Paul Murphy: Questions independence of St John Ambulance safeguarding
Paul Murphy spoke about the Shannon report into sexual abuse at St John Ambulance and raised concerns that ending departmental funding has compromised the independence of the National Safeguarding Officer. He criticised the Minister for Children’s lack of engagement with survivors and called for the Minister to meet them.
The Shannon report concluded that St John Ambulance had failed to act against a perpetrator for years and that there had been a significant degree of organisational awareness of the risk posed to children. One central recommendation was that the National Safeguarding Officer be independent to counter a described culture of deference within the organisation.
Departmental funding for the National Safeguarding Officer has been ended and the same officer is now being retained directly by St John Ambulance. Paul Murphy said this change at the very least raises a question mark over the independence of the role.
Survivors have been attempting to engage with the Minister for Children, but Paul Murphy reported there has been no engagement whatsoever. He noted that the Minister’s replies to parliamentary questions describe engagement with boards, audits and governance structures, but do not show direct engagement with survivors.
Paul Murphy asked that the Minister be pressed to meet with survivors and for officials to ensure engagement takes place. He said he will follow up with the Minister for Children, endeavour to ascertain the current state of play and report back to the Deputy.
The speech flags potential implications for safeguarding oversight if the National Safeguarding Officer’s independence is compromised. Paul Murphy framed the issue as both a matter of trust for survivors and a test of whether recommended safeguards from the Shannon report are being implemented.
Report findings
The Shannon report concluded that St John Ambulance had failed to act against a perpetrator for years and that there had been a significant degree of organisational awareness of the risk posed to children. One central recommendation was that the National Safeguarding Officer be independent to counter a described culture of deference within the organisation.
Funding change and independence concerns
Departmental funding for the National Safeguarding Officer has been ended and the same officer is now being retained directly by St John Ambulance. Paul Murphy said this change at the very least raises a question mark over the independence of the role.
Survivors and ministerial engagement
Survivors have been attempting to engage with the Minister for Children, but Paul Murphy reported there has been no engagement whatsoever. He noted that the Minister’s replies to parliamentary questions describe engagement with boards, audits and governance structures, but do not show direct engagement with survivors.
Request for action and follow-up
Paul Murphy asked that the Minister be pressed to meet with survivors and for officials to ensure engagement takes place. He said he will follow up with the Minister for Children, endeavour to ascertain the current state of play and report back to the Deputy.
Implications for safeguarding oversight
The speech flags potential implications for safeguarding oversight if the National Safeguarding Officer’s independence is compromised. Paul Murphy framed the issue as both a matter of trust for survivors and a test of whether recommended safeguards from the Shannon report are being implemented.
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Transcript
It is three years since the completion of the Shannon report into sexual abuse of children at St John Ambulance. It is a harrowing report which concluded that the organisation had failed to act against the perpetrator for years despite a significant degree of organisational awareness of the risk that he posed to children. One of the central recommendations of that report was that the National Safeguarding Officer be independent, specifically to counter what was described as a culture of deference within St John Ambulance. But departmental funding for that role has now been ended and the same officer is being retained directly by the organisation itself, which at the very least raises a question mark over the independence of the role. I understand that survivors have been attempting to engage with and discuss with the Minister for Children on this, but there has been no engagement whatsoever. The Minister in PQ replies details engagement with boards, with audits, with governance structures, but does not seem to be engaging with the survivors. Will you discuss with the Minister to ensure she engages and meets with the survivors? I will follow up with the Minister for Children and endeavour to ascertain what the current state of play is in that situation and the background to it. I will refer back to the Deputy. Secretary A