Update on work promised by former ISB – interim commissioner appointed
14/09/2023
An interim commissioner of independent reviews has been appointed to ensure the work promised by the former ISB (Independent Safeguarding Board) can continue. Kevin Crompton, a senior safeguarding professional with experience in child and adult safeguarding and scrutiny in local authority setting, will start work this month.
The Archbishops’ Council had committed to setting in place arrangements to ensure that the case reviews and complaint responses promised by the former ISB would continue, where those met the terms of reference for the ISB, and as a result of feedback had also offered an independent advocacy service.
Kevin will commission and quality assure the reviews and complaints in line with the former ISB’s processes and will oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the completed Mr X review. Survivors with outstanding review requests can choose from a menu of reviewers including charities NSPCC and Thirtyone:eight along with Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) Chairs. FearFree formerly FearLess) has been engaged to provide advocacy and support for the survivors with completed, active and pending reviews and complaints.
The majority of survivors have had an opportunity to feed into these arrangements but the Archbishops’ Council is aware of four individuals who had review requests with the former ISB but whose contact details have not been passed on. The former ISB office staff can be contacted at contact@independent-safeguarding.org for information on how their review will proceed.
Kevin Crompton said: ‘I am pleased to have been offered this opportunity to make a contribution to this important piece of work. I am looking forward to working with survivors to ensure they have an independent review of their concerns. I also will do all I can to ensure that recommendations of such reviews are given proper consideration and are implemented within reasonable timeframes.’
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Notes
Archbishops’ Council statement on ISB June 2023
There is no biographical information about Mr Crompton but he may be this person
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-crompton-20b66356/?originalSubdomain=uk
From the 21 June statement
“The Council will be putting in place interim arrangements to continue the independent oversight of existing case reviews.
Those reviews will be carried out by independent experts qualified to conduct case reviews, just as at present, and they will be independently commissioned.
In the very immediate future, we have asked Meg Munn to provide business continuity for the remaining business of this phase of the ISB’s work. Case reviews will be overseen by one or more independent chairs of Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panels.”
So a little under 3 months to action the above…
The Archbishops’ Council have badly let down the survivors whose cases Jasvinder and Steve were handling. They should not have terminated the latter’s employment without arrangements in place to look after survivors.
Whatever the Archbishops’ Council felt about Jasvinder’s and Steve’s ability to establish an independent safeguarding board, they should have permitted them to complete any ongoing reviews – assuming the survivors involved wished it.
That’s what they would have done, had they had any concern for survivors or understanding of trauma. Obviously they have neither.
Kevin Crompton said: ‘I am pleased to have been offered this opportunity to make a contribution to this important piece of work. I am looking forward to working with survivors to ensure they have an independent review of their concerns. I also will do all I can to ensure that recommendations of such reviews are given proper consideration and are implemented within reasonable timeframes.’ I don’t find this statement the least bit reassuring. Is it appropriate to refer to the anguish of survivors of abuse as “an important piece of work” ? Is it appropriate to refer to damaged lives… Read more »
I think Kevin went in to ‘steady the ship ‘ in Haringey after the baby P murder- the rather good director was scapegoated and illegally sacked, basically by Ed Balls on TV . She wrote an article in the Guardian recently about the dangers of politicians using scapegoats – in this case social workers- and the lengths other agencies went to cover up their part. I believe Kevin was originally a teacher.
Biographical info issued by the CofE but not included in the press release Kevin Crompton Kevin Crompton is the Director of Kevin Crompton Solutions Ltd. Kevin established his company following over 35 years in public service. He has a strong background in safeguarding vulnerable children and adults both in leading services and holding them to account. His focus in recent years has been on improving safeguarding delivery in local partnerships specifically in areas where children’ s services have been judged by Ofsted as being ‘inadequate’. Previous Contracts have included taking on the role of the Chair of the Local Children’s… Read more »
I have not had time to study this appointment or Mr Crompton’s cv so we can only wish him well, hoping that his term of office exceeds that of some other Church office holders.
A key constitutional point for clarification is “ to whom does he report”? This is important given that increasingly the Church House Secretariat is the subject of complainant.
It would also be fascinating to know how he was chosen…..
There cannot be any confidence in these arrangements. 1. Where and when was the advertisement for this ‘Commissioner’ placed? 2. How many survivors were involved in the selection and interview process? 3. Given that survivors plainly expressed no trust and confidence in the capacity, honesty or integrity of the Archbishops’ Council to handle their cases, why have they now decided that survivors must be reined in again under their Commissioner? 4. Where do these over-inflated titles – ‘Commissioner’ – come from? This is just one person doing the job that Jasvinder and Steve were doing. Except this time, this new… Read more »
There are similar questions that could be asked (and I have) about the appointment of Sarah Wilkinson to review the ISB crisis. I asked the Council: “Were any survivors involved in the selection of the barrister, and also in the drafting of the terms of reference?” I received an answer from the Council this morning, with not a word about survivor: “The Archbishops’ Council identified and instructed a suitably qualified and fully independent person to lead the review while at the same time working to the time commitments made to General Synod. This was to ensure that this review is… Read more »
Well said!