Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

III. Support for delivery of services

1. Conduct a thorough review of required

resources

When the Child and Family Services Act came into force in 1998, the department set funding levels without assessing what resources would be required to fulfill its statutory obligations. Since 1998 the department has never done a comprehensive assessment of this kind. When asked by the Auditor General’s team to provide a rationale for the 1998 funding levels, the department was unable to do so.

The 2000 report by the Child Welfare League recommended that the department rationalize the allocation of resources. Unfortunately, when asked by the Auditor General for the department’s response to that report, departmental officials were unable to locate it.

The committee concurs with the Auditor General’s recommendation that the department assess the human and financial resources required to fulfill its obligations under the act. The urgency of this task cannot be overstated.

In light of the substantial deficiencies identified by the Auditor General, Members were puzzled during

the public review when departmental witnesses said additional resources may not be required. The committee’s view is that additional resources are almost certainly required. Any needs for additional resources should be communicated through the business planning process or, if necessary, through a supplementary appropriation request.

Recommendation 17

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the Department of health and social services, in conjunction with the Health and Social Services authorities, perform a detailed assessment of the financial and human resource requirements for delivering child and family services. The department should then revisit this assessment periodically to identify any necessary changes.

2. Complete revisions to the Child and Family

Services Standards and Procedures Manual

The audit examined whether clear standards, procedures, guidance and tools are in place to facilitate effective service delivery by the regional authorities and child protection workers. The audit determined that the department has failed in this area.

The department developed the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual in 1998. Despite attempts over the better part of a decade to revise the manual, the department has never completed this task. As a result, the manual has never been updated to keep pace with changes to the act or best practices in child welfare.

The audit also determined that some sections of the manual are lacking tools and guidance to assist child protection workers in meeting key requirements. These include sections on conducting investigations, administering plan of care agreements and screening prospective foster homes. The absence of standardized procedures for all key responsibilities is a significant deficiency. It represents a grave failure to support child protection workers. This likely affects morale, staff turnover and, ultimately, the well-being of children.

Recommendation 18

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that Department of Health and Social Services, in consultation with the health and social services authorities, update and clarify the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual and identify additional tools and guidance to better assist child protection workers in meeting key requirements of the Child and Family Services Act.

Recommendation 19

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services complete revisions to the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual by December 2014.

Recommendation 20

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services, in consultation with the health and social services authorities, develop a process for all parties involved in the delivery of child and family services to share information on best practices and challenges in delivery of these services.

3. Improve mandatory training

The department is responsible for providing mandatory introductory training to child protection workers. Members learned during the public review that this training typically spans a two-week period.

When child protection workers were asked by the Auditor General team about the effectiveness of this training, their responses were mixed. Some stated the training helped them understand their jobs but others said the training did not provide adequate guidance on how to apply the act and the manual in their daily work. The department should assess the effectiveness of the existing training program and make enhancements accordingly.

Recommendation 21

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services, in consultation with the Health and Social Services authorities, provide training to all child protection workers for all key responsibilities required to carry out child and family services. It should also assess whether the training provided is meeting the needs of child protection workers to deliver child and family services and make the necessary improvements as soon as possible.

4. Solicit input from child protection workers

During the public review, Members asked what opportunities child protection workers have to convey their ideas for improving the system. Members learned that informal opportunities – such as regular teleconferences – exist for child protection workers to communicate with departmental managers. However, Members do not think this is adequate and recommend a formal process for front-line experts to provide input.

Recommendation 22

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of

Health and Social Services implement an ongoing formal process whereby child protection workers have an opportunity to recommend improvements for the child and family services system.

5. Improve working conditions for child protection

workers

The committee has serious concerns about stressful working conditions faced by child protection workers. The Auditor General reported that some workers consider their workloads to be high. The problem of overwork is not new. It is identified as a serious barrier to effective service delivery in the 2010 report by the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

Unfortunately, the department has never developed caseload standards, so it is not in a position to determine whether staffing levels are adequate.

Upon completing the assessment of required financial and human resources, the department should revise the funding methodology for regional authorities and establish territory-wide caseload standards.

Members urge caution in assessing caseload standards. The appropriate caseload for child protection workers in Yellowknife, where a comparatively large number of resources and other helping professionals are on hand, may be higher than in communities such as Sachs Harbour or Trout Lake. The caseload assessment should be sensitive to the fact that social workers employed by regional authorities are sometimes required to perform duties beyond the area of child and family services.

Recommendation 23

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services revise the funding methodology for the regional authorities upon completing the assessment of required resources.

Recommendation 24

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services establish territory-wide caseload standards for child protection workers, and further that the Department of Health and Social Services ensure that caseloads are fairly balanced across the regional authorities. Due consideration should be given to regional variation and duties, demands and available resources.

6. Increase support for the social work program at

Aurora College

Finally, Members recommend additional support for the social work program at Aurora College to increase the number of Aboriginal students who

complete the program and subsequently have opportunities to serve as child protection workers.

Recommendation 25

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services work with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Aurora College to enhance supports for students in the social work program with a goal of increasing the number of home-grown Aboriginal students. A bursary program should be established. Online coursework and distance education options should also be considered.

I would like to now turn the report over to my colleague Ms. Bisaro.