4.4 Decision points
Decision points may be reached at any point through information collection process depending on the nature and severity of concerns.
Decisions are made through consultation with Child FIRST Team Leader and/or Manager.
The key areas that we need to make decisions about include:
1. Do we need to Report to Child Protection?
  • Caller to report directly to Child Protection
  • Caller unwilling to report to Child Protection, Child FIRST reports to Child Protection
  • Caller to be advised identity will be disclosed to Child Protection but not to family unless caller provides consent (verbal as for CF or written as for CP)
2. Does Child FIRST need to proceed without consent from family to collect       
    further information?
  • Seek information from specified bodies for the purpose of risk assessment or to determine an appropriate service (significant wellbeing concerns)
  • Urgent and immediate response role may be offered to family
  • Consider all worker safety issues
  • Involve two workers
3. How do we contact the  family to explain the following?
  • That a referral has been made if the family is not aware
  • Whether family aware or not of referral, role of Child FIRST and Alliance
  • To seek consents for:
    • Information sharing
    • If Indigenous, to consult Aboriginal Child FIRST Worker or other nominated indigenous person or organization
    • To refer to partner agency if/when decision to allocate
    • For a worker to visit to further discuss referral and family perspective

4. If family cannot be contacted or refuse consent to share information or referral for service, options are:
  • Make further attempts to engage, including possible role of referrer (Refer to practice guidance about working with hard to engage families)
  • Consider need to consult with CBCPW
  • Close case with advice to family
5. Accept as appropriate for Family Service allocation?
  • Make arrangements to allocate (refer NCVFSA allocation procedures)
  • Advise family and seek consents (as above)
  • Allocate for holding/short term response if allocation for ongoing service is not immediately available
6. Short-term assessment required to determine whether appropriate for      ongoing Family Service role (negotiated with Local Family services)
7. After Hours support required
  • Family Services not funded for after hours responses
  • Some organisations have limited capacity for emergency after hours consultationAdvise of other community service options
  • Advise of Emergency After Hours Child Protection service
8. Close
  • With family contact.
  • With no family contact.
Top