How many more lives before lessons are learned?

"More recommendations, more policy revision and more excuses from CYF over the tragic death of Coral-Ellen Burrows," says National Party Welfare spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

She's responding to the CYF report into the 21 minute phone call made by Ron Burrows on January 21st warning the Department that Coral-Ellen was at risk of abuse.

"This has been a sorry story from start to finish and the Department made the situation far worse when it initially denied Ron Burrows' claims.

"The report backs up Mr Burrows and paints a sorry picture of a Department that's lacking leadership from its Minister," says Mrs Rich.

"The report says:

* The phone call should have been treated as a notification of child abuse but was not. It recommends revision of the policy in this area.

* The Department's induction of social workers into the call centre environment is not effective.

* Policies regarding clinical supervision are not adhered to in the call centre.

* Supervision should occur to decide on whether a call should be given notification.

* The call centre lacks adequate audio-recording facilities and all calls to social workers should be recorded.

"So we have yet another report, highlighting fundamental flaws in the service that's supposed to provide the first line of defence for our most vulnerable children.

"When will Ruth Dyson accept that CYF needs more than just kind wishes and hand-outs? What it really needs is some leadership from the Minister," says Mrs Rich.

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