Commence the investigation and assessment

Commence within the response priority timeframe

For each notification a response priority is completed at intake. The response priority recommends a timeframe for Child Safety to commence an investigation and assessment. It takes into account multiple factors about the child’s situation to assess the immediate risk of harm to the child and prioritise the response. 

The response timeframe will be one of the following:

• 24 hours
• 5 days
• 10 days.

For an unborn child notification, the response timeframe will be either:

• 5 days—if the birth is likely to be within 5 business days of the decision to record a notification
  or
• 10 days—for all other matters.

Take action to commence an investigation and assessment within 24 hours

To commence an investigation and assessment within 24 hours, sight and interview the subject child (or one of the subject children) as age and developmentally appropriate. Refer to Sight and interview the child.

In exceptional circumstances only, when unable to sight and interview a subject child, take one of the following other actions to commence the investigation and assessment within 24 hours:

• Arrange for a police officer or health professional to have contact with a subject child and provide information to Child Safety about the child’s safety. 
• Gather sufficient information to make an assessment of the child’s immediate safety by:
  • interviewing a parent
  • contacting and receiving information from a government or non-government agency.
• Take action in rural and remote areas when all other actions for commencement are not possible due to geographical distance or seasonal conditions preventing access to the area. As a matter of urgency
  • seek information about the safety of the child from another service or professional who has regular contact, or has had recent contact with the child
  • take immediate action to enable the commencement of the investigation and assessment—this may include
    • organising transport
    • arranging for the child to be sighted. 

Take action to commence an investigation and assessment within 5 or 10 days

To commence an investigation and assessment within 5 or 10 days, take one of the following actions:

• sight and interview the subject child (or one of the subject children) as age and developmentally appropriate. Refer to Sight and interview the child
• sight and interview the pregnant woman
• seek and receive new information that informs the assessment about the safety of the child or the safety of the unborn child after he or she is born
  • from an external agency, including
    • a government or non-government agency
    • a service provider, including National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers
    • a health professional, such as a general practitioner
  • through any of the following methods
    • email exchange
    • phone or face-to-face discussion
    • receipt of a Section 159N information request
    • a SCAN team meeting (if the SCAN team referral criteria is met)
    • a locally convened panel process with relevant partners.

Advise the person from the external agency how the information will be used and disclosed. If the person who is contacted for information was the notifier, tell them the new information they provide:

• forms part of the investigation and assessment
• is not covered under the confidentiality of notifier provisions, under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 186A.

Refer to the practice guide Commencing an investigation and assessment within 5 or 10 days.

The following actions do not constitute commencement:

• completing and sending a Section 159N information request
• engaging the Family Participation Program about whether and when they will visit a family during an investigation and assessment
• referring the matter to a SCAN team
• allocation of the investigation and assessment by the senior team leader
• an unsuccessful attempt to visit or contact the child or family
• any information received before the decision to record a notification
• information received and recorded as additional notified concerns.

Record the following in the investigation and assessment event in ICMS:

• ‘other action' taken to commence the investigation and assessment (as already outlined)
• all attempts made to commence the investigation and assessment within the timeframe and why this was not possible—for example, geographical distance, lack of access or serious concerns for staff safety.

Inform the parents about the allegation of harm

A CSO or police officer carrying out an investigation and assessment must:

• give details of the alleged harm or risk of harm to at least one of the child’s parents (Child Protection Act 1999, section 15)
• consider giving the information to both parents, especially if parents reside separately
• not disclose the notifier’s details.

If the concerns are about a long-term guardian’s or permanent guardian’s care of a child:

• give details, to at least one of the guardians, of the alleged harm or risk of harm
• contact at least one of the child’s parents—unless this is not considered to be in the child’s best interest—taking into account:
  • the nature and extent of the child’s connection with their parents
  • the evidence supporting the allegation
  • any other matter―for example, if a parent’s knowledge of this allegation of harm will have a detrimental effect on the child and the stability of the living arrangements (Child Protection Act 1999, section 15(3)).

A CSO or police officer does not need to provide information to a parent (Child Protection Act 1999, section 15(3)) if:

• someone may be charged with a criminal offence for the harm to the child, and providing information to a parent may jeopardise an investigation into the offence
• providing information to a parent may expose the child to significant harm.

Before providing information to the parents, discuss with the QPS what information will be provided if:

• there is a criminal matter or an ongoing police investigation
• the provision of information may jeopardise the due process of the criminal matter.

The reason and decision to not give parents information about allegations must be:

• approved by a senior team leader
• recorded in ICMS.

Consider privacy - general

Always make decisions about sharing information in favour of the wellbeing and best interests of a child. The Child Protection Act 1999 overrides the Queensland Government’s privacy principles about how personal information is collected, disclosed, used and stored.  

If parents are estranged or no longer residing together:

• only provide information specific to the alleged harm to the child
• do not release information about one parent’s general circumstances to the otherparent―for example, their health or medical treatment, employment or finances, or issues in the extended family.

Consult with the senior team leader or senior practitioner if there are concerns about providing information to parents. If necessary, the senior team leader will seek advice from Legal Services.

Consider privacy - domestic and family violence

When working with individuals who have perpetrated violence and family members who have been affected by violence, consider:

• what information, if given to the perpetrator during the investigation and assessment, could compromise the safety of the victim or child―for example:
  • the location or address details of the victim or their extended family members
  • information that identifies the school the child attends
  • photographs that may identify the location or area in which a victim or child lives
• how interventions during the investigation and assessment may affect the safety of the victim and their children
• whether a Significant DFV threat alert should be recorded in ICMS. Refer to Record an alert for significant domestic and family violence.

Consider privacy - criminal matters

If Child Safety obtains information that an adult in the household has an alleged offence, charge or conviction that presents an unacceptable risk to the child’s safety:

• Tell the adult that the information has been obtained, and discuss the worries for the child’s safety.
• Encourage the person to share relevant information with the parents residing in the household.

If the person refuses to disclose their criminal history to the parents:

• give the parent information about the person's criminal history, if releasing the information is considered to be in the child's best interests, including about:
  • offences, charges or convictions
  • charges or convictions under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2004 
• assess the parent's ability and willingness to protect the child from the risk posed, based on their response to the concerns.