NSW Interagency Guidelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006

Briefing Information Session

Child Protection Senior Officers Group

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The existing Guidelines were revised in order to:

ensure they contained accurate, up to date and useful information

make them easy to follow include major new government commitments to

prevention and early intervention reflect achievable and sustainable practice

commitments for all partner agencies reinforce the importance of all partners in

contributing to child protection intervention

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Briefing outline

Interagency Work Reporting Exchanging Information Feedback to reporters Case management Resources available

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Chapter Headings

1. Building interagency collaboration2. Making a child protection report3. Practices and procedures following a child

protection report4. Exchanging information in a child protection

context5. Criminal proceedings6. Best practice principles for working with

children and young people

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Conventions used in the Guidelines

Tables Practice points Flags such as refer Flags such as notes Flow charts Appendices Glossary

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Key resource - Tables outlining indicators of abuse and neglect

Table 4 outlines indicators for neglect Table 5 outlines indicators of physical abuse Table 6 outlines indicators of sexual abuse Table 7 outlines indicators of serious

psychological harm Table 8 outlines indicators of Domestic Violence

(detailing indicators also in adult victims and in perpetrators)

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Feedback to Mandated Reporters

“At a minimum, the Community Services Centre will provide feedback to mandated reporters who request it and who have an ongoing role with the child, young person or family and the feedback will enable that work to continue.”

NSW Interagency Guidlelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006, Section 2.12

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Legal frameworks for exchanging information

The NSW Privacy and Protection Information Act 1998 which outlines 12 information protection principles. Generally these principles require NSW government and funded non-government agencies to get the consent of a client before information about them is shared.

NSW Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002

Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000

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Prescribed agencies:

NSW Police

A government department or a public authority

A government school or a registered non-government school or a TAFE college

A public health organisation or a private hospital

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Prescribed agencies cont.:

A private fostering agency or a private adoption agency

Agencies that provide residential child care centre or a child care service under the Act

The Family Court of Australia

Centrelink

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Prescribed agencies cont.:

The Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Aboriginal Affairs

Any other organisations that have direct responsibility for, or supervision of, the provision of health care, welfare, education, children’s services, residential services or law enforcement, to children.

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DoCS’ information request

Must relate to a current or future concern for the safety, welfare and well-being of a child, young person or class of children or young people

Can only request information that already exists

Cannot request an agency to collect new information or to undertake a separate assessment

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DoCS can request the following information from other agencies on:

A child or young person’s history, current circumstances and their views

A parent or other family member

Other significant or relevant relationships that the child or young person may have

The agency’s engagement with the child, young person and their family, including past support arrangements.

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Issues DoCS will consider when a request for information is received

Is the agency providing a service under a case plan that has been developed with DoCS?

Does the agency have ongoing contact and the service outcome will be compromised without the information?

Does the agency need assistance and/or advice to make a decision about future supports or service delivery?

Is there a report involving an employee and details need to be given to the Ombudsman?

Do the police need to manage a child or young person until an appropriate person takes responsibility?

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Best Endeavours

Section 17 Director-General’s request for services from other agencies“In deciding what action should be taken to promote and safeguard the safety, welfare and well-being of a child or young person, the Director-General may request a government department or agency, or a non-government agency in receipt of government funding, to provide services to the child or young person or to his or her family”Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998

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Best Endeavours

Section 18 Obligation to co-operate

“The government department or agency must use its best endeavours to comply with a request made to it under section 17 if it is consistent with its own responsibilities and does not unduly prejudice the discharge of its functions. “

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998

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Revised Commitment by DoCS

“The Department will appoint a

case manager where a matter has

been allocated for a *SAS 2.”(*Secondary Assessment Stage 2)

NSW Interagency Guidlelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006, Section 3.7.2

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Revised Commitment by DoCS

“At a minimum the Department of Community Services as case manager, will convene a case meeting or teleconference with key interagency partners, eg Physical Assault and Neglect of Children Services (PANOC), when it has been determined that a child or young person is in need of care and protection following a secondary assessment (SAS 2).”NSW Interagency Guidlelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006, section 3.7.2

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Managing case closure

“The Department of Community Services will consult with the family and with all interagency parties who have a role in implementing the case plan prior to a decision, to close an allocated case.”

NSW Interagency Guidlelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006, section 3.7.5

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Engaging Aboriginal People

“Child protection interventions remain higher for Aboriginal children – an indication that Aboriginal families continue to experience significant disadvantage. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicate that Aboriginal children are subject to orders of the Children’s Court at a rate of nearly 8.5 times higher than other children”

(NSW Interagency Guidelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006, section 6.4)

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Engaging Aboriginal People

“Recognition of the historical impacts does not override the need to report and respond to child protection concerns in Aboriginal families and communities”.

NSW Interagency Guidlelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006, section 6.4

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Engaging people from culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse backgrounds:

different perceptions, language, cultural and religious beliefs increase the chance of miscommunication

we need to use accredited interpreters

accredited interpreters need to be used when working with deaf people

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What are some strategies that can help create opportunities for interagency practice?