PSA Press Release
December 18, 2003

Stop blaming individual social workers

Individual social workers were not found to be at fault in the independent report on Mr Ron Burrows’ telephone call to Child Youth and Family and the media should stop trying to single them out, PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said today.

“The social workers at the call centre were experienced and were trying to do the best job they could with the resources available and within the systems in place at the time.

“All three reports released by Child Youth and Family over the last two days indicate that the social workers at Child Youth and Family have been working within a system which has been struggling for some time.”

Richard Wagstaff said social workers need adequate systems and processes, and resources, to be able to carry out their job properly.

“It should also be borne in mind that the tragedies to which the reports relate occurred prior to the Baseline Review of Child Youth and Family carried out earlier this year, and the subsequent rescue package announced by the government”

“PSA has consistently stated that it is critical that Child Youth and Family use the extra funding provided by the rescue package to address the urgent issues of recruiting more staff, increasing resources to improve services, and implementing better systems. The reports confirm that.”

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