Disillusioned by system letting our kids down
CLAIMS of rampant chroming, assault of workers and instability within the Cairns residential care system underlie a failing of some kids in state care despite home providers banking $53m each year.
Up to 140 children are currently living in 73 homes scattered throughout the suburbs of Cairns.
These are the kids not suitable for foster care, orphans with no extended family prepared to take them on and problem young people in trouble with the law.
Former residential care home worker Catherine Chase spent eight months working in resi care houses “beating her head against a brick wall” before it all got too much.
“I had two very young kids in my care, eight and 11, both addicted to chroming, and we could not do a thing about it,” she said.
“All day, all night, they were constantly doing it. They constantly had a sock on and were constantly trying
to get to the shops to get more.
“We tried to get the cans off the eight-year-old and he broke (my supervisor’s) wrist and was chasing us with furniture.
“It’s really bad, so many kids are doing it.”
She said chroming was so prevalent and happened so often the department didn’t want to know.
“Child Safety said they didn’t need to hear about it every single time because it happened all the time,” she said.
A total funding package of $53m per annum is shared between 11 Cairns providers, including for-profit companies.
Despite the significant outlay, Ms Chase said, many things in some of the houses were done on the cheap and very little was available to workers for the children.
“Sometimes we would go weeks with no petty cash,” she said.
“Maintenance is (sometimes) done cheaply by a handyman.”
According to Child Safety, nightly costs to keep a child in care range from $800 to $1200 per child.
Ms Chase said in some cases the worst-behaved children were in demand by certain providers as they commanded a better nightly rate but allocated the same resources.
These allegations follow claims by a former Child Safety whistleblower who told the Cairns Post certain care providers held off on reporting children absent from the home.
“(Some) organisations are reluctant to report a kid missing from placement because that’s not a bum in bed and they don’t get paid,” the whistleblower said last month.
She said the majority of her time was spent cleaning to satisfy requirements of Child Safety property audits.
“You try to take some initiative and you end up getting kicked in the face for it, you are constantly told to let the kids roam the streets because you have got cleaning to do,” she said.
“It’s really messed up and the money is not flowing through (some of) the homes.”
Feeling disillusioned and powerless to help the kids in her care Ms Chase blamed a lack of accountability, extreme staff turnover, no incentive to achieve better outcomes for kids in care and no benchmarks to measure successful outcomes.
“They churn through people,” she said.
“The kids get shuffled around quite a bit and there’s not much communication with the kids.
“They go day to day not knowing what’s happening or what the future holds.
“They are bored, they have no money. So they steal and they feel like no one gives a sh*t. We can’t provide that care (or) give them any stability or make (the care house) a home for them.”
Amid serious claims the system is failing kids in care, Children and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said the state government had a legal obligation to protect children in care.
“We do not refuse to provide the necessary supports
for a child in need of care,” she said.
The minister addressed concerns raised by fearful residents living near suburban care homes who had voiced claims of all-night parties, violence and illegal activity at residential care homes in their neighbourhoods.
“I understand that some communities are anxious about residential care services being delivered in their areas,” Ms Linard said.
“The department is committed to working closely with local service providers in managing and responding to issues of concern when raised by communities.”
The former worker said lack of training in some cases was also an issue and often workers new to the job were left alone in the house with high-care kids.
“It’s tough for the workers, it really is. There are workers that care for the kids but can’t do anything, we don’t get the money or support,” she said.
And then there were the claims of when a system, designed to protect and prepare young people for adult life, completely failed.
“I have heard of one instance where (girls) were under investigation (after) bikies were used to prostitute them out,” she said.
“These kids are so vulnerable, it’s easy for kids to be sold a story and some are so lost and uneducated. What choices do they have?
“Their development has been so skewed from childhood abuse and being tossed around the system.
“They are bundled around from house to house and they run amok, there’s no rules for
them. Some are so burnt by the system they just shut down.”
A Department of Children and Youth Justice spokeswoman refused to comment on allegations of teen prostitution but did give insight into framework governing discipline within care homes.
“Behaviour management is carried out under strict standards and policies to encourage positive outcomes, change at-risk behaviours and ensure the young person feels safe and supported at all times,” she said.