The Western Cape’s Social Development MEC, Sharna Fernandez, is calling on members of the public to register to become a safety parent to protect children, by providing temporary places of safety.
A safety parent is a fit and proper person,
over the age of 18 years, who takes temporary care of no more than six
children, except where the children are siblings.
“We
believe a child’s immediate and extended family is the best place for them to
flourish and develop. However, if we have reason to believe that a child is
unsafe in their own home, the child or children will be placed in temporary safe care,’’ said
Fernandez.
Minister Fernandez added, “We will send a
designated social worker or police officer to remove the child from their home
if there’s evidence that the child is being abused, neglected or exploited. The
child will then be placed in temporary safe care, where they’ll stay pending
the outcome of a formal court process.
Temporary
safe care can be provided either by an approved person (related or unrelated)
or a place of safety that is approved to deliver such a programme to children.
In order to qualify to be a safety parent, you
must:
·
have an interest in the
wellbeing of a child at risk.
·
have a police clearance and a
Form 30 notification – this applies to all the adults residing on the premises
of the applicant(s).
·
have a Form 39 approval from
the DSD to provide temporary safe care.
Fernandez said that due to the nature of the
emergency placements, prospective safety parents should be available at any
time and short notice.
‘’Applicants are carefully screened to
determine if they are suitable to care for children. Once approved, the safety
parent will receive training on the Children's Act, the roles and
responsibilities of safety parents and how to care for vulnerable children who
may have experienced trauma,’’ Fernandez said.
Interested persons can contact their nearest
Social Development local office or contact the hotline on 0800 220 250.
Done By: Mitchum George
