Consideration to Introduce Minimum Staff-to-child Ratio at Places of Safety

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will study the possibility of introducing a minimum staff-to-child ratio at places of safety to ensure children residing there receive the necessary care and support.

Children in need of care or protection may be referred by MSF or ordered by the Youth Court to reside in licensed Homes that are gazetted as places of safety under the Children and Young Persons Act.

MSF imposes standards of care on these licensed homes, and regularly reviews the standards to ensure that the needs of children and young persons are adequately met. The current standards stipulate a minimum ratio of one care staff to every 10 children ("care ratio"), during the hours that children are scheduled to be awake. At night, when the care needs of the children are lower, the minimum care ratio is one care staff to every 20 children.