Determine which Child Safety Service Centre will be responsible for case management

After an investigation and assessment is completed with a substantiated―child in need of protection outcome is finalised, as outlined in Finalise the investigation and assessment, case management responsibility will be accepted by:

• the CSSC in the geographical area where the child is living 
  or
• for a child with siblings in care, refer to Procedure 5 Determine who is responsible for case management
  or
• for a pregnant woman, the CSSC in the geographical area where the pregnant woman is living, to ensure she has access to local support prior to the birth of the child.

If a child is living in a different geographical area to the parents, the CSSC with case management responsibility will request case work support from the CSSC in the geographical area where the parents live if required, to meet the case plan goals.

If a child is to be placed in a care arrangement with a provisionally approved carer in another geographical area during an investigation and assessment, the CSSC manager of the investigation and assessment team is responsible for the provisional approval and the initial approval of the carer. (Refer to Procedure 6 Decide the outcome of the application.)

Request that a Child Safety Service Centre accept case management

Prior to requesting that a CSSC accept case management for ongoing intervention:

• finalise the investigation and assessment. (Refer to Finalise the investigation and assessment.)
• complete a child strengths and needs assessment tool for each child in need of protection and a parental strengths and needs assessment tool 
• if an application for a child protection order is being recommended
  • complete an initiating affidavit and provide a copy to the OCFOS lawyer for the DCPL, including any amendments requested by the DCPL
  • serve the respondents and complete an affidavit of service (for the initiating affidavit only)
  • provide the affidavit to the ongoing intervention team as soon as possible
• complete a referral for a family group meeting―unless a case plan was developed for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child at a family-led decision making process during the investigation and assessment. (Refer to Consider family-led decision making.)

To request that a CSSC accepts case management for ongoing intervention, the senior team leader responsible for the investigation and assessment will:

• ensure the investigation and assessment event is closed in ICMS 
• email the senior team leader of the relevant CSSC
• provide the investigation and assessment ICMS event identification (ID)
• ask the CSSC to accept case management responsibility.

Timeframes for accepting case management

The ongoing intervention senior team leader will accept case management responsibility in writing within 5 business days of receiving the request, to ensure continuous service delivery to the child. 

If geographically possible, the CSO responsible for the investigation and assessment will facilitate a warm handover for the child and family with the CSO responsible for ongoing intervention.

Resolve issues

Ther CSSC managers responsible for the investigation and assessment team and the ongoing intervention team will:

• resolve any issues regarding the handover of case management 
• address any impediments to timely service delivery to a child and family

in line with the case transfer guidelines. (Refer to Transfer a case to another Child Safety Service Centre.)