The Palmerston North office of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services was understaffed and struggling with a heavy workload last year when it took on the case of Sade Trembath, a toddler who was later beaten and burned by her grandmother.
The youngster was left in a coma and suffered permanent mental and physical injuries at the hands of Patricia Bisset last July.
Documents released under the Official Information Act indicate the CYFS office had only 13 of the 19 staff it needed – and that it took 21 days for a staff member to investigate the abuse of Sade, who was two years old at the time.
The social worker who investigated the case held a recognised qualification, but had only nine days' experience.
A report by CYFS was also critical of an apparent assumption by staff at the Palmerston North office that the best place for at-risk children was with their family.
Chief social worker Shannon Pakura says that is contrary to the agency's policy.
Sade's parents have indicated they plan to sue CYFS over its decision to send Sade to Whangarei to live with her grandmother.
The 52-year-old alcoholic was given custody of Sade just two months before the little girl was found unconscious with severe head injuries.
Bissett was sentenced to five years' jail for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and two years on further charges of cruelty to a child and failing to provide the necessities of life. She is serving the sentences concurrently.
Social workers struggled to cope with Sade case
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