<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) workers have been suspended after a failure to implement proper policies led to two foster children being allowed to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-government-minister-orders-urgent-review-after-foster-children-found-living-with-convicted-serial-killer/95343234-a790-46fd-a345-e79647e93384" rel="" target="_blank" title="live"><span>live</span></a><span> with a serial killer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Minister for Communities and Families Kate Washington admitted that a tip-off and a report to the department were not properly followed up, allowing two foster children, aged 12 and 14, to live with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/regina-arthurell-nsw-government-paid-700-to-get-convicted-serial-killer-out-of-home-with-foster-children/776be7fb-4f90-4715-b2be-1bbaba7f3629" rel="" target="_blank" title="Reginald Arthurell"><span>Reginald Arthurell</span></a><span> in out-of-home care in Sydney's west.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Arthurell, also known as Reginal Arthurell, was convicted of bludgeoning fiancee Venet Mulhall, to death at Coonabarabran in 1995 while on parole.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-22-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/c3a8451b-6736-489e-8f50-adf4641cb25c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Break the blockade by force': Iran's death vow despite ceasefire</span></strong></a></div></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="150px" src="https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/exclusive-minister-reveals-findings-of-foster-care-failure/embed?media=Audio&amp;size=Square" width="100%"></iframe></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He had earlier killed his stepfather in the 1970s and a sailor in the 1980s, and was paroled in 2020.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking on 2GB's Ben Fordham Live, Washington said the DCJ was first informed of the decision to allow children to live with Arthurell late last year, but she said the report was closed without a proper follow-up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was closed based on unverified information about Arthurell and his possible incapacity, his age, [he's] in a wheelchair, and having a full-time carer," Washington said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/reginald-arthurell-nsw-serial-killer-living-foster-children-kate-washington/10e1526e-c1cc-430e-9b14-6d06a2bac85e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It just wasn't investigated, and that was contrary to policies and procedures in the department."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said the decision was made by one individual within the department, who has now been suspended pending a misconduct process.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was a second instance of the department being made aware of a child entering the house where Arthurell last month, where Washington admitted the previous report from the December incident was not followed up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A simple check of DCJ's system would have revealed that Arthurell was in that house. Instead, approval was given, and again, it was against department policies and procedures," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/millions-aussies-owed-money-friends-advice-cost-of-living/a9cf375d-d7f0-4133-ad71-a646044caa91" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Alarming number of Aussies chasing mates for money, figures reveal</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A simple check on our system would have shown that report from December."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Washington said the person responsible for that decision had also been suspended.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While she admitted the decisions made fell short of the standards expected and of the DCJ's policies and procedures, she insisted it was not the result of institutional issues, and defended the work of her department overall.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are working in very difficult, complex environments," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our DCJ child protection caseworkers see the worst of the worst in our society. They walk into homes where parents are harming their children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are difficult decisions made daily by our caseworkers, but we do expect them to follow department policies and procedures."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Arthurell is no longer living with the children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w"><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></p></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>