MSF to set up new social services coordination centre to detect child abuse: Desmond Lee

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will be setting up a new social services coordination centre to better detect child abuse cases, said Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee in Parliament on Nov. 5.

Lee was addressing more than 20 questions raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) after a report of the review of four-year-old Megan Khung’s death from child abuse was published on Oct. 23.

The report found instances of "lack of clear understanding & communication" among agencies, including MSF Child Protective Service, now known as Protective Service (PSV), the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), the Singapore Police Force, Beyond Social Services and HEART@Fei Yue Child Protection Specialist Centre.

MPs raised concerns about early and accurate identification of child abuse, questioned the thresholds for intervention in such cases and asked for the government's response to the panel's recommendations.

New social services coordination centre

Lee noted that MSF is the lead for the national child protection system, and fully accepts the panel's recommendations.

"On behalf of all the agencies concerned, we are deeply sorry for the outcome, the lapses at the Child Protective Service and the Singapore Police Force, and the missed opportunities at ECDA," said Lee.

"We should have done much better."

The panel's recommendations focused on improving the clarity of roles within the child protection ecosystem, fostering a stronger learning culture, and providing more structured support for social service practitioners.

Lee said that MSF will consult and work closely with the social sector to implement the recommendations progressively, with the implementation to be completed by end-2026.

Coordination centre

One key change is that MSF will set up of a new social services coordination centre, supported by technology.

Lee said the centre will help to "better detect, sense-make and connect dots for cases from different touchpoints, such as the social services, education, community and other sectors.

MSF is also working to improve protocols and coordination with the police for missing children, said Lee.

Currently, agencies that manage child protection cases have to lodge a police report within 24 hours, and alert PSV.

When a case of suspected child abuse is reported to the police, the police will assess the case based on the facts and circumstances.

For cases assessed to be of higher risk, such as those involving serious physical harm or sexual abuse, police will immediately intervene to ensure the child's safety, said Lee.

PSV also keeps a close watch on missing children reports made to the police and will work closely with the police.

The new social services coordination centre will also provide tighter links to the police's operations, Lee added.

Other changes to be made

To address cases where agencies have differing views on risk levels and case management, MSF will set up a triage assessment panel by the first quarter of 2026.

Such panels will help determine which agency is best placed to manage the case, said Lee.

Another panel recommendation was for MSF to review ECDA's role in triaging potential intra-familial child protection cases.

By early-2026, preschools will report such cases directly to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH), said Lee.

Lee noted that previously, MSF would share lessons from critical child abuse incidents in bilateral reviews with the relevant social service agency.

But moving forward, all deaths of children known to social services will be independently reviewed, with lessons shared across the sector, said Lee.

In response to a recommendation to provide more structured support for social service practitioners, Lee said MSF is taking steps to bolster the morale of their protection officers as well as the sector as a whole.

MSF will also set up a Protection Practitioners Care Fund to implement capability building and well-being initiatives, said Lee.

Further details will be announced in 2026.

Beyond protocols

Lee said that beyond protocols and structured tools, child protection work will need to build trust and relationships between parents, the community, social services, and the government.

He urged members of the public to look out for those who may be struggling and parents who need support to turn to the community and social service agencies for guidance.

"Each time a tragedy like Megan’s occurs, we feel anger, sorrow and regret," said Lee.

"Whether we are members of society or social work professionals, we must work together and do our utmost to protect our children."

Top image from MDDI/YouTube & Shin Min Daily News