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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 889 asked in the Legislative Council on 9 October 2018 by Hon Nick Goiran

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

FOSTER CARE — ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

889. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection:

I refer to the minister's answer to my question without notice 734 on 30 August 2018 in which she informed the house that children remain in the care of a male foster carer in Newman, notwithstanding that he has been served with a restraining order and has been the subject of a departmental carer review since 13 June.

(1) Was the review suspended on 11 July 2018?

(2) Was the review reactivated on 30 August 2018?

(3) Was one extension granted to 30 September 2018?

(4) Is the review now complete?

(5) If yes to (4), when was it completed and what was the outcome?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

The guidelines informing the practice of conducting carer standard of care assessments is contained online within the Department of Communities' casework practice manual at section 2.1.5, as tabled on 11 September 2018 in response to question without notice 752.

(1) Yes. A carer standard of care assessment may be suspended when there are issues or allegations that have arisen requiring further immediate assessment.

(2) Yes. When additional assessments are finalised, a carer standard of care assessment may be reactivated, taking into consideration the findings of related assessments.

(3) Yes. When additional assessments identify further issues requiring consideration in the carer standard of care assessment, the district director may approve extension of reporting time frames. In complex cases when there are no immediate safety concerns, there is potential for changing circumstances and additional information to impact on the time required to complete the carer standard of care assessment.

(4) Yes.

(5) The review was completed prior to 30 September 2018. The allegation of child sex abuse was not substantiated.

When a carer standard of care assessment has been completed, the Department of Communities must develop, implement and document an appropriate response. This may include a carer support plan, which will detail provisions such as carer supports from the district or external providers; carer training; and ongoing supervision. A carer support plan has been developed for the carers associated with this case.