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Government told to review Families SA in 2010

Jul 30, 2014

The State Government rejected a recommendation that it conduct an external review of Families SA four years ago, documents show.

Recommendation 12 of the 2010 Sustainable Budget Commission’s Second Report said “an external review of the Families and Communities portfolio should be conducted”.

“(It) should be conducted by an independent, external body and overseen by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Treasury and Finance.

“The review should benchmark best practice and current service structures interstate and overseas.

“It should identify all potential efficiency improvements and … cover all the portfolio’s operations.”

The report recommended that any review focus on demand management, targeting and effectiveness of services, service delivery, and portfolio structure and governance.

In its written reply to the SBC’s Second Report, the State Government said: “There are a number of reviews being conducted (at state and federal level) which may lead to reform in the activity of the families portfolio”.

“Any terms of reference of the external review should complement the reviews underway, to avoid duplication.”

In the period since the recommendation was rejected, Families SA has been the subject of a Royal Commission and Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry, with specific concerns about the department’s handling of child abuse cases.

Last week, Premier Jay Weatherill promised a Royal Commission into the case of a 32-year-old care worker who has been charged with seven counts of unlawful sexual assault.

On Saturday, the executive head of Families SA resigned after admitting he had failed to provide accurate written briefings to his Minister (Jennifer Rankine) and chief executive (Tony Harrison).

It emerged yesterday that neither the acting Premier John Rau nor Mr Harrison was yet in possession of a full written briefing on the case.

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Last year’s Debelle Royal Commission made it clear, however, that such courses of action were imperative.

“It is recommended that the Minister be informed of allegations of sexual misconduct at a school as soon as reasonably practicable after the department becomes aware of the allegations,” Debelle’s final report recommends.

“When a person employed in any capacity at a school is arrested and charged with sexual misconduct, the Minister [should] be told the name of the school, the name of the accused person, the charges and the nature of the offending.

“This information should be given as soon as reasonably practicable after the department becomes aware of the fact. It may be given orally or in writing and, if orally, confirmed immediately in writing.

“The initial briefing [should] be followed by a more detailed briefing in writing when the department has more information to give to the Minister.

“That the Department keep the Minister informed with further written briefings as events unfold so that the Minister is in a position to respond quickly and appropriately to any issue that might arise in the course of the management of the allegations.”

It was reported today that Minister Rankine has cancelled plans for a fortnight’s leave to deal with the Families SA crisis.

 ANALYSIS: Families SA – beyond belief

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