An independent review will be conducted into the reporting practices of South Australia's Department for Child Protection after two abuse cases involving teenage girls in state care.
Former District Court judge Paul Rice will preside over the inquiry with Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson not told about the cases until the offenders were sentenced.
"There is no doubt the details of these recent child protection cases are concerning and unacceptable," Ms Sanderson said on Thursday.
"We rightly want to get to the bottom of these concerning cases and why I wasn't informed until court sentencing."
In the first case, Matthew McIntyre was jailed in September for sex offences committed against a 13-year-old girl.
In December, Philip McIntosh was also jailed for maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a girl aged between 13 and 14.
Both victims were under the guardianship of the chief executive of the Department for Child Protection at the time of the offending.
The independent inquiry will examine and assess the failure to advise the minister of the charges against the two men and examine the department's critical incident policies and procedures.
It will also review the adequacy of existing disciplinary processes for department staff who fail to comply with their obligations under the reporting procedures and consider if those procedures are adequate.
Mr Rice has been asked to report back to the government by February 9 next year.
Opposition child protection spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard said the report must be made public and the government should release a timeline for the implementation of any recommendations.
"South Australian children in care deserve so much better than this appalling abuse," she said.
"This minister continues to fail children in care and must go.
"Change is desperately needed to keep children safe and this inquiry must be a catalyst for that change."
