Undertake an investigation and assessment

Undertake an investigation and assessment

Carry out the following actions for each investigation and assessment to assess whether a child is in need of protection:

• Plan the investigation and assessment. (Refer to Plan the investigation and assessment.)
• Commence the investigation and assessment within the response priority timeframe. (Refer to Commence the investigation and assessment.)
• Inform the parents about the allegation of harm. (Refer to Inform the parents about the allegation of harm.)
• Sight and carry out interviews with each subject child−unless the contact with other professional differential pathway is used or an exception applies. (Refer to Carry out interviews, Consider the differential pathway and Exceptions to contact or interviews with the child.)
• Interview the parents, other adults and alleged persons responsible. (Refer to Interview the parents, other adults and alleged persons responsible.)
• Carry out a safety assessment. (Refer to Carry out a safety assessment.)
• Assess whether the child has suffered significant harm or is at risk of significant harm. (Refer to Assess the information and decide the outcome.)
• Decide if a child is in need of protection. (Refer to Decide if a child is in need of protection.)
• Record the investigation and assessment. (Refer to Record the investigation and assessment.)
• Inform at least one of the child’s parents about the outcome of the investigation and assessment―unless using discretionary compliance under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 15. (Refer to Inform the parents of the outcome.)

In addition, consult the senior team leader to determine which of the following actions are relevant to completing the assessment of the child’s need for protection:

• Respond if a parent will not consent to actions required. (Refer to Respond if a parent will not consent to actions required―temporary assessment order or Respond if a parent will not consent to actions required―court assessment order.)
• Refer the family to the SCAN team. (Refer to Consider a Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect team referral.)
• Arrange a medical examination. (Refer to Consider a medical examination.)
• Consider family-led decision making for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child for the purpose of deciding if the child in need of protection decision. (Refer to Consider family-led decision making.)
• Negotiate an assessment care agreement. (Refer to Consider an assessment care agreement.)
• Use the contact with other professional differential pathway. (Refer to Consider the differential pathway.)
• Respond to any relevant specific matters. (Refer to Respond to specific matters.)
• Seek additional information from other sources where required to inform the assessment. (Refer to Gather information from other sources.)
• Consider family-led decision making for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child for the purpose of deciding the child in need of protection decision. (Refer to Decide the investigation and assessment outcome.)

For other actions specific to an investigation and assessment relating to an unborn child, refer to Unborn  child.