1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: Now the report for you that informs us that a 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: child abuse and state care is going nowhere good. Last year, 3 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: five hundred and seven state care incidents were reported, which 4 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: is up on the year before. In Independent Children's Monitor 5 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: has found nearly nine percent of kids who end up 6 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: in O rang of Tamriki's care of abuse. We'd love 7 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 1: to talk to our Rang of Tamariki, but they don't. 8 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: They don't like to talk to people about it because 9 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: it's all been embarrassing. As far as I can work 10 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: out anyway, Child Matters CEO Jane Searls with us Jane morning, 11 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: Good morning mate. I find all this very very depressing 12 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: because it've been going on for years and god knows 13 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: how many interviews I've done on it over the years. 14 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: Are we ever going to get our act together here 15 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: or not? 16 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 2: Well, this report brings no surprises at all and still 17 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 2: showing ordering it Tommy isn't doing what it was designed 18 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 2: to do. It's a big ship to turn around, Mike, 19 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 2: but this report shows these leadership issues there and his 20 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 2: basic systems issues. So we could start there. 21 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: Is the key in who they hand the kid to. 22 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: I mean, surely we can ask a simple question, why 23 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: would a government agency hand a child over to somebody 24 00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: who was going to hit them. 25 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: Well, as you've said, really concerning that, so many of 26 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: the children in care are suffering abuse and neglect and 27 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 2: it's just unforgivable. It is a key. So the workload 28 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 2: is one thing. The workload of their social workers. If 29 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: they don't have the time and the resources to do 30 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: their job to place these children and monitor them, that 31 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: is going to bring these results that we're getting. And 32 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: I think if you want to look great to about 33 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 2: this report, it's got failings on multiple levels, but we 34 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 2: need to start with the workload of the social workers. 35 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: Okay, are you seeing any signs of the so called 36 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: turnaround that's been going on now for several years of OT. 37 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 2: Well, this report and I think it's a pretty good snapshot, 38 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 2: shows a few highlights, and there are some good social 39 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: workers don't work, but any progress is very, very slow. 40 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 2: We still have leadership issues, we still have systems issues, 41 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: computer and it issues. You know, when you've got any 42 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: organization that's got these things, it's not going to deliver results. 43 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: So to answer your question, do I do. I see 44 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 2: some good work and some good work discussed. We know 45 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: what we have to fix. Progress is very very slow. 46 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: Are they a little bit trapped in the sense that 47 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: I'm assuming this an extremely limited number of people who 48 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: will want to take on kids, and therefore you're sort 49 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: of stuck between a rock and a hard place. 50 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 2: Does that fair or not finding good placements? It's very tough. 51 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: That's completely fair. And you know, it's a very hard 52 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: job to find placements for these children and they need 53 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 2: intensive support and care, so that is one of the issues. 54 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: But we can do better than what we're doing. I mean, 55 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 2: as you said, over five hundred children suffering abuse in 56 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: the glique. They're in our care, in this country's care, 57 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 2: so that that is just not a good enough standard. 58 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: All right, we'll get you on again. I'm sure Jane 59 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: appreciate your insight. Joan and Ceyl who's the Child Matter CEO. 60 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 2: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 61 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 2: news talks. It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 62 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.