Churches appoint new Safeguarding Adviser

Elizabeth Hall has been appointed to the post of SafeguardingAdviser for the Church of England and the Methodist Church inBritain.

Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church,said: "Our churches take the safety and wellbeing of children andvulnerable adults very seriously, and we have a responsibility tooffer the highest standards in safeguarding. This role is centralto that work and we are pleased to welcome Elizabeth to ourteam."

The Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, Chair of the Church of England'sCentral Safeguarding Liaison Group, adds: "Elizabeth's range ofexperience in the statutory sector will be of great benefit inhelping churches across both denominations keep up to date with thelatest good practice in this area, and in offering professionalsupport to our network of diocesan safeguarding advisers."

Elizabeth brings to the role 25 years' professional experience inthe social work field as both a practitioner and as a managerwithin the Probation, Family Court Welfare and Guardian ad litemServices. She has also worked as a youth worker and foster carer.Most recently, Elizabeth has worked for Cafcass, the Children andFamily Court Advisory and Support Service, since April 2001,initially as Regional Director for the North East Region and lateras Head of Safeguarding. Elizabeth replaces Revd Pearl Luxon, whowill be leaving the role in September, following a four-monthhandover period, to become an independent safeguardingconsultant.

Elizabeth said, "I am excited about taking on this role. I lookforward to the opportunity to use my safeguarding and childprotection expertise within the church communities."

Elizabeth worships at a joint Anglican/Methodist church in centralLondon and is a Methodist local preacher, but also preaches fromtime to time at the Anglican churches in the parish.