Hon. Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding staffing levels, a missing person incident, and safety training within the Department for Child Protection and Family Support in the Goldfields district. The Minister provides data on staff turnover, recruitment, vacancies, and addresses the specific allegations.

AnsweredQoN 385Legislative Council
Asked
21 April 2015
Portfolio
Child Protection

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT
FOR CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT — GOLDFIELDS
385. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to an article in the Kalgoorlie Miner on 8 April 2015 titled ''DCP
blasted by ex-worker''.
(1) How many staff
have left Department for Child Protection and Family Support employment in the
goldfields district in the past 18 months, and what were their positions?
(2) How many new
staff have been recruited by the department in the goldfields district in the
past 18 months, and what are their positions?
(3) How many
positions are currently vacant in the goldfields district and what has the
longest vacancy been?
(4) Are
allegations that a teenage girl was lost in Warburton by departmental staff
correct; and, if so, how did this happen?
(5) Are
allegations that staff were not given comprehensive safety training to safely
undertake their roles correct?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1) Thirty-two
employees have left the department from the goldfields district since 1 October
2013. Ten of those employees were on fixed-term contracts of employment.
Positions are grouped as follows: 10 child protection worker positions, 13 other
service delivery positions and nine other non-service delivery positions.
(2) Twenty-one
new staff have joined the department in the past 18 months and are currently
working in the goldfields district. These staff occupy the following positions:
nine child protection worker positions, five other service delivery positions
and seven other non-service delivery positions.
(3) The
goldfields currently has nine full-time equivalent vacant positions. The
department does not keep a record of the length of time positions have remained
vacant.
(4) No; the teenage
girl left departmental staff to see friends and family. Departmental staff
worked with the community members and located the girl on the same evening.
(5) The
Department for Child Protection and Family Support takes the safety and
effective practices of its employees very seriously. Processes are in place to
train and develop good safety practices in all staff undertaking remote travel.

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