❓ Question on Notice regarding the number of registered carers with multiple children, overdue carer screenings, and overdue carer reviews within the Child Protection portfolio in Western Australia during May 2015. The answer provides a breakdown by relative/non-relative carer status and district.
AnsweredQoN 3440Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) During the month of May 2015, what was the total number of registered carers with four or more children placed with them by category of relative and non-relative carer, by district? (2) During the month of May 2015, how many carers had a "carer record screening" overdue or not recorded by category of relative and non-relative carer, by district? (3) During the month of May 2015, how many carers had overdue "carer reviews" by category of relative and non-relative carer, by district?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 November 2015
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
56 days
(1) As at 19 May 2015, 90 relative and 68 non-relative approved carers had four or more children placed in the following districts:
Armadale 5 relative, 11 non-relative
Cannington 7 relative, 2 non-relative
East Kimberley 0 relative, 1 non-relative
Fremantle 3 relative, 1 non-relative
Goldfields 3 relative, 0 non-relative
Great Southern 4 relative, 3 non-relative
Joondalup 6 relative, 7 non-relative
Midland 10 relative, 8 non-relative
Mirrabooka 8 relative, 6 non-relative
Murchison 6 relative, 4 non-relative
Peel 5 relative, 5 non-relative
Perth 0 relative, 5 non-relative
Pilbara 9 relative, 0 non-relative
Rockingham 3 relative, 2 non-relative
South West 5 relative, 5 non-relative
West Kimberley 6 relative, 1 non-relative
Wheatbelt 10 relative, 7 non-relative.
(2) As at 31 May 2015, 24 individual relative carers had a carer record screening not recorded in the following districts:
Fremantle 3 relative
Goldfields 2 relative
Great Southern 5 relative
Joondalup 2 relative
Midland 1 relative
Mirrabooka 2 relative
Murchison 2 relative
Pilbara 3 relative
South West 1 relative
West Kimberley 3 relative
(3) As at 31 May 2015, 217 relative and 150 non-relative carer households with children placed had overdue 'carer reviews' in the following districts:
Armadale 13 relative, 29 non-relative
Cannington 22 relative, 3 non-relative
East Kimberley 9 relative, 5 non-relative
Fremantle 14 relative, 8 non-relative
Goldfields 1 relative, 2 non-relative
Great Southern 12 relative, 8 non-relative
Joondalup 11 relative, 5 non-relative
Midland 14 relative, 10 non-relative
Mirrabooka 11 relative, 3 non-relative
Murchison 12 relative, 8 non-relative
Peel 17 relative, 6 non-relative
Perth 14 relative, 8 non-relative
Pilbara 14 relative, 9 non-relative
Rockingham 6 relative, 6 non-relative
South West 19 relative, 16 non-relative
West Kimberley 19 relative, 7 non-relative
Wheatbelt 9 relative, 9 non-relative
Fostering and Adoption Services 0 relative and 8 non-relative.
Registered carers who have larger groups of children placed with them could be caring for large sibling groups where it is in the best interests of the children to keep them together in the one placement.
Relative carers also sometimes approach the Department to care for more than one sibling group from the same extended family. These carers have the capabilities and support networks to support the care of a large number of children. Short term or emergency placements may also occur with carers who already have children placed with them longer term.
Where an urgent placement for a child is required with a relative carer, it is not always possible to complete record screening prior to placement. However, processes are in place to maintain children's safety, including an initial safety assessment with checks of Departmental records undertaken prior to placement.
Measures are in place to require an application for a Working with Child Check within seven days of placement in urgent situations.
Some of the overdue reviews may have commenced but are still in process or are as a result of late data entry.
All carers with children in their care are subject to regular case management and monitoring visits. Caseworkers have regular contact and interaction with children in care and their carers, including visits to undertake care planning and quarterly care reviews for the child.
Armadale 5 relative, 11 non-relative
Cannington 7 relative, 2 non-relative
East Kimberley 0 relative, 1 non-relative
Fremantle 3 relative, 1 non-relative
Goldfields 3 relative, 0 non-relative
Great Southern 4 relative, 3 non-relative
Joondalup 6 relative, 7 non-relative
Midland 10 relative, 8 non-relative
Mirrabooka 8 relative, 6 non-relative
Murchison 6 relative, 4 non-relative
Peel 5 relative, 5 non-relative
Perth 0 relative, 5 non-relative
Pilbara 9 relative, 0 non-relative
Rockingham 3 relative, 2 non-relative
South West 5 relative, 5 non-relative
West Kimberley 6 relative, 1 non-relative
Wheatbelt 10 relative, 7 non-relative.
(2) As at 31 May 2015, 24 individual relative carers had a carer record screening not recorded in the following districts:
Fremantle 3 relative
Goldfields 2 relative
Great Southern 5 relative
Joondalup 2 relative
Midland 1 relative
Mirrabooka 2 relative
Murchison 2 relative
Pilbara 3 relative
South West 1 relative
West Kimberley 3 relative
(3) As at 31 May 2015, 217 relative and 150 non-relative carer households with children placed had overdue 'carer reviews' in the following districts:
Armadale 13 relative, 29 non-relative
Cannington 22 relative, 3 non-relative
East Kimberley 9 relative, 5 non-relative
Fremantle 14 relative, 8 non-relative
Goldfields 1 relative, 2 non-relative
Great Southern 12 relative, 8 non-relative
Joondalup 11 relative, 5 non-relative
Midland 14 relative, 10 non-relative
Mirrabooka 11 relative, 3 non-relative
Murchison 12 relative, 8 non-relative
Peel 17 relative, 6 non-relative
Perth 14 relative, 8 non-relative
Pilbara 14 relative, 9 non-relative
Rockingham 6 relative, 6 non-relative
South West 19 relative, 16 non-relative
West Kimberley 19 relative, 7 non-relative
Wheatbelt 9 relative, 9 non-relative
Fostering and Adoption Services 0 relative and 8 non-relative.
Registered carers who have larger groups of children placed with them could be caring for large sibling groups where it is in the best interests of the children to keep them together in the one placement.
Relative carers also sometimes approach the Department to care for more than one sibling group from the same extended family. These carers have the capabilities and support networks to support the care of a large number of children. Short term or emergency placements may also occur with carers who already have children placed with them longer term.
Where an urgent placement for a child is required with a relative carer, it is not always possible to complete record screening prior to placement. However, processes are in place to maintain children's safety, including an initial safety assessment with checks of Departmental records undertaken prior to placement.
Measures are in place to require an application for a Working with Child Check within seven days of placement in urgent situations.
Some of the overdue reviews may have commenced but are still in process or are as a result of late data entry.
All carers with children in their care are subject to regular case management and monitoring visits. Caseworkers have regular contact and interaction with children in care and their carers, including visits to undertake care planning and quarterly care reviews for the child.
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