❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding delays in child safety investigations and outdated care plans, prompted by a leaked report. The Minister's response acknowledges the issues but declines to provide specific details or table the report, citing confidentiality and internal use.
AnsweredQoN 138Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD PROTECTION — CARE PLANS
138. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the article in The
West Australian titled ''Leaked documents expose how WA Department
of Communities is failing to meet crucial targets'', which cites the
department's December 2021 critical priorities report.
(1) When was the minister first briefed about child
safety investigations in Perth having blown out to 128 days on average
with only 14 per cent being completed within the required 30 days?
(2) Is the
minister aware that there were at least 10 children in care whose care plans
had not been updated in more than three years?
(3) What urgent
action has been taken to address the case of the 11-year-old whose care plan
had not been updated in over four and a half years?
(4) Will the minister table the
critical priorities report for January and February 2022?
138. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the article in The
West Australian titled ''Leaked documents expose how WA Department
of Communities is failing to meet crucial targets'', which cites the
department's December 2021 critical priorities report.
(1) When was the minister first briefed about child
safety investigations in Perth having blown out to 128 days on average
with only 14 per cent being completed within the required 30 days?
(2) Is the
minister aware that there were at least 10 children in care whose care plans
had not been updated in more than three years?
(3) What urgent
action has been taken to address the case of the 11-year-old whose care plan
had not been updated in over four and a half years?
(4) Will the minister table the
critical priorities report for January and February 2022?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The Minister
for Child Protection receives regular updates regarding child protection
matters as part of regular and annual reporting processes.
(2)–(3) The
critical priorities report is an internal document that the department uses to
identify areas to focus on for the improvement of services. The report is
prepared and provided to internal stakeholders only and not provided to the
minister. The department prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children and
young people in keeping with its legal and ethical obligations. Communities
does not comment on individual cases, particularly when there is a potential or
evident risk of identifying one or more children in care. In order to identify
the children referred to in his question, the honourable member would have
access to highly confidential and sensitive information about those children.
(4) No. The report contains
sensitive information that may identify children in care.
some notice of the question.
(1) The Minister
for Child Protection receives regular updates regarding child protection
matters as part of regular and annual reporting processes.
(2)–(3) The
critical priorities report is an internal document that the department uses to
identify areas to focus on for the improvement of services. The report is
prepared and provided to internal stakeholders only and not provided to the
minister. The department prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children and
young people in keeping with its legal and ethical obligations. Communities
does not comment on individual cases, particularly when there is a potential or
evident risk of identifying one or more children in care. In order to identify
the children referred to in his question, the honourable member would have
access to highly confidential and sensitive information about those children.
(4) No. The report contains
sensitive information that may identify children in care.
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