Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
MAJOR reforms afoot within Child Protection Services will soon see workers aligned much more closely with specific age groups, a coronial inquest into six youth suicides has heard.
Coroner Olivia McTaggart has heard five of the six teens at the centre of the inquest were known to Child Protection Services.
Ms McTaggart is investigating all circumstances surrounding their deaths and examining ways to prevent further suicides.
Health bureaucrat Tony Kemp, who heads the state's Child Protection Services, said there was a clear understanding within the department an existing ''lottery'' of pairing workers with youths aged anywhere from conception to 18 years of age was not working.
Mr Kemp said emergency care of at-risk adolescents was often incomprehensive, because resources were diverted to younger vulnerable people.
He conceded the authority's capacity to match workers with particularly complex cases was also restricted by available funding.
But Mr Kemp said a restructure of the service, now significantly advanced, would focus on better addressing the needs of teenagers.
He supported the concept of establishing an adolescent response team within Child Protection Services - an idea mooted earlier in the inquest.
''The research tells us there is a discrete set of skills required to work with adolescents that not everybody has,'' Mr Kemp said.
''Our practice needs to be focused on ensuring the right people are matched with the right kids at the right time, and for the right amount of time.''
Mr Kemp also acknowledged concerns raised about continuity of care provided to a number of the six deceased youths.
The inquest has heard one of the teens had contact with five Child Protection Services workers over five years, while another had five different workers in just 12 months.
''We try at all times to keep the one worker involved but its just a logistical nightmare to do that,'' Mr Kemp said.
''It's not unachievable, but it is complex, in the day-to-day business of our work.''
Mr Kemp said worker rotations were far from ideal, but said the challenge was not unique to Tasmania.
The inquest continues on Thursday afternoon.
- Lifeline: 131 114; Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800; www.kidshelp.com.au; Suicide callback service: 1300 659 467, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.