Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham – Inspection Report Published
10 June 2026
The Catholic body, the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, in the first independent inspection of 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 Personal Ordinariate needs to demonstrate significantly more evidence of working towards the eight national safeguarding standards. This grade reflects its developing safeguarding structures and the need for more work to ensure robust governance, oversight and consistency in safeguarding practice. No evidence was found of individuals currently being at risk.
The inspection identified areas where development is necessary in order to provide assurance about how the Ordinariate keeps people safe. It is in the early stages of establishing governance structures. It has yet to develop a safeguarding sub-committee or implementation plan. Independent analysts from within the CSSA found clear openness about current limitations and a strong willingness to improve. But there is a considerable programme of work needed to embed consistent systems, policies and safeguarding oversight. These improvements are necessary to ensure compliance with national safeguarding standards and to provide assurance to trustees and stakeholders.
The Ordinariate were graded as ‘requiring attention’ across six of the eight standards. The standard relating to human resources met expectations and that relating to continuous improvement ‘needed significant attention’.
The CSSA’s recommendations for the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham included:
- Within three months: Review and develop the safeguarding policy to include guidance about managing safeguarding incidents as well as roles and responsibilities in safeguarding.
- Within six months: Create a safeguarding implementation plan with SMART objectives to provide assurance that the recommendations of this inspection as well are being completed and evaluated to set timeframes.
- Within 12 months: Develop an internal audit process that complements the external inspection – and assure trustees about compliance with key safeguarding requirements.
Because of the grade given, ‘Requires Attention’, the earliest date of re-inspection is within two years. However, the CSSA will lead check-in meetings every three months and the Ordinariate will be asked to complete an annual self-assessment.
Said Paul Threlfall, Quality Assurance Manager, CSSA: “The Ordinariate has a unique structure, and we are very aware of the very early stages of its safeguarding function. Substantial progress has been made in a short period, and we are satisfied that no individual is currently at risk. However, the Ordinariate have a very significant task ahead if they are to offer the assurance that we need to see. We will be monitoring closely and should any risk to people emerge, we will not hesitate to intervene.”
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 the Personal Ordinariate of our Lady of Walsingham’s inspection report HERE.
ENDS
More information about the CSSA’s inspection process can be found HERE.
Journalists: to speak with Steve Ashley, CEO, please initially contact Sarah Gleadall: sarah.gleadall@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk