On September 15, 2008 The Child and Family Services Act was amended making the Children's Advocate responsible for conducting a review of services after the death of a child who was, or had been, receiving services through the child welfare system. This review is known as a "Special Investigation Review".

 

WHAT IS A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REVIEW?

Vision By "Honouring the Spirits" of children who have died, our vision is a society in which the safety, well-being and best interests of all children are paramount. Mission Our mission is to advocate for the rights of all children to quality services by: Giving voice to children who have died Investigating and reviewing standards, programs and services that were or could have been provided Reviewing circumstances surrounding the death of that child related to standards or quality of care Identifying ways in which programs and services can be improved Making relevant and culturally appropriate recommendations. PRINCIPLES We seek to carry out this mission: In a manner that respects the inherent dignity of all persons By conducting timely reviews which are inclusive and accountable By honouring the voice and life of the deceased child and the privacy of the surviving children and their families Viewing services as integrated, seamless and child focused Through the eyes of the child In practice the principle of working "through the eyes of a child" means: Maintaining a primary focus on the needs of the child and the extent to which standards, programs and services met, or could have met, those needs. Considering the context in which services are delivered. In practice the principles of considering the context in which services are provided means: Investigating the systemic and community factors that impact the reality of service delivery.

Purpose

The purpose of the Special Investigation Review is to identify ways in which the programs and services under review may be improved to enhance the safety and well-being of children and reduce the likelihood of a death occurring in similar circumstances.

Scope of Review

In conducting the review, the scope has been broadened beyond child and family service agencies to include a review of the standards and quality of service that was provided to the child or, in the opinion of the Children's Advocate, should have been provided.

"Publicly funded" is defined in The Child and Family Services Act as:

"...a program or service is publicly funded if it is operated or provided by the government or by an organization that receives funding from the government for the program or service."

Review Process

Reviews are conducted by an assigned Special Investigator. This individual is a staff member of the Office of the Children's Advocate - Special Investigations Review Unit.

The Special Investigator begins the review process by collecting and compiling information relevant to the Special Investigation Review. This involves conducting related background research, reviewing files and reports, and interviewing involved individuals/service providers. Sources of information may include:

• child and family service agencies
• publicly funded social service records/files
• police reports
• fire commissioner reports
• hospital and medical records
• school records
• private therapists, counselors, clinic or other treatment centres.

The Special Investigator will complete an analysis of the information, including the review findings and recommendations.

A copy of the confidential report, containing review findings and recommendations, is provided to the Minister of Family Services and Housing, the Manitoba Ombudsman, and the Chief Medical Examiner. A summary of the recommendations will be made public through the Children's Advocate annual report.

• Giving voice to children who have died
• Investigating and reviewing standards, programs and services that were or could have been provided
• Reviewing circumstances surrounding the death of that child related to standards or quality of care
• Identifying ways in which programs and services can be improved
• Making relevant and culturally appropriate recommendations.