There are several ways in which a cathedral is different to a parish church.
- Governance arrangements
A parish has a Church Council (PCC) but a cathedral has a Chapter. This is not merely different terminology, the safeguarding responsibilities of these two groups are different.
- Safeguarding officers
The responsibilities of a Cathedral Safeguarding Officer (CSO) are different to those of a Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). This is because a CSO is often a paid safeguarding professional.
- Leadership
The safeguarding responsibilities of a Dean are different to those of a parish Incumbent.
- Choir
The safeguarding requirements for a cathedral choir are significantly more complex than those for a church choir. This is because a cathedral choir may have multiple activities for children.
- Cathedral events
A cathedral will typically host high-profile events throughout the year.
- School visits
A cathedral will typically host many visits for groups of school children.
- Tourism
A significant part of a cathedral’s ministry is the welcoming of thousands of visitors (including children and vulnerable adults).
These are some of the reasons why the safeguarding arrangements for cathedrals are not adequately covered by a parish dashboard.