Encouraging Child Protection Officers to Remain in Profession

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what are the measures being studied to improve the retention of Child Protection Officers.

My response will also cover another related question raised by the Member on the salaries of the Child Protection Officers (CPOs), which is scheduled for the next Sitting. I invite the Member to seek clarifications, if need be. If my response has addressed the related question, it may not be necessary for the Member to proceed with the question for the next Sitting.

The Child Protective Service (CPS) has taken a multi-pronged approach to improve the well-being and retention of our CPOs and to ensure that they have meaningful and fulfilling careers within the Service.

Our CPOs are paid based on the civil service scheme of service. However, in recognition of the demanding nature of child protection work, our CPOs receive an additional field allowance on top of their base pay.

To support the growth and wellness of CPOs, they undergo a comprehensive training programme and receive professional support on mental wellness and development through structured supervisions, coaching and peer support.

To address the workload of our CPOs and help them work more efficiently, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has implemented technological solutions, such as data analytics and robotic process automation. These tools are designed to optimise our operations. Additionally, we are reviewing the job scopes of our CPOs to ensure they focus more on their core functions of social investigation and intervention and less on administrative tasks.

MSF will continue these efforts to better support our CPOs. The public, including members of this House, can also do their part to support the CPOs and other social service professionals who deal with child abuse cases. Firstly, to accept that child abuse is often difficult to detect and not every child abuse case can be prevented despite our best efforts. Secondly, to not presume that when a child has been abused, the case officer must have been negligent in their duty. Thirdly, to help them bring down the incidence of child abuse by being vigilant and reporting suspected cases of abuse to the police or the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline.