❓ Hon Steve Martin asks about child protection services in Narrogin, specifically staffing levels, caseloads, and vacancies. The Minister provides data on filled and vacant positions, caseload averages, and relevant industrial relations orders for the Wheatbelt district, including Narrogin.
AnsweredQoN 1151Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD PROTECTION — CASEWORKERS —
NARROGIN
1151. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to child protection services in Narrogin.
(1) How many staff work at the Narrogin location, and how
many of those are caseworkers?
(2) What is the recommended maximum number of cases per
caseworker?
(3) What is the current number of cases being worked per
worker?
(4) Are there any vacancies in the Narrogin office; and, if
yes, how many?
NARROGIN
1151. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to child protection services in Narrogin.
(1) How many staff work at the Narrogin location, and how
many of those are caseworkers?
(2) What is the recommended maximum number of cases per
caseworker?
(3) What is the current number of cases being worked per
worker?
(4) Are there any vacancies in the Narrogin office; and, if
yes, how many?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. The following response has been provided by the Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities has provided the following advice.
(1) As of 31 August 2024, there were 64.88 filled
position FTE in the child protection portfolio in the wheatbelt district, which includes Narrogin. Of these, there were 28.18 filled caseworker
position FTE.
(2) The
management of caseloads for child protection workers is the subject of Western Australian
Industrial Relations Order 2007, which has
been in effect since 1 January 2008. The order contains several provisions ,
including a case load limit of 15 cases per worker, with an absolute limit of
18 cases per worker in certain circumstances.
(3) As of 6 September 2024, the
average number of cases in the wheatbelt district was 10.7 cases per worker.
(4) As of 31 August
2024, there were 20.49 vacant position FTE in the child protection portfolio in
the wheatbelt district. Of these, there were 11.40 vacant caseworker position
FTE.
question. The following response has been provided by the Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities has provided the following advice.
(1) As of 31 August 2024, there were 64.88 filled
position FTE in the child protection portfolio in the wheatbelt district, which includes Narrogin. Of these, there were 28.18 filled caseworker
position FTE.
(2) The
management of caseloads for child protection workers is the subject of Western Australian
Industrial Relations Order 2007, which has
been in effect since 1 January 2008. The order contains several provisions ,
including a case load limit of 15 cases per worker, with an absolute limit of
18 cases per worker in certain circumstances.
(3) As of 6 September 2024, the
average number of cases in the wheatbelt district was 10.7 cases per worker.
(4) As of 31 August
2024, there were 20.49 vacant position FTE in the child protection portfolio in
the wheatbelt district. Of these, there were 11.40 vacant caseworker position
FTE.
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