Our challenges
The following challenges have been identified for our department:
- Workforce
- Public scrutiny
- Placement capacity and diversity
- Transition from care
- Outcomes for children in care
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-representation
- Building relationships with our partners
- Maintaining the momentum
Workforce
Our frontline staff have the responsibility of deciding when to remove children from their parents or carers. They also have to decide when it is, if ever, safe to return them home. These are among the most difficult decisions any professional is required to make in their day-to-day work.
As with other child protection agencies in Australia and overseas, staff turnover on the frontline is high. This is exacerbated by a limited pool of specialist workers, the decline in social science enrolments and labour market competition from other agencies.
Additionally, the retirement and permanent departure from the workforce of many experienced practitioners contributes to a largely young workforce that requires greater support, training and guidance. These factors impact on the quality and effectiveness of the services we deliver to children and families.
Public scrutiny
Public scrutiny of child protection practice is high. This can highlight child protection issues in the community and enable the department to improve its services. However, it often increases the demand for child protection services and can negatively impact on staff recruitment and retention, staff workload, morale and burnout.
Our confidentiality provisions, while serving to protect the identity of children in care, can prevent us from sharing good news stories about the individual successes of our children in care, our foster carers and staff.
We know from an independent survey that approximately 90 per cent of children feel better off as a result of coming into the care of the department. While we publicise achievements such as this, media portrayal of the department’s services can be negative.
Placement capacity and diversity
Finding placements that meet the individual needs of children and young people is a major challenge. Foster and kinship carers are at the heart of the child protection system in Queensland and are critical partners in protecting and supporting children who have been abused.
Foster and kinship carer recruitment is becoming more difficult. Other placement types, for example residential care facilities and placement for children and young people with complex or extreme needs, are also in short supply.
Transition from care
Transitions for children and young people in care, where they are moving from care to independent living or being reunified with their families, need to happen smoothly and in a way that supports their safety and wellbeing. Managing transitions successfully and safely remains a significant challenge for child protection agencies.
Outcomes for children in care
Stability and a sense of security are important for all children. We know that staff turnover, and the shortage of carers, impact negatively on the stability and security of children in care. Children in care generally have poorer education and health outcomes than children who are not in care.
Many children in care have also experienced significant trauma and sometimes have difficulty maintaining positive and healthy relationships with people. A higher number of children are entering care with severe behavioural problems and children are staying in the child protection system for a longer period of time.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-representation
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are significantly over-represented in the child protection system – 26 per cent of all children and young people subject to protective orders are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
While the department is obliged by legislation to respond to notifications of abuse and neglect, the issue of over-representation requires management across a number of government and non-government agencies in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities.
It is a departmental priority to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people maintain a strong connection to their kin, community and culture.
Building relationships with our partners
The department’s relationships with government and non-government partners are critical to our success. While the Department of Child Safety is the lead agency in children protection, it is unable to do this job without the support of non-government and other government agencies, carers and communities.
Maintaining the momentum
Reforms to the child protection sector have been significant. The 110 recommendations of the Crime and Misconduct Commission have provided the catalyst for reform. Balancing the need for further reform against the need for consolidation of reforms that have already been undertaken will remain a major challenge to the viability of our child protection services.
- Last updated
- 14 August 2007