The thin front line : MCFD staffing crunch leaves social workers over-burdened, B.C. children under-protected

Social workers play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of British Columbia’s most vulnerable children and should be supported in their work and provided with the time, tools and work environment they need to make decisions in the best interest of children and their families. [...] As with all of the Representative’s reports, the purpose of this report is to promote improvements in the delivery of services to children, youth and their families that result in better lives for children and youth. [...] The amount of responsibility assumed by each agency is the result of negotiations between the ministry and the Aboriginal community served by the agency and the level of delegation provided by the Director. [...] Delegation is the process by which child welfare workers receive legal authority to carry out the duties of the Director that include the provision of child protection, family support and guardianship services under the CFCS Act. [...] Only social workers with a C6 delegation can assume the full range of child protection responsibilities, including: receiving, assessing and, as required, investigating reports of child abuse and neglect; deciding on the most appropriate course of action if a child is deemed in need of protection; removing the child and placing the child in care, where necessary; and obtaining court orders or taki