Improved vetting needed yesterday
June 17, 2013
Improved vetting of Child, Youth & Family caregivers can't come soon enough, says the head of a mentoring programme that has successfully screened over
550 men since 1997.
Big Buddy CEO Richard Aston’s call follows the release of child abuse statistics showing a 32% rise over the last five
years. More than 21,000 cases were reported last year, resulting in some 4000 children being placed in supposedly safe
CYF homes. At least 23 of these children were further abused in care.
“This is simply unacceptable and should not be happening,” says Richard Aston. “Improved vetting should be an absolute
priority for Government if we want to safeguard vulnerable children – particularly those taken into care. If Big Buddy
can do it for fatherless boys, CYF can do it for children in their care.”
The Children’s Action Plan – released last October - promised new vetting and screening guidelines within six months and
draft legislation by the end of this year.
“I wonder how that’s going,” says Richard Aston. “It’s simply not good enough for Prime Minister John Key to say the
higher rates probably reflect increased reporting. 23 children being abused in care is 23 too many.”
The latest figures prompted District Court Judge Carolyn Henwood to call for an independent monitoring organisation for
children in care.
Richard Aston says independent monitoring is a sensible suggestion, but “let’s start where the problem is - with the
abusers - not the children. Let's get serious about protecting our children by urgently setting up an independent
screening agency."
The call for urgent action is supported by Family Action CEO Michelle Clayton. “We work with children and adults who
have experienced abuse and see the devastating effects on their lives and enormous impact on their families. Steps to
protect children should be a priority.”
Ministry of Social Development deputy chief executive David Shanks said criminal checks for CYF placements only became
compulsory early in 2012. He said the process had since been strengthened “with staff expected to do police checks if
there were any concerns around family/whanau placements”.
But criminal checks are simply not good enough, says Richard Aston. "A police check is just one part of a much bigger
screening process. We have developed a robust 360-degree process to ensure the safety of the fatherless boys we work
with. We are confident we can identify emotionally unsafe men and active and potential sex offenders, who we would not
accept as mentors. I challenge CYF to do the same, as an urgent priority."
ENDS