Maya's Story
I could have just cleaned the floors
“The floors were dirty when I arrived. My manager directed me to make a Helpline report to the Department, even though it didn’t meet the threshold for “Risk of Significant Harm”. I wish I had pushed back, but I didn’t.
They had two young children in the home, and their eldest child had just turned up unexpectedly after leaving their foster carer’s home. It was the first time in over four years that the parents had seen them. They had a lot going on.
I could have offered to clean the floors myself. Or maybe we could have arranged for a cleaner.
When the family realised a report had been made, they knew it had to be me and told me I wasn’t welcome in their home again. I had broken their trust, and over something so trivial. The placement broke down soon after for their eldest child.
Looking back, I wish I had challenged this direction, but I didn’t have the courage or language. It was a missed opportunity to do something really meaningful.”
- Maya’s story, a caseworker of 3 years (name changed to protect privacy). Photograph provided by Maya.