❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Department for Child Protection and Family Support's handling of child protection notifications, including triage processes, outstanding notifications, follow-up timeframes, notification numbers, and staffing levels. The response provides data on notification volumes and staffing but notes difficulty in isolating staff solely processing notifications.
AnsweredQoN 794Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support's processing of child protection notifications, and I ask: (a) upon receipt of a notification are reports triaged; (b) as of 27 February 2014 are there any outstanding notifications; (c) if yes to (b), how many notifications are outstanding; (d) what is the average timeframe for a notification to be followed up; (e) what is the total number and percentage of child protection notifications per year since 2009; and (f) what is the total number of staff processing child protection notifications per year since 2009?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 April 2014
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
28 days
(a) Yes. When child protection concerns are reported to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support (the Department), an initial assessment is done to determine if any further information and assessment is needed, and whether the Department is likely to have an ongoing role in relation to the child's safety, wellbeing and/or protection.
This initial assessment is prioritised for all high risk cases and children aged five years or younger.
(b) No as all notifications are assessed when received by the Department.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) In 2012-13 the average timeframe for a notification to be followed up with further inquiries was three days, with more than three quarters of notifications responded to within one day.
(e) The number of child protection notifications received in the following years and the percentage increase from the previous year were:
2008-09 - 10,067 (13% increase)
2009-10 - 12,759 (27% increase)
2010-11 - 14,629 (15% increase)
2011-12 - 17,148 (17% increase)
2012-13 - 18,327 (7% increase)
2013-14 to 28 February 2014 - 12,814.
(f) It is not possible to quantify staff who solely process child protection notifications. Child protection staff may be involved across teams and in a range of child protection activities including working with children in care and their families, supporting foster carers and providing child centred family support.
The number of child protection staff in the Department as at 30 June of each of the following years was:
2009 - 659.40
2010 - 660.35
2011 - 683.75
2012 - 706.70
2013 - 706.70
This initial assessment is prioritised for all high risk cases and children aged five years or younger.
(b) No as all notifications are assessed when received by the Department.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) In 2012-13 the average timeframe for a notification to be followed up with further inquiries was three days, with more than three quarters of notifications responded to within one day.
(e) The number of child protection notifications received in the following years and the percentage increase from the previous year were:
2008-09 - 10,067 (13% increase)
2009-10 - 12,759 (27% increase)
2010-11 - 14,629 (15% increase)
2011-12 - 17,148 (17% increase)
2012-13 - 18,327 (7% increase)
2013-14 to 28 February 2014 - 12,814.
(f) It is not possible to quantify staff who solely process child protection notifications. Child protection staff may be involved across teams and in a range of child protection activities including working with children in care and their families, supporting foster carers and providing child centred family support.
The number of child protection staff in the Department as at 30 June of each of the following years was:
2009 - 659.40
2010 - 660.35
2011 - 683.75
2012 - 706.70
2013 - 706.70
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