Criticisms of CYPS?

**Winston001** · 22nd June 2007, 17:07

I didn't want to mess with Sarge's thread. I couldn't help noticing a number of people making bitter comments about CYPS.

The Childrens and Young Persons Service (now called Children Youth and Family) exists to investigate and protect children from abuse, abandonment, and wilful neglect. It is staffed by career social workers and liases closely with the police.

Now for some reason many people have a negative view of CYPS. The reasons are easy enough. Occasionally they get it wrong - eg. removing a child who isn't in danger. There are even a few extreme cases where CYPS-approved foster parents have themselves been abusive.

However in my opinion these social workers are heros. They do a damned difficult and dangerous job. How many here would do it? I wouldn't.

If you work for CYPS you have to make judgement calls every day affecting families lives, and being human, mistakes can happen. A child left in a bad place, another removed from loving parents who made a single mistake. Awful I know.

These people are pilloried in the media without any intelligent enquiry as to why mistakes happen. What do they face every day and the realities of the work?

We don't have enough social workers and given the criticism of them by journalists and politicians, who'd want to be one? Fine............but who do you call about the kids down the road sitting waiting in the pub carpark?

**janno** · 22nd June 2007, 17:39

Had a friend who worked for that crowd. Went in bright eyed and bushy tailed, got spat out the other end, jaded and cynical.

The usual story - pay peanuts, get monkeys.

On top of that, ludicrous amounts of utterly meaningless paperwork, too much power in the hands of too few with a personal agenda to push, and everyone suffering burnout from a workload you wouldn't believe.

Apparently they get a lot of truely committed and caring individuals working for them with a genuine desire to make a difference, but in the end the majority get ground down by it all.

So the ones that are left are either due for sainthood fairly soon because they have stuck it out, or else shouldn't be in the job at all but are merely because they can stick it out.

Plus dealing with some pretty horrific families tends to make you look twice at everybody, she said.

I'd hate that job. I wonder if you raised the rates of pay by, say $20k per annum, if that would change things for the better?

**Winston001** · 22nd June 2007, 17:50

Well said Janno, that is exactly as I undertand it too. The paperwork is cya necessary because they are dealing with people's lives and rights. Can't be avoided in our modern age of multi-reporting, transparency, proveable outcomes, etc

For there to be a change? IMHO:

1. A complete sea change in the public perception of social work. If it looks like a valued career, then young people will be attracted.

2. Pay plenty, say senior teacher rates. Money is only part of it but it helps.

**MSTRS:Me** · 22nd June 2007, 18:01

My only first hand dealing with CYPS/CYF was as the parent of a kid who was so far from reality in how he conducted himself it beggared belief, yet to them he was a poor innocent being abused by an uncaring adult. He was given a pat on the back and I was shafted. He only lived with us because he was abused by his mother (according to him). His problem was he didn't like rules. The other parent in the house and the other 5 children were ignored by them. Guess we were lucky the whole lot weren't removed...
I have no doubt that some of them do good work, but as an organisation, I have no respect for any of them. Nor would I trust any of them as far as I could throw them.

**deanohit** · 22nd June 2007, 18:02

Originally Posted by Winston001

However in my opinion these social workers are heros. They do a damned difficult and dangerous job. How many here would do it? I wouldn't.

Yea,I've heard some shockers,but they helped my family for the better.We had an abusive step dad,an while I have no problem with a smack,I draw the line at fists,kicks and bats an things.My mum wasnt home much and as a result didnt know what was going on.In the end I moved out to live with some close friends and their kids at 13.My brother on the other hand wasnt so lucky.It wasnt until he was 15 that he was able to get out with the help of cyfs and live some friends of his.All this time our stepdad was pulling a cover over my mums eyes and covering his ass. Cyfs were very helpful throughout this ordeal (more than the police

) and were brilliant in helping my brother.

**Hitcher** · 22nd June 2007, 18:14

Organisations like CYF are, or should be, the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, if a "healthy" society is doing its job. Expecting CYF to come running every time there is some instance of abuse or sub-optimal family circumstances is an unrealistic expectation. As is blaming CYF for the carnage they have to deal with on a daily basis and which, in fact, overwhelms their ability to make sense of it.

Changing this epidemic isn't CYF's responsibility. And, in typical Catch 22 mode, their ability to attract and retain competent, dedicated and motivated staff will not be enhanced until prospective social workers believe they can contribute in a manner that actually makes a difference.

This is about "us" not "them".

**JimO** · 22nd June 2007, 18:30

well cyfs are going to get a lot busyer as the anti smacking thing kicks in with people dobbing in the neighbours and kids dobbing in the parents and kids still being beaten to death by the bumholes of society (another one on the news tonight)

**Grahameeboy** · 22nd June 2007, 18:33

Originally Posted by jimjim

well cyfs are going to get a lot busyer as the anti smacking thing kicks in with people dobbing in the neighbours and kids dobbing in the parents and kids still being beaten to death by the bumholes of society (another one on the news tonight)

Well that is what happens with change I guess......I am sure things will settle and at end of day it cannot protect all kids..

**kro** · 22nd June 2007, 18:37

No sorry, all govt depts have to be perfect, especially the cops, whom the media seem to be doing their level best to discredit currently.

Consistency is not an option, it's perfect or nothing.

**Hitcher** · 22nd June 2007, 18:38

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

and at end of day it cannot protect all kids..

"It" in this context being?

**Grahameeboy** · 22nd June 2007, 18:44

Originally Posted by Hitcher

"It" in this context being?

I knew you would pick me up on that...IT = Anti Smacking Law / CYPS.....sorry my lazy englander...

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 22nd June 2007, 18:44

Originally Posted by Winston001

Occasionally they get it wrong - eg. removing a child who isn't in danger.

I won't say much... but the dealings my friends have had with CYPS... well lets say they all need to be shot, i am not happy with them, and my friends are most definately not... (but I will say this I only have had any dealings with the CYPS from Ashburton)

They have changed their story to suite there needs, they have lied, and lied in court under oath.

And from what I hear there are many similar cases in the area... someone with too much power, and doesn't know the what they are doing...

**Grahameeboy** · 22nd June 2007, 18:46

Originally Posted by kro

No sorry, all govt depts have to be perfect, especially the cops, whom the media seem to be doing their level best to discredit currently.

Consistency is not an option, it's perfect or nothing.

Sorry, at end of day these depts are run by people like you and me, doing a job and you cannot expect perfection.....surely imperfections are better than nothing because then the perfect parts will not happen.....

**Hitcher** · 22nd June 2007, 18:55

It's not CYF's role to police/enforce the anti-smacking law.

I hate dumb laws where the law-makers feel compelled to "do something" for political reasons, without thinking through what may or may not be involved from a compliance and enforcement point of view. Like micro-chipping dogs and other recent "dangerous" dog regulations. Just plain dumb laws.