Luke Twyford’s Post

📝 This month the NSW Ombudsman released a special report ‘Protecting children at risk: an assessment of whether the Department of Communities and Justice is meeting its core responsibilities.’ Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/g8s6BWDh The Ombudsman concludes “the child protection system is not adequately protecting and supporting children and families and this situation is not improving.” The report found that Department of Communities and Justice – NSW’s lead child protection agency – cannot demonstrate that it is meeting any of its three core child protection responsibilities. These core responsibilities are, broadly: ➡ responding to reports of children at risk ➡ intervening early to help keep families together ➡ providing safe, permanent homes for children who can’t be cared for by their families. The Ombudsman has now commenced a maladministration investigation into the conduct of DCJ in responding to reports of children at risk of significant harm. The Ombudsman has also made eight recommendations to enhance and strengthen future reforms to the child protection system. Almost all the indicators of child wellbeing are heading in the wrong direction. The indicators are even worse for Aboriginal children. We know what isn’t working - see also last month’s NSW Audit report on the child protect system: https://lnkd.in/g79BMB3m Now we need to shift to what can be done. Let’s plan a care system which is designed to support relationships as its highest priority. ⭐ Where children and young people in child protection and out-of-home care can have meaningful, enduring and genuine relationships with the adults who are raising them. ⭐ Where care workers are actively supported in building meaningful relationships with children and families, and also with their colleagues. ⭐ Where there are strong community networks with the resources they need to deliver relational programs to children and families. Stay tuned for our upcoming report, in partnership with the James Martin Institute for Public Policy, which examines how to transform NSW child protection and OOHC into a Child Connection System, with relationships at the centre. #childconnectionsystem Paul Miller Monica W.

It’s National Child Protection Week (#NCPW2024) and @NAPCAN’s theme this year is “Every conversation matters”. Within ACT Government, this means we are committed to acting on the conversations we have had with our stakeholders through various forums who have told us we need to act now to better support children, young people and their families. The changes we are making are transforming the current system from child protection to family support. We are integrating government and community sector services to enable children, young people and their families to get the right support sooner, as well as ensuring the voices of children and young people are not only heard but acted on. We are seeking to shift the system towards a more robust, equitable and efficient support system for children, young people, their families and carers. The reform is also focussed on addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out of home care, and ensuring those children in the child protection system maintain their connection to culture. Our vision is for the ACT’s children, young people and their families to be safe, supported and connected to their culture and identity. Their needs are met, and their voices are heard. Learn more https://lnkd.in/gPkGGG9g]

We are so proud to release our 2023–2024 Annual Reports today. These publications report on our progress over the last year to achieving our vision where every Queensland child is loved, respected, and has their rights upheld. For the second year, we have captured our standout achievements from the Annual Report in our engaging, standalone Highlights Report. It details the impact of our work and how it has influenced systemic change in Queensland. Through Parliamentary submissions, system reviews, research projects, community engagement, our strengthened partnerships, and our communications activities, we are proud of what we have achieved in 2023–2024 to deliver better outcomes for Queensland children and families. We are legislated to assess the performance of Queensland’s child protection system and report our findings in our Annual Report. For the first time, we have published this assessment as a standalone report, and we are pleased to share it as part of this year’s annual report release. This report provides insights about the performance of the child protection system in comparison with other Australian jurisdictions, and it also reports on Queensland’s progress towards reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system. We will be sharing insights from this report over the coming weeks. This has been a huge year for us, and we invite you to read about all that we have achieved at: https://lnkd.in/gQ_3HX6r #QFCC

Here are the facts about child protection in Australia. There are almost 23,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care across Australia, and less than half are living with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander relatives and carers. Across the country, so-called child protection systems are removing our kids from home at almost 11x the rate of non-Indigenous children. These facts are grim, but they also show opportunity. Only 6% of child protection funding last year went to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations – imagine what could be achieved if governments invested more in our communities and organisations to keep our kids safe and thriving. And only 15% of child protection government funding is spent on preventing kids from being removed – imagine if governments invested more in supporting families so that fewer children were removed in the first place. We shouldn’t have to imagine; it’s on all state and territory governments to make this a reality. These facts are from the 2024 Family Matters Report. You can learn more at https://lnkd.in/ga8Bmx_P

🚀 Families First for Children: Transforming Councils Nationwide⭐ Exciting news for children's services across England! The Families First for Children (FFC) model, currently tested in 10 areas, is now set for a national rollout. This approach aims to provide earlier, more effective support for families while strengthening child protection through collaboration and family-centered care. Here’s what the FFC model offers:💭 💠 Family help: establishing local multi-disciplinary teams, merged from targeted early help and child in need services, to ensure families with multiple needs receive earlier, joined-up and non-stigmatising support to enable them to stay together. 💠 Multi-agency child protection teams: setting up multi-agency child protection teams, with cases held by social worker lead child protection practitioners and also including representation from health and the police. 💠 A bigger role for family networks: involving the wider family in decision-making about children with needs or at risk, including by using family network support packages to help children at home. 💠 Stronger multi-agency safeguarding arrangements: this includes an increased role for education, alongside health, police and children’s social care. With £250M allocated for 2025-26, the FFC model marks positive step towards supporting families before crises arise. It builds on recommendations from the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and feedback from councils trialing the approach currently. This is a big step toward ensuring every child has as much of a safe and supported start to life as possible, and i'm looking forward to hearing loads of positive outcomes from the model in the near future!😄 #socialcare #childrensservices #earlyintervention

A well written article, I agree on many levels. This reminds me of the Family by Family model which TACSI helped initiate. Family mentoring programs like this are very much needed and generally have positive outcomes. The challenge remains to adopt and integrate the same principles more broadly for families and parents who may be in the midst of a crisis or still navigating involuntary systems. I highlight this example because it shows what can be achieved at a grassroots level, we just need the policymakers to listen. https://lnkd.in/gxBZrFRG https://lnkd.in/gV9FHhmS

Join CRS in observing National Child Protection Week from September 1-7. This year's theme, "Every child in every community needs a fair go," serves as a reminder that we all share the responsibility of helping children thrive. This year's focus, "Every conversation matters," highlights the importance of open communication in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children. At CRS, we are committed to providing children with the safe, supportive environments they deserve. Through our family mediation, therapeutic case management, and youth services, we work tirelessly to protect the wellbeing of children and young people throughout the Canberra region. How We Contribute: Creating Safe Spaces for Dialogue: We offer environments where children, young people, and their families can express themselves and find solutions to conflicts before they escalate. Strengthening Families: Our services help resolve family disputes with care and consideration, ensuring that children’s needs are at the forefront and their voices are heard. Supporting Youth at Risk: Through our youth programs, we deliver comprehensive support to young people, helping them navigate their challenges and build positive futures. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of children and ensure that every child in every community has a fair go. What role can you play in supporting children and their families? Let us know in the comments. #everyconversationmatters #everychildneedsafairgo #crscanberra #supportandprotect #childprotection #ncpw #ncpw24

🌍 Heads of State reaffirm their commitment to the 2022 #KigaliDeclaration on Child Care & Protection Reform! Together, we aim to expand social protection, strengthen child protection systems, tackle causes of family separation, and ensure every child has access to quality, alternative care. 🧒🏾👫 #ForEveryChild #EndInstitutionalisation #ChildProtection #FamilyFirst https://lnkd.in/dBmtFUsP

Awareness on Child Protection in Somaliland Children in Somaliland have faced numerous challenges over the past years, encompassing a broad spectrum of protection concerns. Recently, certain issues have emerged that are particularly sensitive and unfamiliar to our culture and religion, as well as being unacceptable according to our social norms. These problems may be influenced by factors such as social media, poverty, or other elements. As a child protection expert, I urge all parents and caregivers to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the well-being of their children and the children in their communities. Here are some key points to consider. 1. Be Aware: Stay informed about what your children are exposed to, both online and offline. Social media can introduce harmful influences that contradict our cultural and religious values. 2. Open Communication: Foster a trusting relationship with your children. Encourage them to share their experiences, feelings, and any concerns they might have about what they encounter at school, while playing, or through their peers. 3. Community Vigilance: Look out for the children in your community. Awareness and proactive engagement can help prevent negative incidents and ensure a safer environment for all children. 4. Education and Support: Educate yourself and others about the signs of child exploitation, abuse, and other protection concerns. Provide support and guidance to children to help them navigate challenges safely. 5. Report and Respond: If you notice any signs of harm or unusual behavior in a child, report it to the relevant authorities immediately. Early intervention can prevent further harm and ensure appropriate support for the affected child. Together, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for our children, preserving the values and norms that are essential to our community. Let’s take collective responsibility in protecting the future of Somaliland’s children.