Social Development
In the light of the growing violence involving young people in Cape Town and the alarming increase in cases of child neglect and abuse:
- What concrete measures has his Department implemented to (i) strengthen child protection services and (ii) expand support to at-risk children and families and (b) how is his Department working with law enforcement and other stakeholders to ensure our children are protected against the current violence in our province?
I am informed by the Department of Social Development that
- (i) DSD’s own services as well as funded Designated Child Protection Organisations render Child Protection Services on 4 levels of intervention.
These levels of interventions include Prevention and Early Intervention Services such as behaviour modification programs, life-skills programs, awareness programs and parenting programs. Rendering of Statutory services includes Temporarily Safe Care Placements, Safety Parents Training and support, alternative care placement, adoption, and re-unification programs.
DSD renders After-Hour Child Protection services in all areas, including hotspot areas and refers to Designated Child Protection Organisations during working hours if it is from their areas.
Designated Child Protection Organisations are also mandated to render specialised services that provides therapeutic services to children exposed to trauma including violence.
Ongoing capacity building and specialised training is ongoing including web-based training to strengthen proper reporting, on monitoring and data collection of child abuse, Child Abuse Intervention and Court outcomes offered by the National Department of Social Development.
For children in Secure Care Centres, leave of absence requests of residents in residential care are carefully considered before approval especially for children from high-risk areas. The residential social workers issue leave based only on the recommendation of the external social workers who are aware of the family circumstances and volatility in the areas where residents come from.
The Department has also rolled out various parenting skills and behaviour modification programmes to assist parents and children, increased home visits to children in alternative care and established Victim Empowerment Programme and Child Protection forums where various stakeholders involved in child protection matters, attend quarterly meetings.
(ii) Support to at-risk children and families is expanded according to the legislative mandate. This includes psycho-social support services to families at risk and referrals to specialised services when needed. DSD and Designated Child Protection Organisations facilitate family strengthening and preservation programs, mediation and parenting plans. Support to unaccompanied and separated minors, trafficked children and children with special needs are provided additionally.
(b) There is active collaboration with local stakeholders where needed in respect of specific programmes and this includes the South African Police Services (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies.
Active partnership between DSD, Designated Child Protection Organisations and SAPS includes After Hour Services and Victim Support which is also supported by the Department of Justice, Thuthuzela Care Centres, Department of Home Affairs, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, and Western Cape Education Department.
Child Protection Register outcomes (section 125 of the Children’s Act) are dealt with by DSD where Criminal Court outcomes are linked to persons not suitable to work with children. Some DSD and Designated Child Protection Organisation offices are actively involved in Community Policy Forum structures.
DSD also provides support to children in conflict with the law with diversion programs and reintegration programs. Stakeholder engagements take place via Regional and Provincial Child Protection Forums.
