❓ Hon Stephen Dawson asks about actions taken to address the 2014 Auditor General's report on Working with Children Checks. The answer details implemented recommendations, resource allocation, and process improvements.
AnsweredQoN 4131Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Working with Children screening unit and I ask, what action has been taken by the department to increase resourcing and respond to the 2014 Auditor General’s report, Working with Children Checks ?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 June 2016
Responded by
Minister for Planning representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
49 days
The following action has been taken on the recommendations made in the 2014 Auditor General’s report, Working with Children Checks .
In place
Continues to be in place.
An additional senior compliance officer is temporarily in place bringing the number of compliance staff to six, including management and support. Further resourcing is to be requested in line with amendments to the WWC Act that have been approved for drafting.
The guidelines are in place. The Department, however, cannot set artificial time frames for decisions. The robust WWC Check requires consideration of all information relevant to risk and sourcing of this nationally is not in the control of the WWC Screening Unit. The focus is on the best and not the quickest decision. Cases are regularly triaged so that applications are processed as expediently as possible. Where an immediate risk is identified, either when the initial criminal record is received or when other information such as disciplinary information is sourced during assessment, an interim negative notice is issued. For example, when police notify of a new offence of concern about a current WWC cardholder, the average time to assess the case and issue an interim negative notice is four calendar days (inclusive of weekends and public holidays).
Achieved. The Working with Children Screening Unit confirmed with WA Police that they had no record of informal advice to the Unit about a person with a possible new charge of concern that had not been followed up with formal a notification under section 17 of the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004.
Continues to be in place.
The Department has tightened its guidelines and compliance actions in relation to foster and relative care.
In place
Continues to be in place.
An additional senior compliance officer is temporarily in place bringing the number of compliance staff to six, including management and support. Further resourcing is to be requested in line with amendments to the WWC Act that have been approved for drafting.
The guidelines are in place. The Department, however, cannot set artificial time frames for decisions. The robust WWC Check requires consideration of all information relevant to risk and sourcing of this nationally is not in the control of the WWC Screening Unit. The focus is on the best and not the quickest decision. Cases are regularly triaged so that applications are processed as expediently as possible. Where an immediate risk is identified, either when the initial criminal record is received or when other information such as disciplinary information is sourced during assessment, an interim negative notice is issued. For example, when police notify of a new offence of concern about a current WWC cardholder, the average time to assess the case and issue an interim negative notice is four calendar days (inclusive of weekends and public holidays).
Achieved. The Working with Children Screening Unit confirmed with WA Police that they had no record of informal advice to the Unit about a person with a possible new charge of concern that had not been followed up with formal a notification under section 17 of the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004.
Continues to be in place.
The Department has tightened its guidelines and compliance actions in relation to foster and relative care.
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