Arabic version: أمين المظالم يجد أخطاءً في إيداع أطفال بجنوب أستراليا

According to ABC News, South Australia’s Ombudsman has found child protection workers acted in error when three children were placed with family members against their mothers’ wishes. Ombudsman Emily Strickland investigated three separate complaints and found the Department for Child Protection removed the children without using formal statutory powers.

Ms Strickland said the department’s approach in each case involved “administrative error”. She found the agency appeared to have disregarded the clear and persistent disagreement of one parent, contrary to internal policy requiring genuine collaboration and agreement with parents, guardians and caregivers.

The report said the department was responding to serious concerns for the children’s safety and wellbeing. In two matters, it used safety plans to place children with another parent or close family member. Ms Strickland said such plans are ordinarily collaborative agreements, and that when agreement cannot be reached the department must consider alternatives, including formal removals under South Australia’s Children and Young People (Safety) Act.

In the third case, the department removed an infant from their mother and placed the child with their father without a safety plan or formal removal powers. The Ombudsman noted serious concerns about the mother’s mental health, but found it was not open to the department to seek agreement to effect the removal without using formal powers.

Acting Chief Executive Darian Shephard-Bayly said the Department for Child Protection welcomed the report and had taken steps to implement its recommendations, including updating its manual of practice on safety plans. The department said keeping children safely connected to families, communities and culture remained a priority.