Progress Documented on Child Protection and Family Services Reforms

Lin Thorp, MLC

Minister for Children

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Progress Documented on Child Protection and Family Services Reforms

At risk families are receiving the support they need earlier and fewer children are being unnecessarily referred to the Child Protection system under the Government’s reforms of child and family services.

The Minister for Children, Lin Thorp, today updated Parliament on the results of the reform program which was recommended in a 2006 report.

Ms Thorp said that 180 of the 208 or 87 per cent of the recommendations have been completed with work on the remaining recommendations well underway.

“This change represented one of the most fundamental transformations of our service system in years and it is starting to show positive results,” Ms Thorp said.

“The primary aim was to tackle our ever increasing unallocated case list by targeting families early with support before they required child protection intervention.

“Four new Gateway Services were established in regions across Tasmania to act as a one stop shop for families needing help and support.”

In the March 2010 quarter, the Gateway Service received a total of 1250 referrals. Of those:
275 families with 654 children were referred for family support services
720 families required low level support such as information advice or referral to another service and
The remainder did not require a service.
“Importantly, only 22 families were referred to the acute end of the Child Protection service from the Gateways.

“A further 108 families were referred for family support services from the Child Protection system after notifications had been made.”

Ms Thorp said the figures showed early intervention in action which is the hallmark of a best practise and contemporary family services system.

“The unallocated child protection list has been reduced by 99 per cent since its peak in December 2006. As at May this year, the number of unallocated cases stood at just five,” Ms Thorp said.

“It is acknowledged that there has been an increase in the number of youths in care. Above all, we believe that this shows that the Child Protection is targeting its services in the right direction to the most vulnerable clients.

“So instead of diluting its service, the Child Protection system is now more successfully catching children at serious risk."

Key milestones in the reform agenda to date include;
Gateway Services were established in each of the four regions in August 2009, supported by an Intensive Family Support Service to intervene earlier with vulnerable families.
A therapeutic Early Years Parenting Support Service was established in January 2010 focusing on parents with children aged between 0 – 5 years, including unborn children.
A Strategic Out of Home Care framework has been finalised with the first step being the transitioning of therapeutic Residential Care to the non-government sector by the beginning of September this year.
A Residential Care practice consultant has been appointed to oversee the transition process and support the clients.
The Australian Childhood Foundation has been appointed to deliver therapeutic support for children in care.
A successful foster carer recruitment campaign was conducted and the focus is on maintaining the momentum. 61 new foster carers have been approved since the launch of the Real Carers Really Needed recruitment program, compared to 42 last year.
DHHS has worked with the Commissioner for Children to develop a pilot Children’s Visitor program which is currently underway.
DHHS has supported to Commissioner for Children in the development of a Charter of Rights for children in Out of Home care.
A Community Paediatrician position, jointly funded by Disability Child, Youth and Family Services (DCYFS) and the Royal Hobart Hospital, has been established to coordinate and deliver a state-wide clinical service for children and young people when physical, sexual abuse and/or neglect is suspected. The position is in the process of being filled.
Legislative amendments were made to the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act which allowed for improved information sharing, the establishment of community based intake services, an improved response to pre-natal concerns for children and the formal establishment of an Ashley Youth Detention Centre Residents’ Advocate position.

Further information: Tasmanian Government Communications Unit

Phone: (03) 6233 6573

http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=29923