Page 1853 - Week 06 - Thursday, 30 July 2020
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Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. Supervised contact can be terminated should the person/s having contact with the child or young person behave in a manner which is deemed unsafe, inappropriate or detrimental to the safety, health or wellbeing of the child or young person. Contact can also be terminated should the person/s present as under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
2. Clear and transparent communication between all members of the Care Team and the child or young person is pivotal to building trust and creating positive relationships. However, this communication must be age appropriate and delivered in a way which will not impact the child in an adverse way. The child’s safety, health and wellbeing are the highest priority and their wellbeing will be prioritised over the needs and wishes of the adults in attendance.
3. Please see the answer to question 1.
4. All members of the Care Team have a role in helping children and young people understand their time in care. The Care Team is made up of case managers, carers, family members and supporting professionals. Case managers ensure the child has been given adequate information about the decision-making process in an age appropriate way. Case managers will allow time so children can explain their views, ask questions and talk about the issues until they understand them properly.
Depending on the child’s circumstances, contact can be changed for a wide variety of reasons. For example, should a parent attend a contact session under the influence of illicit substances, the parent will be asked to leave. In this circumstance, staff present, and the carers will have a role in explaining, in an age appropriate way, that the parent is currently too unwell to see the child or young person that day.
Children and young people—parental contact
(Question No 3061)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Children, Youth and Families, upon notice, on 19 June 2020:
(1) Given that a Children’s Court magistrate may order frequency and duration of contact between children and their birth parents, but as mentioned on p 75 of the Glanfield Inquiry, child protection authorities in the ACT can reduce or limit this contact without explanation, as a percentage, how frequently does this occur.
(2) On what grounds are contact provisions reduced below what has been ordered or recommended by Children’s Court magistrates.
(3) Has reducing or limiting contact ever been used as a means of trying to control a birth parent who has been deemed difficult to work with, too critical or too demanding.
(4) Given that the Care and Protection Principles include that a child’s ‘contact with his or her family must be encouraged’, how does the Minister reconcile this principle with the practice of reducing contact below what has been ordered or recommended by Children’s Court magistrates.
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