Unannounced Inspections on Families with Children Returned from Place of Safety or Foster Home

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in each of the past five years, what is the mean and median number of unannounced inspections conducted on homes of families with children who have been returned to their families after being placed in a place of safety or foster home.

Children placed in out-of-home care are reunited with their families only after safety and risk concerns have been addressed. Following reunification, case officers work with community partners to do safety checks at least once a month, including through home visits, which could be announced or unannounced. The exact frequency and form of such checks would depend on the case circumstances and needs of the family.

Aside from home visits, other checks may be done by case officers and community agencies, such as schools, social service agencies and healthcare institutions, to ensure the safety and well-being of the children. For example, case officers may check with school personnel on the children’s attendance and progress in school.