Lack of case workers hampers foster kids

IT is a typically bureaucratic, colourless phrase: The unallocated case list.

IT is a typically bureaucratic, colourless phrase: The unallocated case list.

But for those children unfortunate enough to fall within this category of Victoria's Department of Human Services most vulnerable clients, who do not have a dedicated case-worker, the reality is far more traumatic.

Foster carer Anne - not her real name - says trying to look after children without a dedicated child protection worker is incredibly difficult and frustrating.

She and her husband had been caring for two children, a 2 1/2-year-old little girl and a four-year-old boy, since they were born. "They have had so many care workers, we have lost count and the last one left and we never got another one," she told The Australian. "It's very frustrating for us. These kids are beautiful but we have no one to voice our concerns too."

Anne says the impact of not having an allocated case-worker effects every aspect of the children's lives, from having to go through the department's bureaucracy to get permission for haircuts or school excursions, to not having anyone who knows the history of the children's lives and who can make the best decisions about their future.

She said that without a child protection worker and a proper plan, they could not get access to key medical information or even a birth certificate for the little girl.

"We asked for 2 1/2 years for a birth certificate but her birth wasn't even registered," she said. "And without things like a birth certificate or their maternal health books, medical centres are difficult to get access to and it is almost impossible to get into creches."

Anne also says not having one case-worker means no one is aware of the history of the children, and "all of that information tends to get lost".

The children are currently with their parents in their forth "reunification attempt".

Since the Victorian Ombudsman slammed the DHS over its failings in child protection and unions, the opposition has been calling for change.

"The best interests of children are not met by major staff turnover, repeated disruptions and bungled bureaucratic decision-making," said opposition child protection spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge

But the Brumby government maintains it is addressing the problems, with Community Services Minister Lisa Neville and Premier John Brumby announcing $27.9 million in funding for 80 child protection "support" staff in the first week of the election campaign.