28. The Rev Peter Ellem asked -

(a) Are there any plans to increase the number of chaplains working in the Professional Standards Unit?

(b) Has anyone been appointed to facilitate the Care & Assistance Scheme, if not, when might an appointment be expected?

(c) Are there any plans to train and appoint specialist consultants to assist in parishes where above has occurred?

To which the President replied -

I am informed the answer is as follows.

(a) When the chaplain working with victims was appointed to the Professional Standards Unit in 2003 the proposed role was - 1. to be an ongoing point of contact with complainants on behalf of the PSU and the Archbishop; and 2. to organise and facilitate pastoral and other support and, where appropriate, counselling for victims. There are no immediate plans to increase the number of chaplains. Instead we are looking at ways of involving others in the support of victims particularly through the network of parishes and congregations.

(b) No additional person has been appointed to facilitate the Care and Assistance scheme at this stage. We are assessing the additional work which arises from the scheme and will make a decision as to whether we need to appoint extra staff by the end of the year.

(c) Up until now we have used and paid for external specialist consultants to assist in parishes where there have been allegations of abuse. We are considering ways in which we could have some persons trained and appointed to this role within the diocese.