Ms Sun told the House about the various steps taken in the adoption process to ensure a child’s welfare and best interests, including an adoption suitability assessment that prospective adoptive parents have to undergo.
Social workers and professionals at children’s homes also receive compulsory training to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse, including sexual abuse, said Ms Sun, who is also a Minister of State for Home Affairs.
She further noted that those working at children’s homes are screened for prior criminal records before coming into contact with children.
In the recent court case, these procedures were followed – the offender did not have a criminal record.
Ms Nadia then asked Ms Sun for more details on the number of volunteers who have been assessed to be suitable for the “kith caregiver” scheme.
The offender in that case, as well as his wife, were formally appointed as kith caregivers by MSF while the adoption process was ongoing.
Kith caregivers are non-familial adults known to a child through family or community connections, and they are not registered as foster parents.
Ms Nadia also asked if there are any measures that homes and MSF are putting in place to prevent similar cases from occurring.
In response, Ms Sun reiterated that the ministry conducted background checks on the offender and his wife. They were also assessed by professionals as capable of providing adequate and safe care for the girl.
Volunteers in MSF-funded programmes must also undergo suitability assessments and background checks, said Ms Sun.
In terms of training courses that children’s home staff undergo, Ms Sun said this includes introductions to a child abuse reporting guide and Singapore’s child protection framework, among other things.