'NT children's commissioner criticises plan to change child abuse investigation NT children's commissioner criticises plan to change child abuse investigation' diff viewer (3/4)

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~~NT children's commissioner criticises plan to change child abuse investigation~~	NT children's commissioner criticises plan to change child abuse investigation NT children's commissioner criticises plan to change child abuse investigation
2016-12-10 03:00:24 UTC	2016-12-12 08:45:22 UTC (2 days later)
The Northern Territory children’s commissioner has warned a proposal to change the way child abuse is dealt with could be “dangerous”.	The Northern Territory children’s commissioner has warned a proposal to change the way child abuse is dealt with could be “dangerous”.
The NT’s Department of Children and Family (DCF) is re-evaluating its response to complaints of the mistreatment of children in their care, in an attempt to deal with the overwhelming numbers of potential child abuse cases.	The NT’s Department of Children and Family (DCF) is re-evaluating its response to complaints of the mistreatment of children in their care, in an attempt to deal with the overwhelming numbers of potential child abuse cases.
The NT children’s commissioner said the proposed plan – to divert incidents of “concern” to case managers instead of investigating them the same way as incidents of “harm” – was dangerous.	The NT children’s commissioner said the proposed plan – to divert incidents of “concern” to case managers instead of investigating them the same way as incidents of “harm” – was dangerous.
In 2014-15 about 600 complaints were made to the DCF relating to children in out-of-home care – who are legally under the care of the department head. All were investigated and responded to and 110 were found to be substantiated.	In 2014-15 about 600 complaints were made to the DCF relating to children in out-of-home care – who are legally under the care of the department head. All were investigated and responded to and 110 were found to be substantiated.
The chief executive of DCF, Anne Bradford, on Monday told the Australian current incidents which now triggered child abuse investigations included cases of what should be treated as “risky adolescent behaviour,” such as a teenage boy obtaining a pornographic magazine.	The chief executive of DCF, Anne Bradford, on Monday told the Australian current incidents which now triggered child abuse investigations included cases of what should be treated as “risky adolescent behaviour,” such as a teenage boy obtaining a pornographic magazine.
Even among the 110 substantiated cases, Bradford estimated up to 70% were incidents not intended to be catered for by the Care and Protection of Children Act.	Even among the 110 substantiated cases, Bradford estimated up to 70% were incidents not intended to be catered for by the Care and Protection of Children Act.
The discussion of changes came from a review of policy introduced in 2014, under which every concern for a child in care was investigated through a process involving numerous stakeholders to determine if it was a substantiated case of child abuse, Luke Twyford, executive director of professional practice for DCF, told Guardian Australia.	The discussion of changes came from a review of policy introduced in 2014, under which every concern for a child in care was investigated through a process involving numerous stakeholders to determine if it was a substantiated case of child abuse, Luke Twyford, executive director of professional practice for DCF, told Guardian Australia.
Before 2014, the department had no legal power to investigate concerns about children in care.	Before 2014, the department had no legal power to investigate concerns about children in care.
The potential change would see incidents which constitute concern but not harm or exploitation as defined by the act, being diverted to a case manager for immediate response instead of the full investigative process.	The potential change would see incidents which constitute concern but not harm or exploitation as defined by the act, being diverted to a case manager for immediate response instead of the full investigative process.
“Our current review of policy has seen often the investigation process is not always best suited to those concerns where a child may be putting themselves at risk,” said Twyford.	“Our current review of policy has seen often the investigation process is not always best suited to those concerns where a child may be putting themselves at risk,” said Twyford.
“Quite clearly if a child is being harmed or suffering harm we do need an investigation as well as an immediate response to that child’s situation, if there are third parties involved. That certainly will not change.”	“Quite clearly if a child is being harmed or suffering harm we do need an investigation as well as an immediate response to that child’s situation, if there are third parties involved. That certainly will not change.”
Twyford said the impact of the changes to response policy would be on “making sure children are protected from harm and that their outcomes are optimised. This was never about impacting on the numbers we record or report.”	Twyford said the impact of the changes to response policy would be on “making sure children are protected from harm and that their outcomes are optimised. This was never about impacting on the numbers we record or report.”
However Colleen Gwynne, the NT children’s commissioner, said the department seemed to be approaching the issue from the wrong angle.	However Colleen Gwynne, the NT children’s commissioner, said the department seemed to be approaching the issue from the wrong angle.
It would be a more appropriate step to analyse the hundreds of unsubstantiated complaints and determine if smaller incidents were painting a bigger picture of legitimate child protection concerns, and to use that information to develop preventative measures, she said.	It would be a more appropriate step to analyse the hundreds of unsubstantiated complaints and determine if smaller incidents were painting a bigger picture of legitimate child protection concerns, and to use that information to develop preventative measures, she said.
“Any allegation of abuse in care needs to be thoroughly looked at and investigated,” she told Guardian Australia on Monday. “I’m concerned we’re going to wipe off 70% of them to reduce a caseload.	“Any allegation of abuse in care needs to be thoroughly looked at and investigated,” she told Guardian Australia on Monday. “I’m concerned we’re going to wipe off 70% of them to reduce a caseload.
“I also think to have a case manager provide a subjective test to determine whether a matter is investigated or not is very dangerous.”	“I also think to have a case manager provide a subjective test to determine whether a matter is investigated or not is very dangerous.”
Gwynne said the departmental policy only outlined investigations for incidents of harm, as defined under law, and if DCF was examining other issues, it was misinterpreting the legislation.	Gwynne said the departmental policy only outlined investigations for incidents of harm, as defined under law, and if DCF was examining other issues, it was misinterpreting the legislation.
“With the example provided [in the Australian] around a young person having Penthouse magazine, if they’re investigating that then they’ve completely got it wrong.”	“With the example provided [in the Australian] around a young person having Penthouse magazine, if they’re investigating that then they’ve completely got it wrong.”
Gwynne also labeled as “ridiculous” a statement by Bradford which singled out domestic violence as an incident that was captured by DCF investigation policy but should not be.	Gwynne also labeled as “ridiculous” a statement by Bradford which singled out domestic violence as an incident that was captured by DCF investigation policy but should not be.
“We’re capturing a number of events [in the 100 substantiated reports] that aren’t to do with the child; they’re to do with the grown ups in the room,” Bradford told the Australian. “I’m certainly not saying it’s OK. I’m saying it’s captured, but we’re not the agency of domestic violence; we’re the agency of child protection.”	“We’re capturing a number of events [in the 100 substantiated reports] that aren’t to do with the child; they’re to do with the grown ups in the room,” Bradford told the Australian. “I’m certainly not saying it’s OK. I’m saying it’s captured, but we’re not the agency of domestic violence; we’re the agency of child protection.”
But Gwynne said it should fall under the definition of child abuse.	But Gwynne said it should fall under the definition of child abuse.
“If a child is subjected to domestic violence [between parents] on a daily basis, which is not uncommon in the Northern Territory, then I would think that certainly fits into the definition of harm,” Gwynne said. “That is child abuse.”	“If a child is subjected to domestic violence [between parents] on a daily basis, which is not uncommon in the Northern Territory, then I would think that certainly fits into the definition of harm,” Gwynne said. “That is child abuse.”
Despite being a primary stakeholder, Gwynne said she had not been consulted on the proposed changes.	Despite being a primary stakeholder, Gwynne said she had not been consulted on the proposed changes.
In 2014-15 more than 17,000 reports of suspected child abuse were received by DCF, almost tripling the rate of five years earlier. More than 2,000 cases were substantiated – found to include the harm or risk of harm to a child – at an increase of 23.1% on the previous year.	In 2014-15 more than 17,000 reports of suspected child abuse were received by DCF, almost tripling the rate of five years earlier. More than 2,000 cases were substantiated – found to include the harm or risk of harm to a child – at an increase of 23.1% on the previous year.
The majority of cases related to instances of neglect, which included a lack of food or clean clothing; homelessness; not being provided with necessary medical or healthcare; inadequate supervision; the presence of dangerous things in the child’s environment; not sending a child to school; or “constantly ignoring a child’s need for attention and how they feel or failing to spend time and listen to a child”.	The majority of cases related to instances of neglect, which included a lack of food or clean clothing; homelessness; not being provided with necessary medical or healthcare; inadequate supervision; the presence of dangerous things in the child’s environment; not sending a child to school; or “constantly ignoring a child’s need for attention and how they feel or failing to spend time and listen to a child”.
However the NT children’s commissioner noted in its most recent annual report that incidents of other types of abuse had also risen.	However the NT children’s commissioner noted in its most recent annual report that incidents of other types of abuse had also risen.