A Colossal Failure - That's the System that Manages
Child Protection in B.C.
Child Protection in B.C.
Today I am featuring a blog remark by Ray Ferris who is responding to a Victoria Times Colonist article written by Lindsay Kines and entitled Children's watchdog says computer system for social workers a “colossal failure,” dated January 25, 2013. Hers is a copyrighted piece so Ms. Kines credited remarks are seen in red. Ray’s are seen in blue.
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| DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST |
The
article is subtitled, MARY ELLEN TURPEL-LAFOND, THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, SAYS
A DEEPER LOOK AT THE PROVINCE'S INTEGRATED CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS
NEEDED.
“We’re in
deep trouble,” she said. “This is a deeply serious problem,” were the words of Representative
for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, in response to a
consultant’s report released by the province on Thursday, which confirms her
warning from a year ago that the $182-million integrate case management system
is woefully deficient and inefficient.
The report
said that “previous ministry
officials failed to properly monitor the computer system’s development and
didn’t push for changes that would have created a system fit for child-care
work.” Her actual words are “This report speaks to incompetent
stewardship of [integrated case management] by government,” she said. “And whether the manufacturers of the product
play a role in that, I don’t know, but I think it needs a deeper look.” She
called the report “brutal” and asserted that this government has a obligation “to investigate how the mistakes
happened and to chart a course forward” from this report. “Senior government officials should
be held accountable for the “colossal failure” of government’s new computer
system for front-line social workers, the province’s child watchdog says.”
“The integrated case management system went
online last April, linking information on thousands of social assistance and
child welfare clients, including sensitive details on child abuse, custody
disputes and welfare payments. Social workers complained that the new system
was too complicated and buried critical child safety information under a series
of hidden tabs.”
Meanwhile, the government is wasting time and
money at the expense of vulnerable children who need help, Turpel-Lafond
said. “I’m still looking at a mess, and
I haven’t seen today the plan to fully get out of that mess.”
Please read the rest of Ms. Kines article which
carries as well, the explanatory, perhaps defensive comments of Stephen Brown, Deputy
Minister of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Now for Ferris’ remarks.
Child and youth representative Ms. Mary-Ellen
Turpel-Lafond is barking up the wrong tree. The children’s ministry has
far worse problems than the computer programme and tinkering with the computer
will not fix them. Good child protection needs the sort of knowledge, skills,
integrity and accountability that one would expect in a truly professional
model. Staff need to be trained in communication, interviewing and
assessment skills. They need to know and follow the law under which they
operate and they need training in the skills and presentation of good evidence.
A number or recent court cases have shown several staff
members to be woefully lacking in such skills and especially ignorant of
the emotional damage that long court delays can cause in young children. The
legislation is supposed to prevent this from happening, but it is seldom
honoured by both social workers and the courts. The skills of child protection
are definable and teachable, but the top brass of the children’s ministry have
no idea how to do it. They seem determined to try to turn their staff into
obedient bureaucratic functionaries, filling in forms and sitting at computer
terminals. What is needed is leadership and professional training. Computers do
not protect children, but well trained and committed staff do.
Ray Ferris is an occasional
contributor on this blog site because I enjoy his insightful and honest
appraisal of a service area with which he is familiar having spent a career in
competent social work in this province. He has advised many and advocated on
behalf of numerous parents seeking return of their children when apprehensions
were either unwarranted or returns unreasonably delayed. This is a letter he
sent recently to the Victoria Times Colonist.
Ray wrote "They seem determined to try to turn their staff into obedient bureaucratic functionaries, filling in forms and sitting at computer terminals."
ReplyDeleteAgreed. And as one of those staff members who just wants to work with clients, it is crazy-making!
Ray also wrote "Computers do not protect children, but well trained and committed staff do."
Way to cut to the heart of the matter, Ray!! Despite the lag in documentation due to the new computer system, I and my colleagues were still talking to clients and writing things down on paper, still doing our best to ensure the children and families we work with were safe.
Thank you Alison, I appreciate that you would continue to remain in touch. It means a great deal to me to know that someone conscientious as I know you are, is involved in the client care work of the MCFD. I trust that you can continue to extract enough time out of your work week away from the clerical responsibilities in order to satisfy your own desire for time with people.
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