Last day on the job, child advocate Carol Chafe has 'mixed emotions'

On her last full workday, the woman who has advocated for the province's vulnerable children for six years admits she is feeling a bit emotional and there's still lots of work to be done.

Carol Chafe resigns as the Child and Youth Advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador Thursday.

Every single one of the investigations are horror stories.- Carol Chafe

"It's a very mixed emotions day."

As she leaves office, Chafe said the story of each neglected or abused child will stay with her forever.

"Every single one of the investigations are horror stories," she said.

"You just can't comprehend what people can do to children. It's just amazing."

Chafe said she is proud of the work she and her staff have done since her appointment in 2010, but the job of highlighting the systemic problems in child protection is far from completed.

'People need to be held accountable'

Part of her frustrationhas been repeatedly making many of the same recommendations in all 10 of her published reports.

"Unfortunately, I can't tell you we're seeing the change enough on the front line," she said.

Chafe's major concerns are the lack of timely documentation and risk assessment when a child is in care, or receiving services from the province while remainingin the family home.

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"I don't accept it because in doing any assessment of a child, documentation is very key, as well and proper risk assessment is key to finding out what is going on in a family."

Labrador in particular, unfortunately, remains a very concerning area.- Carol Chafe

The culture within child protection must change, Chafe said, not just on the front line but among managers as well.

Chafe cites the lack of timely audits of social workers' files by management as an ongoing issue.

"It's more of an accepted culture, there's too much documentation and we can't get to it," she said.

"People need to be held accountable."

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In one case she investigated, Chafe said the social worker let documentation lapse for two years, while she found that others went over their manager'shead to get the services a child required.

"A child shouldn't have to depend on which social worker they get, or which regional office they're getting their services from."

Chafe also points to difficulties retaining experienced social workers and lack of mentoring for junior staff as chronic problems affecting child protection.

She continues to be troubled that every child across the province is not receiving the same standard of care.

"Labrador in particular, unfortunately, still remains to be a very concerning area," she said.

Frustrated social workers

Addictions, isolation, and a shortage of social workers make it a complex place to work, said Chafe.

Many of the shortcomings emphasized in Chafe's reports were also highlighted in the Turner investigation, released in 2006, the first investigation under the purview of the advocate's office.

The investigation was initiated after Dr. Shirley Turner killed her 13-month-old son, Zachary, in a murder-suicide by jumping into the ocean in Conception Bay South.

• Read the full text of the Turner Report here

The province added resources, provided training, and changed many of its child protection policies and procedures since then, but there are still problems accessing adequate care, said Chafe.

We do identify these issues and we are trying to fix them.- Sherry Gambin Walsh, Minister, CSSE

"I get a lot of social workers call me here and they're frustrated over what's not being done for a child."

While in office, Chafe had lobbiedfor legislation that would make it mandatory for government to report all deaths or critical incidents involving children or youth to her office.

Chafe has been informally receiving reports from government, but by enshrining it in legislation, reporting would not depend on the goodwill of government, she said.

"I was not seeking those changes for Carol Chafe. I was seeking them for the advocate."

'We are trying to fix them'

Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development Sherry Gambin-Walsh said her department is moving toward enacting mandatory reporting legislation.

Gambin-Walsh said she is thankful for the work Chafe has done as advocate and that her department has complied with 90 per cent of her recommendations.

The lack of proper documentation and the issues confronting Labrador are priorities for her office, she said.

• Read all investigations completed by N.L. advocate here

"We do identify these issues and we are trying to fix them."

After visiting Labrador, Gambin-Walsh said she is aware of the challenges retaining child protection workers there.

"Going there as minister has truly and honestly opened up my eyes and given me a perspective of their culture."

She saidgovernment recently implemented a subcommittee for quality assurance and engaged mentors for new social workers.

The House of Assembly has appointed Chafe's successor. Jacqueline Lake Kavanagh will take over as Child and Youth Advocate on Dec. 16.