THE state government is seeking an urgent report into allegations that hundreds of child protection notifications have been ignored in the past year. Labor human services spokeswoman Rebecca White said more than 200 alerts made to the agency's North-West office had not been followed up. Ms White said most cases involved vulnerable children under the age of three, with many alerts involving unborn babies. She said all notifications were meant to be assessed within one or two days, but one North-West case in question was more than 300 days old. "The outcomes for those children are potentially very serious, and it's awful to think what the consequences might be," Ms White said. Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch said Child Protection Service workers had been shaken by the system breakdown. "People who care for children, people who have dedicated their lives to caring for children are traumatised by what's gone on in this situation," Mr Lynch said. "This is what happens when you put pressure on a workforce to the degree that this government has allowed to happen." Mr Lynch said workers already struggling with overwhelming workloads were panicked about how the "appalling" system failure might affect the state's most at-risk children. He and Ms White blamed poor resourcing for the error. But in a statement, Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said it did not appear to be a staffing issue. She has asked for a report into the circumstances and work practices at the CPS's North-West office. "I am advised there are more staff and fewer cases allocated per worker in the North-West than other regions, and that the number of notifications has increased only very, very slightly in recent times," Ms Petrusma said. "The government quarantined front-line child protection staff from budget savings, and we have maintained staffing levels as per an agreement with the unions. In fact, we have increased staffing." Ms White vowed to press the minister for more details when the Parliament resumes on Tuesday.
THE state government is seeking an urgent report into allegations that hundreds of child protection notifications have been ignored in the past year.
Labor human services spokeswoman Rebecca White said more than 200 alerts made to the agency's North-West office had not been followed up.
Ms White said most cases involved vulnerable children under the age of three, with many alerts involving unborn babies.
She said all notifications were meant to be assessed within one or two days, but one North-West case in question was more than 300 days old.
"The outcomes for those children are potentially very serious, and it's awful to think what the consequences might be," Ms White said.
Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch said Child Protection Service workers had been shaken by the system breakdown.
"People who care for children, people who have dedicated their lives to caring for children are traumatised by what's gone on in this situation," Mr Lynch said.
"This is what happens when you put pressure on a workforce to the degree that this government has allowed to happen."
Mr Lynch said workers already struggling with overwhelming workloads were panicked about how the "appalling" system failure might affect the state's most at-risk children.
He and Ms White blamed poor resourcing for the error.
But in a statement, Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said it did not appear to be a staffing issue.
She has asked for a report into the circumstances and work practices at the CPS's North-West office.
"I am advised there are more staff and fewer cases allocated per worker in the North-West than other regions, and that the number of notifications has increased only very, very slightly in recent times," Ms Petrusma said.
"The government quarantined front-line child protection staff from budget savings, and we have maintained staffing levels as per an agreement with the unions. In fact, we have increased staffing."
Ms White vowed to press the minister for more details when the Parliament resumes on Tuesday.
