10. ANNE TOLLEY (National—East Coast) Link to this
to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)
Does she have confidence in Child, Youth and Family Services; if so, why?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)) Link to this
Yes, but there is always room for improvement.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That member is the senior whip for the Opposition, and she should know not to address questions to you.
Madam SPEAKERYes, that is true. The whip did actually use the term “you”; I am sure that was an oversight. I would, however, remind members that if they just asked their question instead of making statements, we would not have these difficulties. Would the member just ask the question, please.
What does it say about the management of Child, Youth and Family when even the Principal Youth Court Judge, Andrew Becroft, is slamming Child, Youth and Family for ignoring its responsibilities in youth justice and for breaching all statutory requirements in the case of a young offender, calling that “woeful and concerning”?
In the case in question, I am advised that this was one example—out of over 250 cases per month that are seen by the Youth Court—where the standards expected and, in fact, required by the department were not met. The social worker in question did not meet the expected performance standards. Both the social worker and his supervisor will have their future performances specifically monitored.
Lynne PillayWhat are the key pieces of work that Child, Youth and Family is engaged in that contribute to the well-being of New Zealand children?
A great deal of good work is under way—too much to list here. It includes helping to raise awareness in the community about caring for our children and preventing abuse and neglect, implementing the differential model in order to ensure families receive the right support from the right agency in a timely way, responding to increased notifications faster and completing investigations in a timely way, increasing the number of social workers—in particular, the number of registered social workers—and increasing workforce training in and the capacity of the youth justice services.
Why is that almost 12 months after the damning youth justice capability review was released, youth offenders are still without social workers, and social workers are still handing in late, deficient, and grossly unacceptable reports to the judiciary; and what are you doing about it?
Why is that almost 12 months after the damning youth justice capability review was released, youth offenders are still without social workers, and social workers are still handing in late, deficient, and grossly unacceptable reports to the judiciary; and what is the Minister doing about it?
The member has made the same mistake in her question as she did in her question last week, when she made an accusation about Child, Youth and Family as if it was a fact and, on investigation, it turned out to be completely wrong. In her last question the member implied that social workers up and down the country are doing this. I advised her in my answer to the primary question that this is a one-off example. The social worker did not meet the expected performance standards; this is not indicative of a systemic failure. The member would be better off if she supported the good and very difficult work that competent social workers do, rather than using a one-off example to fail the whole department.
Is it not true that nothing has changed in the last 7 years of this Government, and that on the Minister’s watch young criminals are being left to grow up into more experienced and more violent criminals?
No, that is not true, at all. What is true is that nothing has changed in the member’s constant undermining of social workers in our country.
Judy TurnerIs the Minister concerned about a possible increase in complaints about her department from parents who may feel that the department is misusing its statutory power if the current proposed amendment of section 59 of the Crimes Act is successful; if so, does the Minister see an intensified need to have in place an independent complaints authority for Child, Youth and Family?
It is critical, even in a time of increasing notifications, that the department is resourced to be able to deal with those notifications in an appropriate way—particularly in a timely way. The facts that we now have fewer than 800 unallocated cases and no urgent or critical cases are an indication of the department’s ability to respond to notifications. With regard to the latter part of the member’s question, as the House is aware, I am looking at an improved complaints procedure, so that we can have better public confidence in the operation of Child, Youth and Family.
What is being done to address the serious concerns of Judge Becroft; and why should we believe the promises, when 7 years ago this Government promised to do better but has dismally failed yet again?
As I attempted to explain to the member in my answers to the primary question and previous supplementary questions, one case out of over 250 cases per month is not an indication of a systemic failure.
I seek leave to table the oral judgment of Judge Becroft dated 8 February 2007, in which he says he has no confidence that anything has changed at the coalface in Child, Youth and Family.
I seek leave to table the youth justice capability review, released in February 2006, which details “a lack of skills and inconsistent practice across the country”.
I seek leave to table the First Principles Baseline Review from September 2003, which states: “No one has clear accountability for youth justice.”
I seek leave to table a news story from Television New Zealand entitled “Major changes needed at CYF” from November 2003.
I seek leave to table the report of the Ministerial Task Force on Youth Offending from April 2002, which states that youth justice is underfunded and under-resourced.
I seek leave to table the Youth Offending Strategy from 2002, which states that it is clear that current practice needs to improve.