Incorporation of Hospital Safeguarding Presentations and Follow-Up Information into Cross-Agency Child Abuse Sensing Mechanisms

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry’s review of the September 2024 fatal child abuse case has assessed if earlier cross-agency sensing could have prompted intervention; (b) whether Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response (SAFER) will incorporate relevant hospital safeguarding presentations and follow-up information; and (c) what measures have been implemented following the review to ensure alerts lead to timely professional assessment and action.

Answer:

             The review panel highlighted the need for professionals to better recognise and respond to concerns involving infants and young children, and to coordinate support when families come into contact with different services. Information such as repeated hospital visits or requests for assistance should be considered in context, alongside other relevant information, when assessing whether there may be concerns about a child’s safety and well-being.

2.          The Ministry of Social and Family Development is looking into incorporating relevant information from healthcare agencies into SAFER to provide a fuller picture of families who may be at risk. However, we recognise that patient and medical information are highly sensitive. Any inclusion of such information would need to be proportionate and subject to appropriate data governance safeguards.

3.          The lessons from the review on the case have been shared across the social, healthcare and early childhood sectors to strengthen professional practice, inter-agency coordination and safeguards for vulnerable children.