Child protection and social services system

This inquiry was Self-referred on 23 September 2020.

That the Committee on Children and Young People inquire into and report on the effectiveness of the NSW child protection and social services system in responding to vulnerable children and families with particular reference to:

1. How vulnerable children and families are identified and how the current system interacts with them including any potential improvements, particularly at important transition points in their lives;

2. The respective roles, responsibilities, including points of intersection, of health, education, police, justice and social services in the current system and the optimum evidence based prevention and early intervention responses that the current system should provide to improve life outcomes;

3. The adequacy of current interventions and responses for vulnerable children and families and their effectiveness in supporting families and avoiding children entering out of home care;

4. The child protection intake, assessment, referral and case management system including any changes necessary to ensure that all children assessed as being at risk of significant harm receive a proactive and timely in-person response from child protection staff;

5. The availability of early intervention services across NSW including the effectiveness of pilot programs commissioned under Their Futures Matter program;

6. The adequacy of funding for prevention and early intervention services;

7. Any recent reviews and inquiries; and

8. Any other related matter.