Legislative Council Thursday 28 November, 2019

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to mandatory reporting requirements for health professionals and teachers: 

1. When a report is made to the Child Safety Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123; 

a. what details are collected; b. how are the details stored; c. what action is taken to ensure the child is safe; d. how are services provided to the family/child; and e. if a subsequent report is made, does a 'flag' come up to indicate a prior report? 

Answer 

A record of the conversation at the Advice and Referral Line (ARL) is taken by a Child Safety and Wellbeing Officer where concerns are raised by a caller about a child or children that require some level of action. Staff collect the following details of the child or children concerned, and their family: 

- the nature of the concerns that the caller is seeking to refer or seek support about; information on individuals or services that the family and child may already be linked in with; 

- the caller's details and advice on whether they have spoken with the family about the call they are making to the Advice and Referral Line; - Advice and information about what the caller's expectations are regarding the information provided; - referrals for local services to support the family; and - contact details of the caller including a discussion about expectations of ongoing updates or feedback on the situation. 

When requested the service can also provide a summary of the initial call back to the caller. 

All details of the conversation are stored within the Department's internal electronic systems including: 

- Child Advice Referral Digital Interface (CARDI); and 

- Child Protection Information System (CPIS). CARDI and CPIS interface with each other. The information held is secure and confidential and can only be accessed by Departmental staff who have been given access permissions. 

Action and responses to the conversation will depend on the nature of the concerns the caller has provided to the ARL, and the current networks that are already around the child and their family. 

Action can include, but is not limited to: 

- the provision of advice, referral and support - further assessment; - safety planning; and/or immediate protective intervention. 

Advice and Referral Line staff engage directly with the family by phone and/ or face to face visits and seek to provide appropriate supports around the child and their family. 

In addition, the ARL is the referral pathway to the regional Child Safety Response teams should further planning around safety and intervention occur. 

The provision of services depends on what the needs of the family are, and can include referring them to an appropriate service for support. 

Contact with the ARL may result in a referral to the Integrated Family Support service, the Intensive Family Engagement Service or other services for youth specifically (Targeted Youth Support Services in the South or Supported Youth Programs in the North and North West). This is done through conversations with the family by phone or through face to face visits. 

Services may also include referral to the regional child safety response teams for further assessment, safety planning or legal intervention. 

If a subsequent report is made, a flag does indicate a prior report. 

As part of the standard process, staff will further explore the history and pattern of families who have previous contact with the ARL and the broader Child Safety Service using CARDI and CPIS.