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• Introduction
  • Acknowledgments
  • The Department of Child Safety
  • Relevant legislation
  • Other key departmental documents
  • Accountability for children in Queensland
  • Framework for the participation of children and young people in decision-making
  • Respecting diversity
  • Recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entities
  • Delegations
  • Child safety service centres: Staff roles and responsibilities
  • How to use the Child Safety Practice Manual
  • Practice maps
• Chapters
  • 1. Intake
  • 2. Investigation and assessment
  • 3. Use of powers and assessment orders
  • 4. Ongoing intervention
  • 5. Intervention with parental consent
  • 6. Intervention with a child protection order
  • 7. Children in out-of-home care
  • 8. Regulation of care
  • 9. Matters of concern
  • 10. Unborn children
  • 11. Transfers
  • 12. Professional supervision
  • 13. Critical incident reporting
  • 14. Child deaths
  • 15. Family Court of Australia
  • 16. Youth justice and child protection interface
  • 17. Interstate matters
  • General procedures
• Practice papers
• Resources
• Quicklinks
  • Acronyms
  • Glossary of terms
  • Previous versions
  • Printable version
  • Updates

2. Investigation and assessment

• Key steps
  • 1. Plan the I&A
  • 2. Engage the family and gather information
  • 3. Assess the notified concerns and the child's need for protection
  • 4. Finalise the I&A
• What ifs
• Resources

2. Investigation and assessment

Purpose

The investigation and assessment may be our first face to face contact with a child who has been abused or neglected and who may need our intervention to ensure their safety and well-being.

As part of the investigation and assessment the department will:

• determine if the child is safe
• investigate allegations of harm and risk of harm
• undertake a holistic assessment of the child and family within their usual home environment
• determine if the child is in need of protection
• decide whether there are supports that the department or other agencies can provide to the child and family

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Key steps

1. Plan the investigation and assessment
2. Engage the family and gather information
3. Assess the notified concerns and the child's need for protection
4. Finalise the investigation and assessment

What ifs - responding to specific investigation and assessment matters

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Standards

1. All investigation and assessments commenced within the response timeframe of the notification.
2. Staff safety is prioritised in the planning and conducting the investigation and assessment.
3. The recognised entity is consulted for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
4. All subject children sighted and, where age and developmentally appropriate, are interviewed during the investigation and assessment.
5. All alleged persons responsible are interviewed during the investigation and assessment.
6. The safety of all subject children within their usual home environment is assessed.
7. An holistic assessment of the child's need for protection is conducted.
8. All outcomes recorded clearly identify any future risk, including severity, and a rationale for the assessment of the parents ability and willingness to protect the child.
9. At least one parents is informed of the allegations and outcome of the investigation and assessment.

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Practice skills (key areas for reflection from the practice framework)

• Have I given appropriate consideration to any history of departmental contact with the child and family?
• Have I considered and integrated all of the information gathered when making decisions?
• What theories and research am I drawing on as part of my assessment?
• Have I actively engaged with the child and family in a way that allows their meaningful participation in the process?
• How have my personal values and practice style impacted on my assessment and decision-making?
• Was my use of power in conducting the investigation and assessment appropriate?
• Is my assessment holistic and focused on the child's safety and well-being?
• Have I considered how the child or families strengths can be utilised to promote the protection of the child?
• Have I considered what supports can be provided to this child and family?

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Authority

• Child Protection Act 1999, sections 6, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16-20, 21A, 23-51, 97,153, 154,159C, 159I-L, 159M, 159N, 186-188, 195, 248B
• Policy no. 111-1: Operation of the case management protocol between commonwealth agencies and state/territory welfare authorities for unsupported young people and the provision of youth support payment
• Policy no. 372-2: Recordkeeping

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© The State of Queensland (Department of Child Safety) 2008.

Queensland Government