Ombudsman should investigate child carers, not Families SA: Anglicare
South Australian Government child protection agency Families SA should be stripped of its power to investigate complaints against its carers, according to Anglicare.
Chief executive officer Peter Sandeman has told a parliamentary committee that the state's Ombudsman should be put in charge of the complaints, which are known as "care concerns".
He said Families SA should focus solely on deciding whether a child should be removed from a home and not on investigating its own carers.
Families SA has been mired in controversy this year after a carer was charged with raping seven young children in state care, sparking a royal commission into the agency and its handling of child sexual abuse allegations.
It has been further criticised following its poor handling of the case regarding four-year-old Chloe Valentine, who died after being forced to ride a motorbike by her mother.
More than 20 notifications of concern about Chloe's safety were made to Families SA prior to her death but little action was taken.
Child protection committee explores options
Mr Sandeman's recommendation was one of several being considered by the Legislative Council's Statutory Child Protection and Care in SA committee.
Chairman and Liberal MLC Stephen Wade said SA should accept the recommendation and follow the lead of other states.
"The current approach is a case of Caesar judging Caesar," he said.
"The Liberal Party's really committed to an independent children's commissioner with investigative powers and, on a similar logic, the transfer of this function to the Ombudsman makes sense.
"We understand that it's already the practice in New South Wales and we'll certainly be looking at it not only as a committee but also as the Liberal Party."
A Government spokesperson said it would welcome a "robust system" to investigate complaints and concerns about at-risk children, and looked forward to the outcome of the royal commission.
