Bob Pringle, chairman of Saskatchewan's child welfare review panel, believes the system needs a complete overhaul. (CBC)

Saskatchewan's child welfare system is performing so poorly it needs a complete overhaul, according to the chairman of a panel studying the situation.

Bob Pringle told CBC News on Friday that his evaluation of the current state of affairs reveals a system that is so broken it cannot, in his view, get any worse.

The provincial government asked Pringle to study the system after concerns were raised by Saskatchewan's children's advocate about foster care. In 2009 the advocate identified a number of problems, especially overcrowding of foster homes.

Pringle and three other panel members have been talking with hundreds of people, gathering input for a report. He said issues with foster care are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to child welfare in the province and he will recommend a complete restructuring of the system.

"This is, in my personal view, the first true window of opportunity for major restructuring that I've seen in my 35 years," Pringle told CBC News, referring to his long career with social service agencies in Saskatoon. "These are long term problems which took a long time to get in this mess.

"Timing is often the key thing in [creating] new policy initiatives," he added, saying the climate was right for change "because the situation cannot get any worse."

He said First Nations groups in Saskatchewan need to be involved in decision-making about child-welfare policies.

Pringle added that other social service initiatives also need attention, including addictions counselling, affordable housing and parenting classes. Addressing needs in those areas could prevent a lot of problems with children, he said.

Pringle said the final report of the child welfare review panel will be delivered to the minister responsible by Oct. 1.