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Use this procedure when receiving information or allegations from someone (a notifier) about harm, or the risk of harm to a child, or the risk to an unborn child after birth.
This procedure explains how to:
- gather relevant information
- assess if there is a reasonable suspicion that a child is in need of protection, or an unborn child will be in need of protection after birth
- decide on a response
- refer families for help and support, where appropriate
- record the intake response.
Child Safety has responsibility under the Child Protection Act 1999 to respond to information received about a reasonable suspicion that:
- a child may be in need of protection
or - an unborn child may be in need of protection after he or she is born.
Any person can make a report to a RIS or CSAHSC about harm or risk of harm to a child. This includes a child, a family member, a member of the community, a service provider or a legally mandated government agency. The information may be reported in person, by telephone or in writing.
The purpose of intake is to receive, assess and record child protection concerns from a notifier and:
- decide the response in line with Child Safety’s legislative authority
- inform the community about the role of Child Safety
- provide information about local support services.
- Critical Incident Reporting
- Decisions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (641)
- Intake (528)
- Information sharing for service delivery coordination (403)
- Records governance
- Response to children who have experienced significant detriment caused by the actions or inactions of Child Safety (634)
- Structured Decision Making (407)
- Support for children in the care of long-term and permanent guardians (607)
- Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Team System (405)
- Receive information from the notifier
- Check child protection history
- Assess the information and decide the response
- Finalise the intake matter
- Advise an external agency of the outcome
- Other intake matters—receive information
- Other intake matters—respond to information
- Other intake matters—record information
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