Page 1031 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 March 2013
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MS BURCH: I thank Mrs Jones for her question. This was also explored in the annual reports hearing. I think you may have asked the same question then, Mrs Jones. But for members who have not read the transcript and were not tuned in to the most exciting bit of TV on the day, we do acknowledge that there is no clear policy articulating the absolute necessity for a visit. But let us again be very clear about the process for kids that are placed in care through care and protection. There is an annual review process. So each and every year, every child in care goes through, whether it is through a kinship care placement or a foster-care placement, an annual review of placement. Key considerations are: is their placement sustainable and safe? Are school matters cared for? Are employment or other opportunities cared for? Is there anything that needs to be done on behalf of the territory for the best outcome for that child?
At times, through those review processes, there are ad hoc decisions that will say, “This child’s been in a long-term, stable placement.” If you run the scenario where you have been in a placement since you were two and you are a 15-year-old and the family is yours—this is no longer in many ways a foster placement; you are a member of that family—a tap on the door from an out-of-home care agency may not be welcome. Again, I take heed of what the Auditor-General has said. So I have asked the directorate to put a very clear policy in place so that, in addition, and as part of the annual review process, there is indeed a visit.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Mrs Jones, a supplementary.
MRS JONES: Why was there no policy previously to guide visitations for monitoring the welfare of children and young people as part of the annual review process?
MS BURCH: Without being in the internal machinations of the department itself, I cannot give you a clear answer. I think that all of these judgements that are made through the annual review process are always made in the best interests of the child. At times, workers have made the decision that everything is looking safe. As I have articulated in my first response, there may be a view that a knock on the door from an external agency or from a CPS staffer may not be ideal.
But that said, it is also very reasonable to expect that policy to be clearly articulated rather than to be left unsure of or unclear. Hence, now there will be a very clear statement.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, how important is it for these children to be placed in a loving, family environment?
MS BURCH: I thank Mr Gentleman for his interest in this. It is absolutely critical that we have the best placement opportunities we can have for these children. Ideally, it is going to kin. We have strived to have most of the children within kin placements. We have achieved the majority of placements within kin arrangements. And that is, I think, a very good outcome.
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