❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information about the Best Beginnings home visiting service, including enrolment numbers, staffing, qualifications, pregnancy support, and referral processes. The Minister provides specific data on enrolments and staffing, confirms pregnancy support, and details referral pathways, but notes that specific staff qualifications require further inquiry.
AnsweredQoN 1040Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BEST BEGINNINGS HOME VISITING SERVICE
I refer to the Best Beginnings home visiting service for families of new infants conducted by the Department for Child Protection. (1) How many families are currently enrolled in or engaged with the program — (a) in the Perth metropolitan area; and (b) in WA country areas? (2) How many full-time equivalent employees are involved with or conduct the program? (3) What are the respective qualifications of those FTE positions? (4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
I refer to the Best Beginnings home visiting service for families of new infants conducted by the Department for Child Protection. (1) How many families are currently enrolled in or engaged with the program — (a) in the Perth metropolitan area; and (b) in WA country areas? (2) How many full-time equivalent employees are involved with or conduct the program? (3) What are the respective qualifications of those FTE positions? (4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(1) How many families are currently enrolled in or engaged with the program — (a) in the Perth metropolitan area; and (b) in WA country areas? (2) How many full-time equivalent employees are involved with or conduct the program? (3) What are the respective qualifications of those FTE positions? (4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(b) in WA country areas?
(3) What are the respective qualifications of those FTE positions? (4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(1) How many families are currently enrolled in or engaged with the program — (a) in the Perth metropolitan area; and (b) in WA country areas? (2) How many full-time equivalent employees are involved with or conduct the program? (3) What are the respective qualifications of those FTE positions? (4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(b) in WA country areas?
(3) What are the respective qualifications of those FTE positions? (4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(4) Does the program involve structured home visiting during a client’s pregnancy? (5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(5) How and by whom is a client referred to the Best Beginnings home visiting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(1) (a) Two hundred and seventy-five. (b) Fifty-eight. (2) From the Department for Child Protection, 16.5 FTE. (3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(3) Qualifications are not essential for the employees of the department who conduct the program. Further inquiries would be required to obtain the details of the specific qualifications held by these staff. (4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(4) Yes. (5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
(5) Referrals are made antenatally or up to three months following the child’s birth. Referral is usually made by fax or phone to the district office of the Department for Child Protection where the family resides. Referral can be accepted from any source. The department reports the main referral sources as King Edward Memorial Hospital; other maternity hospitals; child health nurses; community health; general practitioners; community sector agencies; youth services; other teams of the Department for Child Protection; and self-referral.
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