Middlesbrough Diocese Inspection Report Published

29 September 2026

The Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, in the latest independent inspection of its safeguarding practice today, has been judged by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) as ‘Requires Attention.’ This is the fifth out of seven possible grades, one being the highest.

The Independent Inspectorate for England and Wales reports that the Diocese partially demonstrates evidence of working towards the eight national safeguarding standards but that there are notable gaps or inconsistencies. The Diocese will need to improve in a targeted way to ensure compliance and to assure independent analysts from within the CSSA about how it keeps people safe.

Middlesbrough was given the grade of ‘Requires Attention’ across six of the eight standards, including safeguarding leadership and survivor engagement. The standard relating to human resources met expectations. Quality Assurance ‘needs significant improvement’.

The CSSA’s recommendations for Middlesbrough include:

• Within three months: do a formal review of safeguarding governance arrangements to ensure that (safeguarding) responsibilities are effective
• Within six months: proactively get feedback about their safeguarding service from survivors and others
• With 12 months: establish a programme which evaluates parish level safeguarding compliance and effectiveness

Paul Threlfall, Quality Assurance Manager, CSSA said: “These results show that Middlesbrough needs to improve its safeguarding practice in certain areas, including developing an overarching framework, and in safeguarding governance.  There is evidence of a positive safeguarding culture, and this must now be built on. Only this way can they assure a wider public that everything possible is being done to help prevent harm. We will keep monitoring.”

The CSSA publish the full reports of safeguarding inspections from every Catholic Church archdiocese, diocese, eparchy, ordinariate and religious life group in England and Wales.

You can find Middlesbrough’s results  HERE

ENDS

More information about the CSSA’s inspection process can be found  HERE.

Journalists: to speak with someone from the CSSA, please initially contact Sarah Gleadall: sarah.gleadall@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk