New MSF unit launched to flag child abuse concerns earlier, after review into Megan Khung’s death

Upon receiving an alert from SAFER, MSF’s Protective Service would conduct the necessary risk screening, information gathering and “assess right-siting of the case” within a target of three working days. 

Where there are immediate safety concerns, the Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (DVERT) will be deployed promptly to provide support onsite.

If the case requires statutory investigation by the Protective Service, the case will be assigned to a protection officer.

If the data indicates that a family’s risk and stress levels have risen beyond a certain level, SAFER will review the case to assess if the Protective Service should re-triage it so that the right level of support and intervention is provided.

When asked what safeguards are in place to minimise the risk of an alert being overlooked or missed, MSF said it tracks all cases escalated for triage until a triage outcome is determined. 

“Where information is shared with existing case managers, SAFER requests updates on case outcome and feedback on the alerts to close the loop. 

“Case managers remain responsible in exercising professional judgment on any follow-up required. MSF will continue to review these arrangements,” MSF said. 

MSF also regularly monitors the number and quality of escalations in terms of whether they resulted in meaningful interventions that benefited the family and the children. 

When asked about potential false positives, MSF said these are “inherent in any such risk algorithms”.

“Even if social workers engage families when the risk is very low, there will still be benefits as families will be offered support,” added the ministry.

“Such is the nature of preventive work in general,  where early outreach and engagement to provide families with support may help address concerns before they escalate.

“SAFER itself does not make any decision on whether a case is a bona fide abuse case and the severity of abuse. It provides relevant information to the existing decision-making mechanism.”