Newman Furious Over CYF Service Action

Tuesday 26th Sep 2000
Dr Muriel Newman
Media Release -- Social Welfare

The decision by welfare authorities to allow two boys to return to a South Auckland home “not fit for dogs” was a clear symptom of the child abuse crisis the country now had, ACT Social Welfare spokesman Muriel Newman said today.

The decision by the head social worker to send the children back to the home where one was living among his own excrement oozing from a colostomy bag, dog faeces and rubbish, horrified police officers and a social worker.

Dr Newman said one police officer, who the same night had worked with the SPCA, to rescue a dog and her nine puppies, from living in similar conditions at another address, could not comprehend why the Government-funded CYF service sent two boys back to a level of squalor that was even worse.

“This case is yet another piece of evidence that Child Youth and Family is in crisis. A record 18 social workers quit the service in August, the same month that notifications jumped 22 per cent to an all-time high,” she said.

“Once the additional notification protocols are signed by ACC, Doctors and schools, case numbers will explode.

“The Minister is now overseeing the worse statistics and the worse staff-case ratio we have ever had. Even the PSA is admitting the dams are bursting, that social workers are struggling and burning out.

“This latest shocking case shows the service is in urgent need of a change of direction.

“We need to build a comprehensive one-stop-shop, regionally-focused organisation, that will see social workers along side police , health professional and others, with a clear goal of protecting our children and reducing child abuse.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz. Date sent: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 14:52:16 +1200 Send reply to: act@PARLIAMENT.GOVT.NZ From: act@PARLIAMENT.GOVT.NZ Subject: [ACT] Newman Furious Over CYF Service Action --- Dr Muriel Newman To: NEWS-L@LISTSERV.ACT.ORG.NZ

Newman Furious Over CYF Service Action

Tuesday 26th Sep 2000 Dr Muriel Newman Media Release -- Social Welfare

The decision by welfare authorities to allow two boys to return to a South Auckland home “not fit for dogs” was a clear symptom of the child abuse crisis the country now had, ACT Social Welfare spokesman Muriel Newman said today.

The decision by the head social worker to send the children back to the home where one was living among his own excrement oozing from a colostomy bag, dog faeces and rubbish, horrified police officers and a social worker.

Dr Newman said one police officer, who the same night had worked with the SPCA, to rescue a dog and her nine puppies, from living in similar conditions at another address, could not comprehend why the Government-funded CYF service sent two boys back to a level of squalor that was even worse.

“This case is yet another piece of evidence that Child Youth and Family is in crisis. A record 18 social workers quit the service in August, the same month that notifications jumped 22 per cent to an all-time high,” she said.

“Once the additional notification protocols are signed by ACC, Doctors and schools, case numbers will explode.

“The Minister is now overseeing the worse statistics and the worse staff-case ratio we have ever had. Even the PSA is admitting the dams are bursting, that social workers are struggling and burning out.

“This latest shocking case shows the service is in urgent need of a change of direction.

“We need to build a comprehensive one-stop-shop, regionally-focused organisation, that will see social workers along side police , health professional and others, with a clear goal of protecting our children and reducing child abuse.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media