Current Escalation Protocol for Breaches in Care and Protection Orders Involving Children
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the escalation protocol and enforcement mechanisms for breaches of care and protection orders (CPO) for children. Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked about notification timeframes and measures to ensure child safety when orders are violated. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that breaches trigger immediate risk re-assessments by the Protective Service. High-risk cases may lead to the child's removal, police involvement, or Youth Court reviews to impose additional safety conditions. Such conditions include supervised parental contact and mandated participation in counseling, psychotherapy, or other intervention programs.
Transcript
38 Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the current escalation protocol in cases where there is a breach of the care and protection order issued to keep children who are in need of care or protection safe; (b) who must be notified and within what timeframe; and (c) what enforcement mechanisms exist in such case to keep the affected child safe.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Ministry of Social and Family Development's Protective Service (PSV) applies to the Youth Court for a care and protection order (CPO) when there are immediate safety concerns or risk of serious harm to the child, and the parents are assessed to be unable or unwilling to cooperate in safety plans to prevent harm to the child.
A breach of the CPO would trigger an immediate reassessment of the risk of harm. If the risk is high, PSV will take steps to ensure the child's safety. This may include exercising statutory powers to remove the child from the home or referring the case to the Police if an offence is suspected or Police involvement is necessary to ensure the child's safety. The case may also be brought to the Youth Court for review, where additional safety conditions may be imposed to address immediate risks. Such conditions may include having all contact between the parents and the child supervised by PSV, particularly where the child has been placed in alternative care. The Court may also direct the parents to undergo counselling, psychotherapy or other intervention programmes as part of the CPO conditions.