Other intake matters—respond to information

Information that requires an alert in Unify

Record an alert in Unify, as soon as significant information relevant to an alert type is received or identified for a child, a child’s family or carer family. 

Use the table below to identify the circumstances when an alert is required, and where to find more information.

If information is received about a significant event that may require one or more alerts to be recorded for a child, a child’s family or carer family:

• Ensure the accuracy of the information—contact other government or non-government agencies, if relevant and in line with intake procedures to clarify or verify the information.
• Consult the senior team leader to assess the nature and significance of the information.
• Record and maintain the alert information in the person profile in Unify, until the alert is no longer relevant and can be closed.

Record a suicide or non-suicidal self-injury risk alert

If it is identified that a child is at risk of non-suicidal self-injury or suicide during Child Safety intervention, record a suicide risk and non-suicidal self-injury risk alert case in Unify and record the relevant alert. (Refer to Procedure 5 Support a child at risk of suicide or non-suicidal self-injury.)

Record an alert for significant domestic and family violence

Record a Significant DFV threat alert in Unify when one or more of the following domestic and family violence risk factors are identified: 

• a person experiencing violence’s self-perception of the risk level is high, due to the current circumstances with the person using violence. 
• a person using violence has caused the serious injuries to any person that require hospitalisation or assessment and treatment at a hospital emergency department 
• a person using violence is alleged to have strangled, choked or stabbed another person at any time 
• there has been an escalation of abusive behaviour, including escalation in severity, frequency or the violence has become more ‘unpredictable’
• the person using violence has a history of incarceration for breach of a domestic violence order, physical assault, grievous bodily harm, torture or deprivation of liberty
• the person using violence has a history of breaches of domestic violence orders, failure to comply with a domestic violence order
• there are previous or current threats by the person using violence to kill the person experiencing violence, a child, other family member or pets
• the person using violence has access to or possession of a firearm or has threatened to use an item as a weapon
• the person using violence has a history of stalking or obsessive or jealous behaviour including technology-facilitated surveillance
• the person using violence has demonstrated a pattern of coercive control using abusive behaviours to control, manipulate, and dominate the person experiencing violence. 

To record a significant DFV threat alert in Unify:

• Create an alert in the person profiles of the
  • person using violence
  • person experiencing violence
    and
  • child.
• Record the name and person profile number of the person experiencing violence and the child in the description field of the person using violence’s alert.
• Record the name and client profile number of the person using violence in the rationale field of the person experiencing violence’s and the child’s alerts.
• In each alert, also record either
  • where to locate the assessment of the behaviour of the person using violence, for example, the Unify case number
    or
  • if there is no assessment, a brief summary of the coercive and controlling behaviours and the specific worries for the safety of the person experiencing violence and the child.

Record a separate alert each time the person has perpetrated domestic and family violence and been assessed as posing a significant threat to one or more persons experiencing violence. This will enable the behaviour of the person using violence to be tracked over time and across multiple families.

SCAN team child concern report consult

A SCAN core member representative may refer a matter that has been recorded as child concern report to a SCAN team for a child concern report consult: 

• if they have had a discussion with the senior team leader who approved the child concern report about the decision, the rationale, and any follow up actions
  and
• the matter remains a child concern report and the core member representative seeks a multi-agency discussion.

The purpose of the child concern report consult is to consider the needs of the child by reviewing all agencies’ knowledge of the family and facilitate earlier coordination of multi-agency actions to decrease the likelihood of the child entering, or re-entering, the tertiary system. It is not a forum for discussing new child protection concerns.

When a referral is made:

• the SCAN team may invite the approving senior team leader to attend the meeting
• the senior team leader will complete the SCAN team information form and provide the Child Safety core member representative and SCAN team coordinator with any information that is relevant to the SCAN team discussion as soon as possible before the meeting. For an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, this will include relevant information about Aboriginal tradition and Island custom. 

If the RIS referred the child or family to a support service, the RIS senior team leader will consult the Child Safety core member representative about whether it would be appropriate for a representative from the service provider to be invited as a stakeholder to the SCAN team meeting. 

The child concern report consult can result in one of three outcomes:

• The matter remains a child concern report with no actions for an agency. The case is closed to the SCAN team.
• The matter to remain a child concern report with core member agencies, other than Child Safety, committing to actions under the authority of their agency. The case is closed to the SCAN team.
• Further information is discussed and the RIS senior team leader refers the matter back to the RIS to be re-assessed. The case is then reviewed by the SCAN team.

Reassess the concerns after a SCAN team child concern report consult

If the SCAN team recommends that a child concern report is sent back to the RIS to be re-assessed, following a child concern report consult:

• The RIS senior team leader will re-open the intake in Unify and allocate the intake to a RIS CSO.
• The RIS CSO will
  • record the following in the re-opened intake form
  • the reason for re-opening the intake event
  • the information provided by the SCAN team for the child concern report consult 
  • the original approval date and name of the approving senior team leader
  • an updated assessment of the concerns
  • any additional notifiers, if new information is provided by another agency.
  • attach the SCAN team meeting minutes of the child concern report consult to the intake event
  • submit the completed intake to the senior team leader for approval in Unify.

The senior team leader will approve the amended intake in Unify and, if the information is re-assessed as a notification, will assign the assessment case to the the relvant CSSC assessment team.

Respond to a person who frequently notifies Child Safety of concerns

A person who frequently notifies Child Safety of concerns is a person who repeatedly contacts Child Safety with the same concerns about a child, and who may not have a genuine concern about the safety, belonging and wellbeing of the child. The person’s reasons for notifying Child Safety may include:

• to cause difficulty for, or distress to, another person
• an attempt to wield power over, or intimidate or incite fear in, a person by initiating intervention with Child Safety
• an attempt to exercise coercive control over another person (Refer to the practice kit Domestic and family violence.) 
• an attempt to prompt a different response from Child Safety.

A person who frequently notifies Child Safety of concerns may also be a person with a mental health issue that affects the way they think, feel or function.

If it is identified that the notifier may be a person who frequently notifies Child Safety of concerns:

• ensure decision making is focussed on the safety, belonging and wellbeing of the child
• complete the intake and decide the outcome
• advise the senior team leader, who will decide the response to the person.

This response will consider:

• information recorded in previous intakes, for example, that future reporting of the same concerns by the same notifier are not to be recorded as a notification
• the outcomes of previous intakes or (investigation and) assessments, if the same or similar concerns have been reported (one or more times) by the same notifier
• the notifier’s previous reporting intentions and pattern
• whether the notifier’s behaviour is causing harm to a child.

The senior team leader may decide to do one or more of the following in response to a person who frequently notifies Child Safety of concerns: 

• Contact the notifier, either verbally or in writing, to advise the of
  • the outcome of the intake response, if they are a parent
  • any decision made about how Child Safety may respond in future if they continue to raise the same concerns about the same child
  • the availability of community agencies and support services that may be of assistance to them, if relevant
  • the Child Safety complaints processes and external agencies they may contact if they are unhappy with any decisions Child Safety has made.
• Record in the current Intake that any future reporting of the same concerns by the same notifier are to be recorded as an Intake enquiry, and the reasons for the decision.
• Record an Intake enquiry outlining the concerns and providing a rationale for the decision.
• Record an Intake on the relevant child, with the notifier named as the alleged person responsible for harm, based on the impact of their reporting behaviour on the child (only if the notifier is a parent).

Request for information from a Queensland court under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012

A Queensland court may request information from Child Safety to assist in deciding certain matters being contested by a respondent under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, section 55. The court will complete a Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 (Part A - Request) form to request information about any of the following:

• a child 
• an aggrieved person 
• a respondent.

Information from Child Safety will help the court decide whether to:

• name the child in the protection order being sought
  or
• impose a condition relating to the child. 

Respond to the receipt of a Report to the Court pursuant to section 55

The court sends the completed Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 form to DMS. 

If a child, aggrieved or respondent is not currently, or has not previously been known to Child Safety, DMS will:

• complete section i (Part B) of the Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 and return it to the Court
• forward the Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 to the relevant RIS to record an Intake inquiry.

The RIS will record the information as an intake inquiry in Unify. Once completed, save the Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 form under ‘Court and legal’ and hyperlink them to the intake enquiry, using the title ‘yyyymmdd_Section 55_DFVP request for information’.

If a child, aggrieved or respondent is currently, or has previously been known to Child Safety, DMS will allocate the request to:

• the relevant CSSC where there is an open case or ongoing intervention
  or
• the relevant RIS where there is no current intervention.

A CSSC or RIS senior team leader will allocate the Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 to a CSO.

To respond to the request:

• provide acknowledgement of the request to DMS via email
• ensure the request meets the requirements for information provision under the Domestic and Family Violence Act 2012, section 55
• contact the court registrar if further information is required (for example, an incomplete form or section 55 conditions are not met)
• review any Child Safety records for the child, the aggrieved or the respondent 
• consult with other CSSCs where necessary
• record relevant information in the Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 form, either
  • complete Part B - Response (section iii)
    or
  • complete Part B - Response (section ii) only, if the information is not considered relevant.

If there is relevant child protection history:

• complete the template Information for domestic violence proceedings – section 55 and include
  • a concise summary of the child protection history 
  • details of any current intervention by Child Safety and a copy of the most recent order, if applicable
  • relevant information from the case plan for the subject child or children
  • other relevant information that relates to the request, including any current assessment of risk related to the subject children
  • any current assessment of risk related to the subject children
• refer to the practice guide Court request for information—domestic violence orders (section 55) for guidance about providing information to the court
• consult with the senior team leader or senior practitioner to assist with completing the report, if required
• contact Court Services for further advice if required.

The senior team leader will:

• undertake a quality assurance role and ensure the information provided is in accordance privacy requirements and the confidentiality provisions of the Child Protection Act 1999, sections 186-189
• ensure that consideration has been given to what information is shared or not shared, with a view to the current and future safety of the child and person experiencing violence, and any potential unintended consequences.
• consult with staff who have domestic and family violence expertise, if required
• ensure the report is provided in a timeframe that allows all parties the reasonable opportunity to prepare and make submissions about the information. (Refer to the Domestic and Family Violence Act 2012, section 55(5)(a) and (6)
• progress the completed report and information to the CSSC manager for approval. 

Once completed:

• Send the Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 form (both Part A - Request and Part B - Response) to the Registry Manager at the identified court via email, along with, if relevant
  • a copy of the completed Information for domestic violence proceedings - section 55 report
    and
  • any attachments referred to in the report. 
• Record a case note entitled ‘Response to a Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 request’ in 
  • the current open case in Unify
    or
  • a new intake enquiry, if there is no current open case in Unify.
• Save the Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 form, the completed report and the attachments in the documents tab in either the open case or the intake enquiry in Unify.

Information that requires a child to be moved to a safe place

The Child Protection Act 1999, section 21, provides the authority for an authorised officer or police officer to move a child, under the age of 12:

• from a place
• to be cared for until a parent or family member resumes care of the child. 

To exercise this authority:

• move the child
  or
• make arrangements for another reliable person to move the child
  • to a safe place
  • where they can remain until they return to the care of a parent or family member 
• if necessary, obtain help that is reasonable in the circumstances to move the child to a safe place. 

A safe place can be:

• the home of a neighbour who knows the child and parents
• the home of a relative or friend*
• the child’s family day care provider
• a hospital
• an approved care arrangement with a foster carer
• a CSSC
• a police station.

A child must not be moved to a watch-house.

As soon as practicable after a child has been moved to a safe place, the CSO must:

• take steps to advise at least one of the child’s parents or a family member of
  • the child’s whereabouts
  • their name, position and department, showing their identity card as required by the Child Protection Act 1999, section 153
• explain their authority to move the child to a safe place under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 21
• explain why the authority was used
• record the use of the power in a safe place movement record in Unify, including in situations where the power was exercised jointly with the QPS.

If a child for whom there are no child protection concerns is moved to a safe place, record the use of the power in a safe place movement record in Unify. No further action is required. If a parent is unable to be located within a reasonable timeframe, consult the senior team leader, as further action may be required.

If there are child protection concerns received or identified while moving the child to a safe place, record and respond in line with usual intake processes.

Delete an approved notification

It may be appropriate to delete an approved notification, but only if an exact duplicate notification has been recorded in error. 

Do not delete a notification in response to receiving subsequent mitigating information about child protection concerns already recorded and approved.
 

When deciding whether to approve the deletion of an approved notification, the CSSC manager will consider:

• all relevant information, including the child protection history for the child and family
• that the decision must be in line with current policy and procedures
• Child Safety’s responsibility to make, keep and preserve complete and accurate records
• that approved documents contain information and decisions about Child Safety business processes and must be retrievable within a central system
• that electronic records must be reliable, protected and secure from unauthorised access and alteration.

Request approval to delete an approved notification

To request that an approved (duplicate) notification be deleted, the senior team leader responsible for the assessment will:

• Consult a senior practitioner about the decision, the rationale and whether the request is in line with current policy and procedures.
• Send an email seeking written approval for the decision to the CSSC manager responsible for the assessment providing the details and rationale for the request.
• Attach the email to the intake case in Unify.

After a CSSC manager approves that a duplicate notification be deleted:

• The CSSC manager will email approval for the decision and any comments to the senior team leader and CSO—a copy of the email will be attached to the remaining notification in Unify—and, if the subject child is also subject to ongoing intervention, in their ongoing intervention case in Unify.
• The senior team leader will make sure
  • additional text about the deletion process and rationale is recorded in a case note in both assessment cases in Unify
  • all information contained in the duplicate notification is recorded in the intake case to be retained in Unify.
  • any documentation related to the duplicate notification is saved in the remaining Intake case in Unify.
• Following this, the senior team leader will select the deactivate button in the intake workflow in Unify to delete the duplicate notification.

Enquiry about becoming a carer

If a caller seeks information about becoming a foster carer, refer the caller to the Queensland foster carer recruitment line on 1300 550 877. This is a statewide service provided by Queensland Foster and Kinship Care.

Refer enquiries about becoming a kinship carer to the relevant CSSC.

Enquiry about adoption

If information is received or requested about adoption matters, including an adoption care agreement, refer to the Adoption Practice Manual.

If the child is part of an adoptive family, consider contacting Adoption and Permanent Services or Post Adoption Support QLD.