5.2 LGA based Allocation
Allocation Meetings are held weekly and include the following features:
Chair:
Representative (Team leader or Service Coordinator or delegate) of Local Family Service providers
Attendees:
Core attendees
  • Child FIRST delegate (with the aim of  2 consistent Child FIRST staff members)
  • Local network Family Services Team Leaders involved in intake and allocation decisions
Optional attendees
  • Child FIRST Indigenous Worker
  • LGA network  Family Services Managers
  • Community Based Child Protection Worker (with family consent for identified disclosures of information)
Frequency:
  • Occurs weekly in venue decided by LGA network of Family Service providers.
Minutes:
  • Responsibility for minute taking rests with the LGA Family Service provider
Role and functions:
  • Allocates new referrals from Child FIRST and local agencies in the LGA
  • Allocates cases in active holding for ongoing service
  • Reviews cases in active holding as required
  • Has overview of and monitors local capacity and throughput
  • Balances competing priorities with capacity at the local level
  • Shares and develops knowledge of LGA practices and networks
  • Consults CBCPW as required
Allocation meetings (Agreed Structures)
  • Weekly allocation meetings will involve all local Family Service providers.
    •    Insert agreed LGA based Structure here
  • The Child FIRST Indigenous  liaison worker will attend allocation meetings for professional consultation and advice, when case/s being presented involve/s an Indigenous Child.  The Indigenous  worker will attend all allocation meetings, for all Indigenous families/children. 
  • The Community-Based Child Protection Worker (CBCPW) Team will be represented at allocation meetings.
  • Child FIRST will present Significant Wellbeing, Complex and other cases for allocation. Cases currently receiving initial assessment will also be tabled. Cases that are previous clients of Family Services agencies will also be presented.
  • Agencies will present current cases, including those that are receiving holding work and agency direct referrals, including those redirected from Child FIRST.
  • Cases will be prioritized and capacity assessed jointly.  All cases, including those 'held' by Family Services agencies and Child FIRST will be re- presented until allocated for case work.
  • Significant Wellbeing cases will take priority at allocation.  Family Services agencies must commit to provide active engagement/casework to the child and family at point of transfer.
  • Child FIRST will continue to provide services for cases with significant risk indicators or high need for a maximum of 3 weeks until allocation is possible. Child FIRST will provide Child and Family Action Plans for cases that have received further assessment with information about service activities delivered by Child FIRST to date.
  • Once current capacity is assessed, agencies can decline (on basis of capacity) or accept cases for either casework or holding work. Child FIRST will include recommendations within the initial assessment that will assist agencies to develop the Child and Family Action Plans.
  • In exceptional circumstances (and only on the basis of capacity) agencies may decline the referral of Complex and Other Family Services cases. Complex and other cases that are declined at allocation meetings will receive 'holding work' for a maximum of 3 weeks from Child FIRST and be re- presented at the next and following 3 allocation meetings until allocation is accepted. 
  • The responsibility for cases will remain with Child FIRST until the case is accepted at allocation and the IRIS record is transferred. 
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