Child protection 'informally' removed SA children against mothers' wishes

Key points

• South Australia's Ombudsman found child protection workers acted in error when they informally placed three children in the care of family members against their mothers' wishes.
• The SA Department for Child Protection removed the children without exercising formal statutory powers, disregarding the parents' clear and persistent disagreement.
• The Ombudsman's report noted the department used safety plans, which are ordinarily collaborative agreements, without the mothers' agreement.