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Support a child at home

Use this procedure when opening a support service case or undertaking intervention with parental agreement. The procedure explains how to work with a pregnant woman to reduce the likelihood of harm to their unborn child after birth, to support a young person aged 18 or over, who has been in care and requires ongoing support with their transition to adulthood and a child, their family and members of their community to reduce the likelihood of future harm to the child.

Use this procedure to:

  • support a pregnant woman or a young person who has been in care after they turn 18 by way of a support service case
    or
  • ensure the safety, belonging and wellbeing of a child in need of protection by way of intervention with parental agreement.

This procedure explains how to:

  • open, implement, review and close a support service case and an intervention with parental agreement case
  • place a child using a child protection care agreement 
  • respond to circumstances that may arise during the course of a support service or intervention with parental agreement case.

Support service case

Child Safety has a statutory responsibility under the Child Protection Act 1999  to respond to the needs of:

  • a pregnant woman—to reduce the likelihood of future harm to an unborn child after birth
  • a young person aged 18 or over who requires ongoing support with their transition to adulthood.

This will be delivered via a support service case, and can only occur with the consent of the pregnant woman or the young person.

Intervention with parental agreement

In accordance with the Child Protection Act 1999, section 51ZB, Child Safety must give proper consideration to intervening with parents’ agreement, to ensure the safety, belonging and wellbeing of a child in need of protection, if the child’s parents are able and willing to work with Child Safety.

An intervention with parental agreement case is opened with parental agreement, but only when a child protection order is not required. The purpose of intervention with parental agreement is to reduce the level of risk in the home, increase safety for the child and to build the capacity of the family so that, following the intervention, they are able to meet the child’s protection and care needs. It is generally short term and intensive, and the child usually remains at home for all, or most of, the intervention period.

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