❓ Question seeks detailed staffing breakdowns for child protection services across WA, but the answer states this level of detail cannot be provided. The answer outlines funding increases and initiatives to improve frontline resources and address family and domestic violence.
AnsweredQoN 452Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to staffing level changes within relevant service areas of the Department of Communities (DoC) and the previous Department of Child Protection and Family Support (DCPaFS), and I ask:
(a) what is the regional FTE breakdown by region and town across Western Australia for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18;
(b) what is the total regional staff breakdown by region and town across Western Australia for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18;
(c) what is the metropolitan FTE level for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18;
(d) what is the total number of metropolitan staff for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18; and
(e) can the Minister outline what efforts being made by the State Government to improve and increase the frontline resource of the DoC across existing Child Protection and Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence portfolio areas?
(a) what is the regional FTE breakdown by region and town across Western Australia for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18;
(b) what is the total regional staff breakdown by region and town across Western Australia for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18;
(c) what is the metropolitan FTE level for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18;
(d) what is the total number of metropolitan staff for DCPaFS service areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and service areas 1 to 7 in DoC for 2017-18; and
(e) can the Minister outline what efforts being made by the State Government to improve and increase the frontline resource of the DoC across existing Child Protection and Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence portfolio areas?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 December 2017
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
9 days
Please note, the FTE and staff breakdown relating to service areas cannot be reported on by service areas or by region and town level. An additional $6 million in demand funding has been allocated which will provide additional front line child protection resources. These resources are still to be allocated. (e) In relation to Child Protection: A centralised intake process for CPFS metropolitan districts commenced in July 2017, facilitating a consistent intake and assessment process. Early indications suggest that the timeliness and consistency of assessments has increased as a result of introducing a single entry point and consistent response for reporting child protection concerns in the metropolitan area. Each district office now has an Intensive Family Support Team, able to work with families experiencing multiple problems including family and domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health for approximately six months. Aboriginal families are also prioritised by these teams to engage earlier with families to prevent children entering out of home care where possible. In relation to Family and Domestic violence: Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams operate across all CPFS metropolitan and regional districts. A senior child protection worker is located in each Response Team, providing specialist child protection advice and support in collaboration with WA Police and a community sector organisation. The State Government has committed $12.4 million over the next four years to introduce a Stopping Family and Domestic Violence package, with major initiatives including: $5 million over 2018-19 to 2019-20 to establish two new Women’s Refuges in the South West metropolitan corridor and the Peel region, with an additional $3.3 million in recurrent expenditure to enable the operation of the services; and $1.7 million over 2017-18 to 2020-21 to expand existing culturally appropriate support services to aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse victims of family and domestic violence.
An additional $6 million in demand funding has been allocated which will provide additional front line child protection resources. These resources are still to be allocated. (e) In relation to Child Protection: A centralised intake process for CPFS metropolitan districts commenced in July 2017, facilitating a consistent intake and assessment process. Early indications suggest that the timeliness and consistency of assessments has increased as a result of introducing a single entry point and consistent response for reporting child protection concerns in the metropolitan area. Each district office now has an Intensive Family Support Team, able to work with families experiencing multiple problems including family and domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health for approximately six months. Aboriginal families are also prioritised by these teams to engage earlier with families to prevent children entering out of home care where possible. In relation to Family and Domestic violence: Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams operate across all CPFS metropolitan and regional districts. A senior child protection worker is located in each Response Team, providing specialist child protection advice and support in collaboration with WA Police and a community sector organisation. The State Government has committed $12.4 million over the next four years to introduce a Stopping Family and Domestic Violence package, with major initiatives including: $5 million over 2018-19 to 2019-20 to establish two new Women’s Refuges in the South West metropolitan corridor and the Peel region, with an additional $3.3 million in recurrent expenditure to enable the operation of the services; and $1.7 million over 2017-18 to 2020-21 to expand existing culturally appropriate support services to aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse victims of family and domestic violence.
(e) In relation to Child Protection: A centralised intake process for CPFS metropolitan districts commenced in July 2017, facilitating a consistent intake and assessment process. Early indications suggest that the timeliness and consistency of assessments has increased as a result of introducing a single entry point and consistent response for reporting child protection concerns in the metropolitan area. Each district office now has an Intensive Family Support Team, able to work with families experiencing multiple problems including family and domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health for approximately six months. Aboriginal families are also prioritised by these teams to engage earlier with families to prevent children entering out of home care where possible. In relation to Family and Domestic violence: Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams operate across all CPFS metropolitan and regional districts. A senior child protection worker is located in each Response Team, providing specialist child protection advice and support in collaboration with WA Police and a community sector organisation. The State Government has committed $12.4 million over the next four years to introduce a Stopping Family and Domestic Violence package, with major initiatives including: $5 million over 2018-19 to 2019-20 to establish two new Women’s Refuges in the South West metropolitan corridor and the Peel region, with an additional $3.3 million in recurrent expenditure to enable the operation of the services; and $1.7 million over 2017-18 to 2020-21 to expand existing culturally appropriate support services to aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse victims of family and domestic violence.
An additional $6 million in demand funding has been allocated which will provide additional front line child protection resources. These resources are still to be allocated. (e) In relation to Child Protection: A centralised intake process for CPFS metropolitan districts commenced in July 2017, facilitating a consistent intake and assessment process. Early indications suggest that the timeliness and consistency of assessments has increased as a result of introducing a single entry point and consistent response for reporting child protection concerns in the metropolitan area. Each district office now has an Intensive Family Support Team, able to work with families experiencing multiple problems including family and domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health for approximately six months. Aboriginal families are also prioritised by these teams to engage earlier with families to prevent children entering out of home care where possible. In relation to Family and Domestic violence: Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams operate across all CPFS metropolitan and regional districts. A senior child protection worker is located in each Response Team, providing specialist child protection advice and support in collaboration with WA Police and a community sector organisation. The State Government has committed $12.4 million over the next four years to introduce a Stopping Family and Domestic Violence package, with major initiatives including: $5 million over 2018-19 to 2019-20 to establish two new Women’s Refuges in the South West metropolitan corridor and the Peel region, with an additional $3.3 million in recurrent expenditure to enable the operation of the services; and $1.7 million over 2017-18 to 2020-21 to expand existing culturally appropriate support services to aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse victims of family and domestic violence.
(e) In relation to Child Protection: A centralised intake process for CPFS metropolitan districts commenced in July 2017, facilitating a consistent intake and assessment process. Early indications suggest that the timeliness and consistency of assessments has increased as a result of introducing a single entry point and consistent response for reporting child protection concerns in the metropolitan area. Each district office now has an Intensive Family Support Team, able to work with families experiencing multiple problems including family and domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health for approximately six months. Aboriginal families are also prioritised by these teams to engage earlier with families to prevent children entering out of home care where possible. In relation to Family and Domestic violence: Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams operate across all CPFS metropolitan and regional districts. A senior child protection worker is located in each Response Team, providing specialist child protection advice and support in collaboration with WA Police and a community sector organisation. The State Government has committed $12.4 million over the next four years to introduce a Stopping Family and Domestic Violence package, with major initiatives including: $5 million over 2018-19 to 2019-20 to establish two new Women’s Refuges in the South West metropolitan corridor and the Peel region, with an additional $3.3 million in recurrent expenditure to enable the operation of the services; and $1.7 million over 2017-18 to 2020-21 to expand existing culturally appropriate support services to aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse victims of family and domestic violence.
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