❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the 'Speaking Out About Raising Concerns in Care' report, focusing on actions taken to address children's fears, staff resourcing, and workload management. The Minister's response outlines departmental initiatives, monitoring practices, and resource allocation.
AnsweredQoN 1210Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE —''SPEAKING
OUT ABOUT RAISING CONCERNS IN CARE'' REPORT
1210. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the report by the
Commissioner for Children and Young People ''Speaking Out About Raising
Concerns in Care''.
(1) What action
has the department taken to address concerns that children and young people in
out‑of‑home care fear not being believed and fear negative
consequences when speaking out about their problems?
(2) The children's
commissioner said that he was concerned about staff resourcing enabling
children to have a voice about their fates; can the minister advise whether
staff resourcing is adequate?
(3) What is the
estimated percentage of cases being handled by a child protection worker above
the accepted safe workload that breach the industrial agreement?
OUT ABOUT RAISING CONCERNS IN CARE'' REPORT
1210. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the report by the
Commissioner for Children and Young People ''Speaking Out About Raising
Concerns in Care''.
(1) What action
has the department taken to address concerns that children and young people in
out‑of‑home care fear not being believed and fear negative
consequences when speaking out about their problems?
(2) The children's
commissioner said that he was concerned about staff resourcing enabling
children to have a voice about their fates; can the minister advise whether
staff resourcing is adequate?
(3) What is the
estimated percentage of cases being handled by a child protection worker above
the accepted safe workload that breach the industrial agreement?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The department has acknowledged the
barriers identified by children. The department is currently undertaking an
extensive program of review and reform of its out-of-home-care system to ensure
that its approach is maximising outcomes for children and young people in care.
An element of the reform is to continue to enhance its complaints and oversight
system so that there is increased support, accountability and accessibility for
children and young people in out-of-home care.
The department also has mechanisms in place to enable children to have a
voice regarding their care experience, including the Advocate for Children in
Care, who helps children and young people with problems or complaints, enables
them to have a say in decisions that affect their life and can speak to
decision-makers on children and young people's behalf. The department
also uses Viewpoint, which is an audio computer-assisted self-interviewing
program whereby children provide information about their care experience. The
information is provided directly to the caseworker, who then follows up with
children regarding their responses. All children in care are offered the
opportunity and encouraged to participate through Viewpoint.
The report ''Speaking Out About Raising Concerns in Care: The
views of Western Australian children and young people with experience of
out-of-home care'' is a welcome, new initiative undertaken in
partnership between the Commissioner for Children and Young People, CREATE
Foundation and the department. It is the first time something like this has
been undertaken and demonstrates the maturity of the child protection system in
being able to work in partnership with CREATE and the Commissioner for Children
and Young People to undertake such an important consultation. It focuses on
delivering the right outcomes for children and young people. The
recommendations are welcome, as they will provide the opportunity to improve
and enhance how the department and agencies will work with children and young
people to ensure that they are well supported and kept safe and have access to
the right services and supports when they are needed; and, most importantly, it
keeps children's voices at the centre of the conversation.
(2) The Department for Child Protection and
Family Support's caseloads are closely monitored against the
requirements of the industrial agreement and are within the agreed limits of 15
cases per worker and in exceptional circumstances up to 18 cases, with the average
caseload statewide being 11.98. Child protection caseworkers perform a complex
and demanding job requiring constant reprioritisation in accordance with the
needs of children. The department continues to work with Treasury to ensure
that resources continue to be allocated in accordance with demand. Since the
Ford review in 2007, the department's budget has increased by 124 per
cent.
(3) As at 2 September 2016, the
establishment full-time equivalent for workload management purposes across all
districts was 650.92 FTE. There were 97 caseworkers with a pro rata caseload
above 15. When caseworkers have caseloads over 15 cases, cases have been
allocated depending on the complexity and intensity of the case in line with
the caseworker's skills, knowledge and experience. The incidence of the
allocation of cases to a caseworker above 15 is generally temporary and
regularly reviewed.
(1) The department has acknowledged the
barriers identified by children. The department is currently undertaking an
extensive program of review and reform of its out-of-home-care system to ensure
that its approach is maximising outcomes for children and young people in care.
An element of the reform is to continue to enhance its complaints and oversight
system so that there is increased support, accountability and accessibility for
children and young people in out-of-home care.
The department also has mechanisms in place to enable children to have a
voice regarding their care experience, including the Advocate for Children in
Care, who helps children and young people with problems or complaints, enables
them to have a say in decisions that affect their life and can speak to
decision-makers on children and young people's behalf. The department
also uses Viewpoint, which is an audio computer-assisted self-interviewing
program whereby children provide information about their care experience. The
information is provided directly to the caseworker, who then follows up with
children regarding their responses. All children in care are offered the
opportunity and encouraged to participate through Viewpoint.
The report ''Speaking Out About Raising Concerns in Care: The
views of Western Australian children and young people with experience of
out-of-home care'' is a welcome, new initiative undertaken in
partnership between the Commissioner for Children and Young People, CREATE
Foundation and the department. It is the first time something like this has
been undertaken and demonstrates the maturity of the child protection system in
being able to work in partnership with CREATE and the Commissioner for Children
and Young People to undertake such an important consultation. It focuses on
delivering the right outcomes for children and young people. The
recommendations are welcome, as they will provide the opportunity to improve
and enhance how the department and agencies will work with children and young
people to ensure that they are well supported and kept safe and have access to
the right services and supports when they are needed; and, most importantly, it
keeps children's voices at the centre of the conversation.
(2) The Department for Child Protection and
Family Support's caseloads are closely monitored against the
requirements of the industrial agreement and are within the agreed limits of 15
cases per worker and in exceptional circumstances up to 18 cases, with the average
caseload statewide being 11.98. Child protection caseworkers perform a complex
and demanding job requiring constant reprioritisation in accordance with the
needs of children. The department continues to work with Treasury to ensure
that resources continue to be allocated in accordance with demand. Since the
Ford review in 2007, the department's budget has increased by 124 per
cent.
(3) As at 2 September 2016, the
establishment full-time equivalent for workload management purposes across all
districts was 650.92 FTE. There were 97 caseworkers with a pro rata caseload
above 15. When caseworkers have caseloads over 15 cases, cases have been
allocated depending on the complexity and intensity of the case in line with
the caseworker's skills, knowledge and experience. The incidence of the
allocation of cases to a caseworker above 15 is generally temporary and
regularly reviewed.
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