14.2 Child death case review process
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process to be used following the death of a child, known to the department in the three years prior to their death.
Authority
- Child Protection Act 1999, chapter 7A.
The child death case review process
Child death case reviews are conducted to ensure accountability and transparency in departmental decision-making, practice and procedures, and to facilitate practice and systems learning and development.
When a child known to the department dies and this information has been received by the Case Review Unit, they will request the relevant zonal office to provide within one week, one copy in chronological order, of the following information:
- all paper files (including intake records, structured decision making tools, handwritten case notes, case plans and other relevant handwritten material);
- SCAN System minutes and files;
- relevant departmental emails;
- all electronic departmental records of the child's file, printed in landscape;
- carer files if the child was placed with a carer;
- any files held at the zonal office, including executive correspondence;
- archived files; and
- court files.
Please note: depending upon the terms of reference established for a review, sibling files may also be requested.
The Case Review Unit, Complaints, Case Review and Investigation Branch is responsible for conducting and coordinating child death case reviews.
The relevant zonal director is responsible for ensuring that staff involved in a case under review are provided with:
- access to de-briefing opportunities and other available supports following the death of a child;
- information, either individually or collectively, about the purpose and nature of the review process;
- advice regarding preparation for the interview process; and
- advice that they are entitled to have a support person present during interviews.
A staff information paper is available from the Case Review Unit for this purpose.
Case review interview process
All staff identified as an interview participant will receive an email from the Case Review Unit confirming the purpose and process for the review, outlining their rights and obligations and enclosing the terms of reference for the review. Either the independent reviewer or the departmental reviewer will contact interviewees on an individual basis to further explain the review process.
Staff may be interviewed to reflect upon their understanding of, and involvement with, a particular case. In accordance with the Code of Conduct and the Public Service Act 1996, it is a requirement that staff employed by the department at the time of a case review, participate in the review process where directed by an appropriate authorised officer.
During interviews with staff, the reviewers will take notes, or at the interviewee's discretion, the interview will be recorded. The interview will then be summarised and provided to the interviewee for factual checking and clarification of any misinterpretations of what was said. The interviewee will not receive a transcript of the interview, but if the interview was recorded, can request a copy of the recording.
Staff will be advised that, in accordance with the Child Protection Act 1999, section 246d, all identifying case file material and other identifying documentation obtained and used by the review team for the purpose of the review, including the final version of interview notes, will be provided to the external Child Death Case Review Committee.
Departmental and ex-departmental interviewees are entitled to have a support person present during an interview. The confidentiality provisions of the Child Protection Act 1999 require this support person to be a departmental officer, other than an officer involved in the review process. Staff may also choose to have a departmental legal or union representative accompany them during an interview.
Post interview process
If the review team obtains information during the review process that suggests possible official misconduct or behaviour of a criminal nature, the matter will be referred to the Ethical Standards Unit for advice on how to proceed.
The relevant zonal director is responsible for:
- the dissemination of findings from individual child death case reviews;
- ensuring that staff are provided with the opportunity to discuss what is learned from the review; and
- ensuring that de-briefing and follow up support is available for staff, if required.
Given the confidential nature of review reports, these documents are not to be filed on the subject child's file. Zonal directors are responsible for ensuring that child death case review reports are stored in a secure way and with limited access by authorised persons.
Completed child death case review reports, along with all materials obtained and used for the purpose of the review, are to be submitted to the external Child Death Case Review Committee within six months of the chief executive becoming aware of the death of a child.
- Last updated
- 30 June 2007
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