Union reveals backlog of more than 2400 unchecked reports of suspected child abuse in Families SA notification system

THERE are more than 2400 unchecked reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children languishing in a backlog of electronic notifications to Families SA, the union representing social workers says.

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THERE are more than 2400 unchecked reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children languishing in a backlog of electronic notifications to Families SA, the union representing social workers says.

It comes as the State Government warns that one in five children aged 10 or younger are the subject of a report so serious that it requires investigation by child protection authorities.

The Public Service Association says Families SA is so overstretched and understaffed that workers are unable to process thousands of reports lodged with the electronic Child Abuse Report Line (e-CARL).

The PSA fears there could be serious cases among the 2400-plus reports which remain unchecked.

The union will meet today to consider escalating industrial action which began in November last year.

In October, The Advertiser reported there was an e-CARL backlog of about 1000 reports.

The latest Families SA annual report shows there were 20,800 e-CARL notifications made in 2014-15, up from 13,300 the year before.

It is estimated at least 16,700 e-CARL reports have been made so far this financial year.

The electronic system has been available since 2013 to mandated notifiers such as nurses, doctors, teachers or police officers.

Users are told to report the most serious Tier 1 concerns by phone. However, the PSA reports people are waiting one or two hours to get through.

The Child Abuse Report Line call centre fields phone calls from anyone reporting concerns, including members of the public.

It received more than 44,600 calls in 2014-15.

A coroner’s inquest into the 2012 death of Chloe Valentine found she was the subject of at least 20 notifications to Families SA, none of which led to her being removed from her mother’s care.

Education and Child Development Minister Susan Close told Parliament this week that the CARL call centre was expected to take about 48,000 calls this financial year.

Families SA management promised in September to hire 10 “dedicated call-takers” who would enter data into a computer case management system for social workers to assess.

A department spokesman said recruitment was underway and the pilot would begin later this year.

“It is anticipated that this will speed up response times and free up more social workers to focus on investigations and interventions,” he said.

Dr Close told Parliament that University of Adelaide research had found that 19 per cent of South Australian children aged up to 10 years “will have at least one notification that is screened in”, or requiring investigation.

“That is not just someone ringing up and saying there might be something that turns out to be nothing,” Dr Close said.

“Removals of children from their biological families are escalating ... but only 1.8 per cent of those children come into out-of-home care.”

Families SA likely to be rebranded

By Lauren Novak

CHILD protection agency Families SA is “likely” to be rebranded under a new department, the State Government says.

Premier Jay Weatherill has agreed to set up a separate department for child protection following recommendations from Royal Commissioner Margaret Nyland this week to split Families SA from the wider Education Department.

Mr Weatherill said it would give the child protection system a “fresh start”.

A Government spokesman yesterday said: “The current priority is the appointment of a new chief executive and the establishment of the new department. A rebrand, whilst likely, is something that may be addressed further down the track.”

Families SA has been embroiled in a series of high-profile cases in recent years, including a coronial inquest into the death of toddler Chloe Valentine and the Nyland Royal Commission, sparked by the arrest of former Families SA carer Shannon McCoole. ​

The Government has previously renamed contentious departments in a bid to shed negative associations.

The former Land Management Corporation is now called Renewal SA.

WorkCover was renamed Return to Work SA as it underwent a complete overhaul last year.

Arts SA was also controversially rebranded to the very similar Arts South Australia.

“Changing Families SA’s name won’t make a scrap of difference until the Premier takes full responsibility for the crisis in child protection and resigns,” Opposition child protection spokeswoman Rachel Sanderson said.

“Labor has wasted enough money on window dressing. What is needed is more front line staff and root and branch reform,” she said.