Churches need child protection training

Churches’ child protection policies must be
regularly reviewed and updated, the Churches’ Child Protection
Advisory Service said this week, following the call by Victoria
Climbie’s parents for statutory regulations for churches.

In her final submission to the inquiry, Margot
Boye, counsel for the Climbies, said Victoria’s parents were
concerned that it was left to churches to decide how best to act
when they were faced with issues concerning the welfare of
children.

The CCPAS submitted a survey of theological
colleges to the inquiry which found that 50 per cent of colleges
did not give any training in child protection.

CCPAS director David Pearson said simply
having a policy was no panacea. “It must be backed up with support
and training to workers. Many policies lie on shelves gathering
dust.”

CCPAS told the inquiry that it was the
responsibility of Christian churches “to pass on any child
protection concerns to the appropriate authorities”.

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