❓ A WA parliamentary question examines the reduction of children in care in the Goldfields region, seeking data on inquiries, assessments, monitored lists, care planning, and suspected child sexual abuse.
AnsweredQoN 4285Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to children in care of the CEO of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support in the Goldfields region, and I ask: (a) the number of children in care in the Goldfields region has reduced by 38 per cent from 202 in May 2013 to 126 in May 2016, this is against the trend, what is the reason for this reduction; (b) for each of 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16: (i) how many initial child protection inquiries were received; (ii) how many of the inquiries in (b)(i) were recorded as no further action; and (iii) how many Safety and Wellbeing Assessments were completed; (c) what is the number of children on the monitored list in the Goldfields region; (d) what is the current number of children in care for more than 20 days with no planning recorded in the Goldfields region; and (e) what was the number of initial inquiries in relation to suspected child sexual abuse received in the Goldfields region in 2015-16?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 October 2016
Responded by
Minister for Planning representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
56 days
a) The notable reduction in the number of children in care in the Goldfields over this period is largely attributed to the district actively focusing on the Department’s permanency planning policy by increased use of Special Guardianship Orders and successful reunification of children with their families.
b) (i) The number of child protection notifications received during each of the financial years is:
803 during 2013-14;
579 during 2014-15, and
567 during 2015-16.
(b) (ii) The child protection notifications recorded with an outcome of no further action during each of the financial years is:
192 during 2013-14;
163 during 2014-15, and
175 during 2015-16.
(b) (iii) The number of safety and wellbeing assessments commenced during each of the financial years is:
567 during 2013-14;
403 during 2014-15, and
384 during 2015-16.
c) The number of children in care on the monitored list in the Goldfields district for each of the financial years is:
For 2013-14, the report dated 4 July 2014 indicated that there were 10 children in care on the monitored list;
For 2014-15, the report dated 4 July 2015 indicated that there were five children in care on the monitored list, and
For 2015-16, the report dated 2 July 2016 indicated that there were no children in care on the monitored list.
d) The data to identify the number of children in care for more than 20 days with no planning recorded is not available retrospectively. Currently there are no children who have been in the CEO’s care for more than 20 days in the Goldfields district without a care plan.
e) There were 158 child protection notifications in relation to suspected child sexual abuse in the Goldfields district during 2015-16.
b) (i) The number of child protection notifications received during each of the financial years is:
803 during 2013-14;
579 during 2014-15, and
567 during 2015-16.
(b) (ii) The child protection notifications recorded with an outcome of no further action during each of the financial years is:
192 during 2013-14;
163 during 2014-15, and
175 during 2015-16.
(b) (iii) The number of safety and wellbeing assessments commenced during each of the financial years is:
567 during 2013-14;
403 during 2014-15, and
384 during 2015-16.
c) The number of children in care on the monitored list in the Goldfields district for each of the financial years is:
For 2013-14, the report dated 4 July 2014 indicated that there were 10 children in care on the monitored list;
For 2014-15, the report dated 4 July 2015 indicated that there were five children in care on the monitored list, and
For 2015-16, the report dated 2 July 2016 indicated that there were no children in care on the monitored list.
d) The data to identify the number of children in care for more than 20 days with no planning recorded is not available retrospectively. Currently there are no children who have been in the CEO’s care for more than 20 days in the Goldfields district without a care plan.
e) There were 158 child protection notifications in relation to suspected child sexual abuse in the Goldfields district during 2015-16.
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