Latest news with #DepartmentofChildSafety
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Starving baby left alone for days after mum died is rescued in nick of time
Police officers in Phoenix, Arizona, discovered a newborn baby "clinging to life" after the child's mother died and the infant was left alone in the home for several days A newborn baby who had been left alone for days without food or water has been rescued after her mother died. Police discovered the infant 'clinging to life' during a welfare check at a home in south Phoenix, Arizona. Officers had responded to calls from neighbours worried because the mother had not been seen for several days. Bodycam footage shows officers calling out from the yard before breaking down the door when there was no answer. Inside, they found a tiny baby wrapped in blankets lying next to the mother's lifeless body. One officer gently placed the infant in a stroller before paramedics arrived to provide emergency care. READ MORE: One-year-old dies in scorching car while mum 'went to the spa' as parents issued urgent heat warning Phoenix Police reported that the mother was deceased, and the baby was severely dehydrated and critically ill. The infant was rushed to the hospital, described by investigators as 'visibly emaciated'. Thankfully, police later confirmed the baby's condition has improved significantly, and the child is expected to survive. Officers told Arizona Family that they had initially seen a woman inside the home who was unresponsive through a window. Phoenix Police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Bower said: 'The mother passed away while the child remained curled up beside her on the bed. Doctors at the hospital later told us that if the officers had not acted so quickly, the baby might not have survived much longer.' Bower praised the 'quick thinking and immediate actions of the officers, as well as the neighbours who noticed something was wrong and called for help'. The newborn is now in the care of the Department of Child Safety, and police are investigating the cause of the mother's death. The miraculous rescue in Phoenix comes shortly after a horrifying discovery in Madrid, Spain, where a newborn baby girl was found decapitated, sparking a police manhunt. Medical reports confirmed the baby was born alive but was tragically killed at just five days old. Her remains were discovered in several plastic bags at a recycling centre in Loeches. The gruesome crime has shocked the community, and Spanish authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward. The crime dates back to December 12 last year but tests have now revealed the terrible sequence of events. Dylan, a K-9 agent from the Central Cynological Service specialised in detecting biological remains, also participated in the investigations at the waste plant. The canine agent sniffed out several remains of the newborn in the area.
The Age
10-06-2025
- The Age
Child safety caseloads skyrocket, thousands of hours worked for free
Child protection workers are managing up to 18 Queensland children on average in some parts of the state, but the union says the number is actually far higher, with thousands of hours being worked for free. The data, released under Right to Information, came weeks before an inquiry was set to investigate failings within the child safety system. The figures showed Department of Child Safety officers in North Queensland were struggling under an average of 18 cases, while Brisbane staff managed an average of 16 cases. But the caseloads handled by each worker were actually about 30, according to Together Union, with officers continuing to work for free outside their normal hours to ensure children are safe. The strain staff were under was most commonly linked to high-profile cases, such as the death of Mason Jet Lee in 2016, and Chloe-Ann and Darcey-Helen Conley in 2019. An inquest found the failures that led to Mason's death were the 'result of overworked, under-resourced, and inexperienced staff'. State Coroner Terry Ryan has yet to deliver his findings into the Conley sisters' case.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Child safety caseloads skyrocket, thousands of hours worked for free
Child protection workers are managing up to 18 Queensland children on average in some parts of the state, but the union says the number is actually far higher, with thousands of hours being worked for free. The data, released under Right to Information, came weeks before an inquiry was set to investigate failings within the child safety system. The figures showed Department of Child Safety officers in North Queensland were struggling under an average of 18 cases, while Brisbane staff managed an average of 16 cases. But the caseloads handled by each worker were actually about 30, according to Together Union, with officers continuing to work for free outside their normal hours to ensure children are safe. The strain staff were under was most commonly linked to high-profile cases, such as the death of Mason Jet Lee in 2016, and Chloe-Ann and Darcey-Helen Conley in 2019. An inquest found the failures that led to Mason's death were the 'result of overworked, under-resourced, and inexperienced staff'. State Coroner Terry Ryan has yet to deliver his findings into the Conley sisters' case.
