3. JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) Link to this
to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)
Does Child, Youth and Family record the number of complaints received from those who feel unfairly treated by the actions, procedures, or decisions of the department; if so, how many complaints have been received in the last 5 years?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)) Link to this
I am advised that all complaints that the department receives are thoroughly investigated, but currently there is no central database that captures all complaints made to Child, Youth and Family staff.
Does she agree that Child, Youth and Family should be accountable to an organisation outside itself, given its statutory powers; if so, will she support the call of United Future to establish an independent complaints authority for Child, Youth and Family?
I certainly agree that the actions of Child, Youth and Family staff, like all other public servants, should be accountable. In terms of the latter part of the member’s question, I am certainly prepared to review existing pathways for complaints to be made—for example, the Social Workers Registration Board, the Office of the Ombudsmen, the Privacy Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission, and any others—and will discuss the outcomes of those considerations with the member.
Georgina BeyerI am pleased to advise that work is under way to develop a new national database that will ensure that complaints can be collated centrally. The database is just one of the benefits we are seeing as a result of the merger between Child, Youth and Family Services and the Ministry of Social Development.
Is the Minister aware that the Police Complaints Authority—for which the Child, Youth and Family’s equivalent could be considered comparable—costs approximately $2.1 million per year, yet its effect on public confidence and accountability is considered priceless; if so, is not a Child, Youth and Family complaints authority a very small cost for a very significant and necessary benefit for parents and families?
Yes, I am familiar with those figures and I will certainly take that information into consideration when undertaking the existing complaints pathways review.
Judith CollinsWhy is Child, Youth and Family struggling to keep accurate records, and continuing to produce incorrect details of the delays around unallocated child abuse cases as it has on a number of occasions this year?
This is not a case of any department, including Child, Youth and Family, struggling. There is no database to collect that information centrally. With regard to the second part of the question, I agree that inaccurate information is totally unacceptable, and I have certainly relayed that view to the chief executive.