The Church of England is committed to learning from the past and working with victims and survivors of Church-related abuse to improve current and future practice and ensure the Church of England is a safer place for all.

The Church has also committed to the development of a National Redress Scheme (‘the Scheme’) for victims and survivors of Church-related abuse. The Scheme is intended to be a helpful, timely, user-friendly and survivor-centred response to victims and survivors.

The Church of England is seeking applications from those who have experienced any form of abuse or harm to join the National Redress Scheme Victim and Survivor Working Group. This working group is a body that will bring together key stakeholder representatives to provide experience and advice in connection with the development of the National Redress Scheme. The engagement of representatives as part of the Group will be paramount in the development of the Scheme to ensure those affected by abuse, harm or neglect by the Church access the right care and support as early as possible.

There are six victim or survivor representative roles on the working group, and all positions are currently vacant for a victim or survivor of abuse.

We are looking for representatives who are:

• A victim or survivor of abuse in any form (including but not limited to sexual, emotional, physical, domestic and/or financial abuse) within the Church of England and/or in any other relevant context or setting;
• Committed to helping the Church of England to learn from its mistakes and respond to the needs of survivors through the provision of a redress scheme;
• Have strong inter-personal skills, an ability to listen, can engage effectively and work collaboratively;
• Can communicate effectively by expressing their own views, work with differing opinions and challenge appropriately;
• Can review documents and provide verbal and/or written feedback;
• Can work appropriately with confidential and personal information; and
• Can commit sufficient time to conduct the role well.

This post may involve discussing potentially distressing issues. Applicants must be aware that emotional resilience will be required in these circumstances. Access to support services, including those within and external to the Church, will be made available to participants if required.

Please contact Simon H. Stanley on: simonh.stanley@churchofengland.org if you would like to would like to discuss this position or seek further information. Application is by way of a brief application form.

Interview dates will be Tuesday 10th August and Thursday 12th August (candidates to attend one date)

TERMS

The Victim and Survivor Working Group will run for a two-year period and representatives are expected to commit for that period.

FEES

This is a voluntary position. However, an honorarium of £25 per hour is available for working group meetings and for agreed activity in connection with the Working Group. This rate includes any advance preparation for meetings. Reasonable expenses will also be paid in accordance with the National Church Institutions (Church of England) expenses policy.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME

The development of a National Redress Scheme forms part of the Church of England’s commitment to survivors, as set out in its response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (or IICSA) final report. This report has been accepted by the Archbishops’ Council, the House of Bishops, and the General Synod.

The aims of the National Redress Scheme are:

• To set up a Scheme which will be a ‘one-stop shop’ for victims and survivors of abuse within the Church;
• To obtain the advice and guidance of victims and survivors in developing the Scheme
• To ensure the Scheme is of national scope;
• To explore the viability of a mediation scheme which will provide an early opportunity for recent victims and survivors to seek financial redress from the Church and its insurers without going through the Scheme;
• To design standardised, user-friendly eligibility criteria and supplementary documents that will help victims and survivors navigate the Scheme;
• To provide financial compensation, as well as restitution by way of practical support and acknowledgment and apology to victims and survivors where appropriate;
• To develop a process allowing applicants to access legal or other professional support in submitting their claims if required;
• To avoid a formal, legalistic approach to its work so far as is practicable.

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