'Into the fire': The WA government took eight kids from their parents and put them here

Carers employed by an agency to look after eight young brothers and sisters worry the wards of the state have "fallen out of the frying pan and into the fire". One carer has complained to the government, saying the cold, dirty house it has provided adds up to negligence. But the Department of Communities says there are no concerns over the treatment of the children.

Eight freezing kids, two useless oil heaters, rancid and overflowing bins. One urine stained mattress. "Doonas you could sneeze through."

That's how carers describe the house where the siblings, aged between 18-months and 13-years-old, found themselves living after they were removed from their parents by the WA government.

The housing commission-owned property is in a run-down, out-of-sight area which has been marked for residential development, 100 metres from a major highway and high-voltage power lines and surrounded by empty blocks and abandoned industrial machinery.

The backyard is a field of overgrown weeds that carers worry is unsafe.

They say the house in the middle of nowhere is freezing cold and heated with just two electric oil heaters: "I've got kids huddled up together in the foetal position they're so cold."

Every week, the green bin that's meant to service the property overflows into two shopping trolleys, and excess refuse including soiled nappies and rotting food is spread around the front yard. On Thursday the street in front of the house was littered with black rubbish bags and full paper bags from fast food joints.

And there are photos to back up the shocking claims.

Staff say they are forced to buy the children essentials for the six-bedroom house, including a high-chair, change tables, a stroller, kitchen utensils and pull-ups.

They accuse the government of staffing the house with too few carers who are overworked, and of being too bureaucratic when it comes to responding to the material needs of the children.

One recently-sacked carer, who asked not to be named, took her concerns to the Department of Communities and Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk.

She said one child was sleeping on a urine-stained mattress until a carer brought in a waterproof mattress protector. There was no hot water in the house for the first few days after the family moved in.

"It's neglect. It's the coldest month of the year … eight vulnerable children, plus us carers just being ignored," she said.

"I was providing pull ups for children who wet the beds.

"Part of the reason they were removed was they were sleeping on a urine stained mattress, but they still were in DCP care because they didn't provide a waterproof under blanket."

The carers have been battling head lice at the house. The government had not provided them with a vehicle, so they were using their own cars to transport the children.

According to the carers, they were forever trying to get more staff to deal with the children, who they admit were hard work. They said the pressure on day staff was phenomenal. The staff complement was one carer around the clock in shifts and another at busy breakfast and afternoon/evenings times.

'No concerns': State follows up on worries over children

But according to the department there are no concerns for the children in this case.

The Department for Communities, which is responsible for children in the care of the state, confirmed it had been contacted about conditions in the home.

"Following that contact, the Department met with the service provider to discuss the issues raised," a spokesman said.

"When concerns like this are raised, Department of Communities staff visit the property in person to satisfy themselves that the conditions and standards of care provided to the children are appropriate and adequate. This assessment includes speaking to the children involved to see if they have any concerns or worries.

"The Department of Communities continues to closely support the family concerned, as well as the support provider. The Department has followed up on the concerns raised and there are no concerns for the children."

Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said the home was set up as an emergency temporary response to a specific family circumstance.

"I am advised it is run by a contracted support provider, as is often the case with emergency temporary care arrangements, and facilitated by the Department of Communities," she said.

"After issues were raised with the department, staff visited the home to view the conditions and ensure the standards of care being provided to the children are appropriate and adequate.

"The Department has advised that it is working with the family concerned and the contracted support provider to address any legitimate concerns."

Opposition: There are questions still to answer

None of this satisfies opposition child protection spokesman Nick Goiran.

He said Ms McGurk had some questions to answer about this case given the department's website lists emergency care as being "up to 28 days".

"Given that the department’s spokesperson has said that there are no concerns for the children, why has the minister said that the department is working with the family and contracted support provider to address any legitimate concerns?" he said.

"Sadly this case is just one in a long line of issues and cases which demonstrate the ill-considered decision by WA Labor to amalgamate child protection into the mega-department of Communities.

"This is why Liza Harvey and I have promised to disaggregate child protection so that it once again is a stand-alone department in accordance with the 2007 Ford Review."