17°c Partly cloudy
22°c Thundershowers
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Worker who closed file on Phoenix in 2005 wasn't breaking any rules
Christopher Zalevich (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ) Photo Store
Related Items
The last Child and Family Services worker to recommend closing the file on Phoenix Sinclair without ever seeing her wasn't breaking any rules in 2005, the inquiry into the death of the little girl heard this morning.
Today, the rules have changed and Christopher Zalevich couldn't recommend closing a file on a child without actually seeing her and finding out if the adults she lived with have had problems with CFS in the past.
The crisis response unit worker who went to Phoenix's apartment block in March 2005 continued his testimony this morning. His was the last visit anyone from CFS paid to her home before she was taken away and killed later that year by her mother Samantha Kematch and stepfather Karl "Wes" McKay.
Zalevich spoke to Kematch in the hallway but didn't see Phoenix or know that McKay lived there, too. McKay had a criminal history of domestic violence that CFS had on file. That fact wasn't included in the information received when he was assigned the case, he testified.
The CFS after-hours worker who took a call from someone saying Kematch may be abusing Phoenix and locking her in a bedroom ommitted that information, the inquiry heard earlier. Jacki Davidson testified that she cut and pasted information from the files but missed the part about the last CFS intervention and McKay entering the picture.
The lawyer representing several child welfare authorities went through a list of rule changes that have been made since Phoenix's death in 2005 and her mother and McKay being convicted of her murder in 2008.
Social workers now have to see the child in question before they can close a file, said Kris Saxberg. They also have to check to see if the adults living in the home have a history of involvement with child welfare, the lawyer said.
Workers are no longer allowed to simply cut and paste chunks of information from the files but have to read it and prepare their own report, Saxberg said.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 19 articles for today)
Flaggers' safety was questioned
1:00 AM 0On the second day of the trial of a driver who struck and killed a highway-construction flag woman, court heard ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Bar closing at Royal Albert
- Glover quits quarrel over election costs
- Motorists complained about unsafe practices at site of crash that killed worker
- Blogger found in contempt of court
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- Fatal crash 'could have happened to anyone'; defence seeks weekend sentence
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Man drowns after crash on Manitoba reserve
- New crowd plan for Taylor Swift get-together
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Glover quits quarrel over election costs
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Bar closing at Royal Albert
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- UPDATE: Now with FAQ: Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Daycare provider charged with abandonment
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Blogger found in contempt of court
- Toilet contents need help escaping
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- New crowd plan for Taylor Swift get-together
- Ex's Mach 3 an adrenaline accelerator
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Community's children apprehended by province
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- A day in the life of 13,380 Manitoba Marathon participants
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Strong may they run: Manitobans reflect on that fateful day in Boston
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Teachers support adding sexual-orientation themes to all curricula
- The crime fighter's revolution
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- City's first urban reserve born
- On board with the Snowbirds
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.