State Government blasted by dissatisfied foster carers who claim to have been bullied by department staff

A SURVEY of 65 foster carers reveals widespread dissatisfaction with how departmental staff make decisions about children and concerns about the intimidation of foster parents.

FOSTER carers have blasted the State Government, with almost half saying they had been bullied by department staff.

A survey of 65 foster carers reveals widespread dissatisfaction with how departmental staff make decisions about children and concerns about the intimidation of foster parents.

The survey of carers, obtained by the Opposition, found 46 per cent of carers felt that child protection workers “rarely” made decisions based on the best interests of the child.

About 60 per cent were “completely or mostly dissatisfied” with how staff included them in decision-making.

More than one in five carers were “mostly dissatisfied” with the level of respect shown to them and 41 per cent felt they were “always or often” bullied or intimidated during dealings with departmental staff.

A significant 70 per cent felt staff did not proactively inform carers “at all” of payments they are entitled to.

Foster parents are also warning the new Child Protection Department will fail to recruit enough people to care for at-risk children unless dramatic changes are made to the way it treats carers.

Child Development Minister Susan Close says far more foster carers are needed if the Government is to deliver on promises to stop housing children in emergency accommodation or state-run homes.

However, foster carers warn others will not volunteer unless they are treated better and there is scepticism about the Government’s ability to follow through on its pledges.

Child Development Minister Susan Close.

The Government has pledged changes in response to the Nyland Royal Commission. They include providing more information on the background of children coming into carers’ homes, a panel to oversee decisions about removing children from long-term foster placements, giving carers more input into day-to-day care of children and extending payments to cover young people living with foster families and studying up to age 25.

Dr Close said she was “happy to apologise” to any foster carer who felt wronged by the department and emphasised that improving their relationship with it was “an absolute priority”.

Foster carer spokeswoman Rachel Titley said the blueprint for the future would give carers “peace of mind that the care they provide is recognised” and would make her more likely to recommend foster caring to others.

However, she warned there was “scepticism that a lot of these entrenched practices will not change”.

“The goodwill is such that people are reticent to step forward without knowing that there is that (support),” she said.

In a bid to recruit more carers, Dr Close has pledged to widen the net of people who can take responsibility for children removed from unsafe parents – to include cousins, neighbours, teachers or family friends, as well as grandparents and aunties or uncles.

The Government is spending $9 million on a campaign to recruit 130 more carers and running an internal review.

Opposition child protection spokeswoman Rachel Sanderson said foster carers “just want to be treated fairly for the very important work they do”.

For more information, phone 1300 2 FOSTER or search “foster care” at www.sa.gov.au