A rabbi who was appointed to lead one of the UK’s foremost synagogues has been effectively suspended after concerns were raised about past allegations of bullying and manipulative behaviour.

The West London Synagogue (WLS), the flagship of the UK Reform Judaism movement, whose congregation includes the historian Sir Simon Schama and the actor Maureen Lipman, asked Rabbi David Mitchell “to take a period of time away” while a team of independent advisers consider the issues raised.

The move comes after members of progressive Jewish communities expressed dismay that Mitchell had been appointed as joint senior rabbi following the forthcoming retirement of Julia Neuberger.

They drew attention to internal complaints made in 2012 by some members of the synagogue’s staff of inappropriate behaviour by Mitchell. Several employees said they had left their jobs as a result of bullying, derogatory comments and inappropriate references to sensitive personal information.

When it appeared that no action had been taken by WLS, five made complaints in 2016 to Westminster council’s safeguarding unit. The council declined to investigate, saying: “WLS have reassured us they will be addressing the safeguarding claims.”

Mitchell strenuously denied that he had acted inappropriately. In a statement given to the Guardian earlier this month, he said: “I want to apologise for anything that I have done which has inadvertently hurt or angered others. Since these issues were first raised I have learned, with coaching and mentoring, to become a better manager of people and I am still learning.”

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On Thursday, WLS circulated a statement to staff and members of its congregation, informing them that Mitchell had been asked to step down for a period of time.

It said: “The past few weeks have brought particular challenge and reflection across the entire family of West London Synagogue. As a caring community we strive for best practice in the fulfilment of our duty of care to every individual.

“Our board of trustees now feels a need to bring in independent advisers – a fresh pair of eyes – to spend some time working through the wide range of recent discussions, and meeting those affected.

“This will enable us to learn, and then move ahead with our role as a beacon of progressive Jewish life in central London. As part of this, Rabbi David Mitchell has been asked, and has agreed, to take a period of time away from West London Synagogue.

“This will give breathing space for us to work with all our staff. For this period to be effective, we rely as always on the support of all parties.”

One of the complainants welcomed the move but said they wanted any investigation to be “transparent, to focus on the experience and trauma of victims, to review all historic cases and how the synagogue responded, to address the synagogue’s culture and told in how this has unfolded, and not just look at what is legal but what is ethical”.

An open letter signed by more than 100 people has demanded rabbis and cantors adhere to standards of behaviour, covering financial malpractice, bullying, harassment, inappropriate sexual behaviour and intellectual dishonesty. It says expulsion from clerical bodies should be available as a sanction for serious breaches of the code.