The sheer lack of staff numbers for the ballooning number of cases is causing Caseworkers to bend the rules that are in place to protect them.
“We are going out to cases alone, without a colleague,” said one member. “This is not just a security issue. What it means is if we go to court, it is just your word against the alleged perpetrator’s in front of a judge.
“It is against policies that are there for a reason and should not be ignored.”
PSA CPSU NSW Industrial Officer Graydon Welsh said understaffing meant Caseworkers were too often taking risks.
“We have people going to deal with the children of well-known crime families where there is a reasonable expectation that there will be firearms in the house,” he said. “We have members out west going to isolated farms, where there may be guns.
“We implore members not to visit places alone, but they are so determined to help children in need that they put their concerns about themselves aside and do it anyway.”
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