WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the number of registered carers with multiple children, overdue carer record screenings, and overdue carer reviews, broken down by relative/non-relative status and district in August 2015. The answer reveals data limitations and provides some current figures.

AnsweredQoN 3798Legislative Council
Asked
16 February 2016
Portfolio
Child Protection

QuestionView source ↗

(1) During the month of August 2015, what was the total number of registered carers with four or more children placed with them by category of relative and non-relative carer, by district? (2) During the month of August 2015, how many carers had a "carer record screening" overdue or not recorded by category of relative and non-relative carer, by district? (3) During the month of August 2015, how many carers had overdue "carer reviews" by category of relative and non-relative carer, by district?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
24 March 2016
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
37 days
(1)        These data are not retrospectively available. On 24 February 2016, 80 relative and 80 non-relative approved carers had four or more children placed with them, in the following districts:
Armadale – 6 relative, 15 non-relative
Cannington – 9 relative, 5 non-relative
East Kimberley – 1 relative, 1 non-relative
Fremantle – 4 relative, 0 non-relative
Goldfields – 2 relative, 0 non-relative
Great Southern – 3 relative, 4 non-relative
Joondalup – 6 relative, 6 non-relative
Midland – 10 relative, 8 non-relative
Mirrabooka – 5 relative, 5 non-relative
Murchison – 4 relative, 7 non-relative
Peel – 2 relative, 6 non-relative
Perth – 0 relative, 7 non-relative
Pilbara – 7 relative, 0 non-relative
Rockingham – 3 relative, 2 non-relative
South West – 2 relative, 7 non-relative
West Kimberley – 4 relative, 1 non-relative
Wheatbelt – 12 relative, 6 non-relative.
(2)        There are a range of matters that can impact upon the timely completion of carer record screening, these can include difficulties with carers being located in remote locations, sometimes carers require additional practical supports as well as the Working with Children Screening checks which are detailed and often rely on provision of information from a range of sources.  The Department is currently piloting an on line application process for Working with Children screening checks which has the potential to address some of the barriers associated with remoteness and posting forms.
On 31 August 2015, there were 36 relative and two non-relative approved individual carers who had carer record screening overdue or not recorded, in the following districts:
Armadale – 0 relative, 0 non-relative
Cannington – 2 relative, 0 non-relative
East Kimberley – 0 relative, 0 non-relative
Fremantle – 5 relative, 0 non-relative
Goldfields – 3 relative, 0 non-relative
Great Southern – 6 relative, 0 non-relative
Joondalup – 0 relative, 0 non-relative
Midland – 5 relative, 0 non-relative
Mirrabooka – 3 relative, 0 non-relative
Murchison – 1 relative, 0 non-relative
Peel – 0 relative, 0 non-relative
Perth – 3 relative, 0 non-relative
Pilbara – 3 relative, 0 non-relative
Rockingham – 1 relative, 0 non-relative
South West – 2 relative, 0 non-relative
West Kimberley – 2 relative, 0 non-relative
Wheatbelt – 0 relative, 0 non-relative.
Fostering and Adoption Services – 0 relative and 2 non-relative.
(3)        There are a range of matters that can impact upon the timely completion of carer record screening, these can include difficulties with carers being located in remote locations, sometimes carers require additional practical supports as well as the Working with Children Screening checks which are detailed and often rely on provision of information from a range of sources.  The Department is currently piloting an on line application process for Working with Children screening checks which has the potential to address some of the barriers associated with remoteness and posting forms.
On 31 August 2015, there were 242 relative and 150 non-relative carer households with children placed who had overdue carer reviews, in the following districts:
Armadale – 16 relative, 31 non-relative
Cannington – 16 relative, 3 non-relative
East Kimberley – 19 relative, 3 non-relative
Fremantle – 10 relative, 9 non-relative
Goldfields – 3 relative, 1 non-relative
Great Southern – 10 relative, 6 non-relative
Joondalup – 10 relative, 5 non-relative
Midland – 15 relative, 11 non-relative
Mirrabooka – 18 relative, 7 non-relative
Murchison – 19 relative, 10 non-relative
Peel – 11 relative, 6 non-relative
Perth – 23 relative, 7 non-relative
Pilbara – 18 relative, 11 non-relative
Rockingham – 6 relative, 7 non-relative
South West – 19 relative, 9 non-relative
West Kimberley – 15 relative, 2 non-relative
Wheatbelt – 14 relative, 14 non-relative
Fostering and Adoption Services – 0 relative and 8 non-relative.

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