the Programme Board since September 2025, having joined the Programme in July 2025. She has played a central role in supporting the vision for safeguarding reform, and more recently the design of a new independent safeguarding authority. In addition, she has advised the programme on a new unified safeguarding complaints process featuring local resolution and access to an independent safeguarding complaints body.

Members of the Archbishops’ Council and the Safeguarding Structures Programme Board have welcomed Felicity’s appointment and the continuity she provides for the programme.

[…]