The Child and Youth Advocate hopes that the case in which she reported on last week where two young children from another province ended up living in an abusive home in Newfoundland and Labrador for almost two years is a one-off.

But Wilma MacInnis is recommending government bring in tighter controls and that social workers have better communication, including full documentation – not just a series of emails.

Police ended up laying charges for maltreatment of the two children.

There is an office in the department responsible for children and youth when it comes to requests from another province for a placement in Newfoundland and Labrador, but MacInnis isn’t so sure that it employed the full scope of its authority.

“We want to see better communication from the office to the regions so that agreements are made between the provinces in terms of what the expectations are,” says the Advocate.

“What are the roles, what are the responsibilities, how are we going to work together to make sure that these children are okay and are protected.”

Some of the wording used both in practice and in policy has no place when it comes to children in care, such as the word “courtesy.” She wants something much more affirmative.

“When a lot of us hear the word courtesy, it sounds like something I might do, or might be a nice thing to do. The work needs to come with crystal expectations, not something I might do,” says MacInnis.

The minister of social services is reviewing the findings and recommendations.