A WA parliamentary question seeks information on criminal record checks for relative foster carers of state wards. The Minister provides data on the number of wards in relative care, check status, and the assessment process for carers with criminal records.

AnsweredQoN 608Legislative Council
Asked
13 September 2005
Portfolio
Community Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to criminal checks on foster carers of state wards. (1) How many state wards are with foster carers who are relatives? (2) How many of the relatives have had criminal record checks? (3) Under what circumstances would the department allow a child to continue living in care with a relative if the relative had a criminal record? (4) Does the department have varying degrees of allowances for criminal records before it would preclude a child being given access to a carer who is a relative? Hon KATE DOUST

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(1) How many state wards are with foster carers who are relatives? (2) How many of the relatives have had criminal record checks? (3) Under what circumstances would the department allow a child to continue living in care with a relative if the relative had a criminal record? (4) Does the department have varying degrees of allowances for criminal records before it would preclude a child being given access to a carer who is a relative? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(2) How many of the relatives have had criminal record checks? (3) Under what circumstances would the department allow a child to continue living in care with a relative if the relative had a criminal record? (4) Does the department have varying degrees of allowances for criminal records before it would preclude a child being given access to a carer who is a relative? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(3) Under what circumstances would the department allow a child to continue living in care with a relative if the relative had a criminal record? (4) Does the department have varying degrees of allowances for criminal records before it would preclude a child being given access to a carer who is a relative? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(4) Does the department have varying degrees of allowances for criminal records before it would preclude a child being given access to a carer who is a relative? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(1) As at 30 June 2005 there were 454 wards living with foster carers who were relatives. (2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(2) Criminal record checks are required for all carers who are relatives. When the urgency of a situation requires immediate placement of a child with a relative who has not been checked, the check is commenced immediately the child is placed. Of the 281 relatives registered as main carers, 267 have had a police screening check. Police screening checks are in progress for the remainder. (3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(3) The circumstances would be an assessment by the manager that placing the child with a carer who was a relative was in the best interests of the child. (4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).
(4) Yes, through an assessment as answered in (3).

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