❓ A parliamentary question probes the implementation of a recommendation regarding the restraint of children in Department for Community Development (DCD) accommodation hostels, following an Ombudsman's report highlighting restraint practices. The Minister's response is non-committal, promising to investigate and respond directly.
AnsweredQoN 611Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - ACCOMMODATION HOSTELS FOR CHILDREN
I refer to recommendation 5 of a departmental report into family and children’s services accommodation hostels, dated May 2001, which recommended that the department seek the government’s approval for legislative amendments to enable restraining of children and young people in these hostels to be accorded a high priority in the legislative timetable. (1) Is the minister aware that the former Minister for Community Development recently said that all the recommendations of this report had been implemented or were in the process of being implemented? (2) Has recommendation 5 been implemented and is it now government policy to restrain children in DCD accommodation hostels? (3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
I refer to recommendation 5 of a departmental report into family and children’s services accommodation hostels, dated May 2001, which recommended that the department seek the government’s approval for legislative amendments to enable restraining of children and young people in these hostels to be accorded a high priority in the legislative timetable. (1) Is the minister aware that the former Minister for Community Development recently said that all the recommendations of this report had been implemented or were in the process of being implemented? (2) Has recommendation 5 been implemented and is it now government policy to restrain children in DCD accommodation hostels? (3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(1) Is the minister aware that the former Minister for Community Development recently said that all the recommendations of this report had been implemented or were in the process of being implemented? (2) Has recommendation 5 been implemented and is it now government policy to restrain children in DCD accommodation hostels? (3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(2) Has recommendation 5 been implemented and is it now government policy to restrain children in DCD accommodation hostels? (3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(1) Is the minister aware that the former Minister for Community Development recently said that all the recommendations of this report had been implemented or were in the process of being implemented? (2) Has recommendation 5 been implemented and is it now government policy to restrain children in DCD accommodation hostels? (3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(2) Has recommendation 5 been implemented and is it now government policy to restrain children in DCD accommodation hostels? (3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(3) Is this policy the reason why the recent Ombudsman’s report into the Department for Community Development accommodation hostels found that children were being restrained? (4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(4) If so, what are the benefits and under what circumstances are the children being restrained? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his detailed question. (1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
(1)-(4) Clearly, the Ombudsman’s report that was released a few weeks ago highlighted a number of key recommendations and also highlighted a number of issues that I have taken very seriously with regard to ensuring that children and young people who are in residential care are appropriately supported. Included in that is the appropriate resourcing of those hostels. A number of recommendations were highlighted in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. It is my intention to ensure that all those recommendations are adhered to by the department and that the department puts in place the very best practices to ensure that any child or young person who goes into a particular residential care facility is cared for. In terms of the methods and processes or factors that are used, it is always disturbing when it is highlighted that restraints are required on some of these young people. I am always very mindful and conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that if restraints and systems of restraining are required, they are used in the appropriate manner and are a method of last resort. I will certainly ensure that the recommendations that have been highlighted are carried out. Earlier reviews of such residential care facilities indicate that most of them have been. I will certainly check to make sure that the recommendation that the Leader of the Opposition has highlighted has been carried out. I will certainly respond to him directly on that particular recommendation.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.