❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the death of a disabled child in the department's care, seeking details on failures and preventative measures. The Minister provides details of the case and states the department will review placements and await the Ombudsman's investigation.
AnsweredQoN 18Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT FOR CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT —
CHILD DEATH
18. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to media reports that a
disabled child who was in the care of the Department for Child Protection and
Family Support died after his care workers lost him in bushland on the Dampier
Peninsula on 14 March 2013.
(1) What went
wrong with arrangements put in place by the minister's department to
care for this child?
(2) What will
change as a result of this tragedy to ensure that such a thing never happens
again?
CHILD DEATH
18. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to media reports that a
disabled child who was in the care of the Department for Child Protection and
Family Support died after his care workers lost him in bushland on the Dampier
Peninsula on 14 March 2013.
(1) What went
wrong with arrangements put in place by the minister's department to
care for this child?
(2) What will
change as a result of this tragedy to ensure that such a thing never happens
again?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of this question.
(1) The child was
15 years of age at the time of his death and was registered with the Disability
Services Commission due to an intellectual disability. He was in the care of
the CEO of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support at the time
of registration with the commission and continued to be under DCPFS's
care until his death. In 2011, DCPFS contracted a placement option for the
young person with a non-government organisation, jointly funded by DCPFS and
the commission. The commission's local area coordinator and the DCPFS
staff on Dampier Peninsula and the case manager had regular contact with the
young person for the duration of his registration with the commission and while
he was in care.
Prior to the day of the child's
death, DCPFS had no issues with the level of care he was receiving from his
carers and the organisation contracted to provide the care. The child left the
carers, against their advice, to go to the water. His carers responded very quickly,
pursuing him, but lost sight of him and raised emergency services within an
hour of him going missing.
(2) The
department constantly reviews its placements for vulnerable young people. It
looks forward to the results of the investigation by the Ombudsman and the
opportunity to receive any recommendations about any policy and procedures for
children in care with high needs.
for some notice of this question.
(1) The child was
15 years of age at the time of his death and was registered with the Disability
Services Commission due to an intellectual disability. He was in the care of
the CEO of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support at the time
of registration with the commission and continued to be under DCPFS's
care until his death. In 2011, DCPFS contracted a placement option for the
young person with a non-government organisation, jointly funded by DCPFS and
the commission. The commission's local area coordinator and the DCPFS
staff on Dampier Peninsula and the case manager had regular contact with the
young person for the duration of his registration with the commission and while
he was in care.
Prior to the day of the child's
death, DCPFS had no issues with the level of care he was receiving from his
carers and the organisation contracted to provide the care. The child left the
carers, against their advice, to go to the water. His carers responded very quickly,
pursuing him, but lost sight of him and raised emergency services within an
hour of him going missing.
(2) The
department constantly reviews its placements for vulnerable young people. It
looks forward to the results of the investigation by the Ombudsman and the
opportunity to receive any recommendations about any policy and procedures for
children in care with high needs.
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