CHILDREN IN CARE — SECURE CARE

671. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection:

I refer to the “Statutory Review of the Children and Community Services Act 2004” and to recommendation 24 on secure care.

(1)  Has an evaluation of the role and effectiveness of secure care now been undertaken?

(2)  If yes to (1)—

(a)  please provide a copy of the review report; and

(b)  does the minister intend to make any changes as a result of the review; and, if so, what changes?

(3)  If no to (1), why not?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

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

(1) Yes.

(2)

(a)  I will undertake to table a redacted version of the report by 25 June 2020. The report will be redacted as the full report contains case studies and other sensitive information that may identify children in out-of-home care.

(b) Yes. Areas covered by the report recommendations include enhancing service delivery, enhancing screening and assessment, improved oversight and improved service system response. All actions identified to implement the report recommendations are expected to be completed in 2021. Progress to date includes completion of building modifications to support enhanced service delivery, identification of changes required to existing policy and practice, and the implementation of recommended mental health first aid training. Discussions with relevant state government agencies to improve service system responses to children in secure care are occurring as part of a project to strengthen coordination between agencies—that is, rapid response and recommendation 47 of the “Statutory Review of the Children and Community Services Act 2004”. There is referral of actions to enhance the cultural capability of the secure care workforce to Communities’ Aboriginal Cultural Capability Reform project and referral of actions relevant to implementation of royal commission recommendations to improve oversight to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

(3) Not applicable.

 

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