Hon. Sally Talbot asks about the role, staffing, and interagency collaboration of the Statewide Protection of Children Coordination (SPOCC) Unit within the Department of Health. The parliamentary secretary provides details on the unit's functions, staffing levels, and key partner agencies.

AnsweredQoN 867Legislative Council
Asked
20 August 2015
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

STATEWIDE
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN COORDINATION UNIT
867. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
(1) What is
the role of the department's Statewide Protection of Children
Coordination—SPOCC—Unit?
(2) How many employees work in the
unit, and what are their roles?
(3) What other government and
non-government agencies are involved in the SPOCC unit?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) The
Statewide Protection of Children Coordination—SPOCC—Unit leads
and promotes WA Health's role and compliance in the protection of
children and staff roles and responsibilities under the legislation relating to
the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. Further information regarding
the functions of the unit has been provided, and I table that information.
(2) The unit
comprises five full-time equivalent positions—namely, one FTE manager
position, three FTE senior policy and program officer positions, and one FTE
research and program support officer position. The total headcount of employees
working in the unit is seven; four of these employees work part-time.
(3) Other key
agencies that the unit works in collaboration with include, but are not limited
to, the Department for Child Protection and Family Support, WA Police, the
Department of Education, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Aboriginal
medical services. The unit works with these agencies across the state in
developing or presenting issues related to child protection to ensure
interagency policies and procedures are in place that support children's
safety.
[See paper 3190.]

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