Child Safety staff suspected of leaking cases about abused kids
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- Category: Uncategorised
- Created: Thursday, 25 July 2019 21:55
- Written by Felicity Caldwell - Sydney Morning Herald
Dozens of Child Safety staff were investigated over misusing or leaking confidential data about vulnerable or abused children last year.
The disturbing figures were revealed during budget estimates hearings in the Queensland Parliament on Thursday.
The Department of Child Safety uses technology to monitor employees sending sensitive information outside the corporate network. CREDIT:SHUTTERSTOCK
Between July 2015 to June 30, 2019, 106 incidents of child safety data being misused, breached or leaked by staff were investigated by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women's professional standards unit.
Of those, 29 cases were investigated last financial year.
Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the figures also included low-level misuse, for example, an officer accessing their own information, or accessing the data of another person, where consent was given by that person.
Ms Farmer said child protection information was protected from misuse through staff training, a code of conduct, audits of IT systems and other measures.
She said when her department became aware that information was disclosed without permission, action focused on containing the breach, retrieving the information and minimising risks associated with the information being disclosed.
"Where issues are raised in relation to staff conduct and the inappropriate access, misuse and unauthorised disclosure of child safety information, the department's professional standards unit will manage the matter," she said.
Ms Farmer said referrals could be made to the Crime and Corruption Commission or police, and could lead to prosecution or disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, figures released during estimates show 1335 foster carer families quit the system in the year ending March 31, 2019.
At the same time, 1427 foster carer families entered the system.
Ms Farmer said there was a net increase of 528 carers since June 2013.
"Carers exit and more carers commence," she said.
"These ebbs and flows have occurred each year for many years."
Ms Farmer said there were many reasons why carer families exited the system.
"For example, kinship carers are approved to care for their kin - such as an adult who is caring for their niece," she said.
"When the niece no longer needs to be in care, the kinship carer will also exit the system as they are no longer required to care for their kin.
"Others cease to be a carer due to reasons such as poor health, changes in personal circumstances, and relocating interstate, or even taking a break. Some carers will return to caring again later."
Estimates hearings continue.
Source : https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/child-safety-staff-suspected-of-leaking-cases-about-abused-kids-20190725-p52ake.html
