4.12 Minimum departmental contact requirements between the CSO and the family
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for determining the required frequency of contact that a CSO will have with a child and family, where the child is subject to ongoing intervention.
Introduction
The minimum departmental contact requirements specify the minimum number of contacts that a CSO is to have with the child, their parents and other people who can contribute to case work with a child, each month during ongoing intervention with a family. The contact requirements ensure that intervention resources are targeted primarily to the highest risk families.
The connection between risk levels and CSO contact requirements
The minimum departmental contact requirement is initially determined by the outcome, or risk level, identified in the family risk evaluation, completed as part of an investigation and assessment. The minimum departmental contact requirements may change following the review of a case plan, based on the outcome of:
- the family risk re-evaluation; or
- the family reunification assessment;
Where the risk level changes the required level of contact will change accordingly.
|
|---|
Minimum departmental contact requirements for in-home intervention
| Risk | Parent and child contacts | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Low |
|
|
| Moderate |
|
|
| High |
|
|
| Very High |
|
|
Table 1, outlines the minimum departmental contact requirements that apply to children living in their home who are subject to ongoing intervention. This includes children subject to intervention with parental agreement, directive orders and children under protective orders but placed at home.
Minimum departmental contact requirements for family reunification cases
Table 2 outlines the minimum departmental contact requirements that apply to any ongoing intervention cases in which at least one child is in an out-of-home care placement with the goal of reunification. If the child is reunified, the contact requirements for in home cases will apply based on the most recent risk level, until the case is closed. If a long-term order is granted, these contact requirements no longer apply. These requirements do not apply to children in an out-of-home care placement subject to a care agreement.
| Risk level | Parent and child contacts |
|---|---|
| Low |
|
| Moderate |
|
| High |
|
| Very High |
|
Discretionary overrides for contact
In each case, the CSO will use professional judgment to determine whether more contact is needed with a child and family. A discretionary override can be used in unique case circumstances. Such decisions will be documented by the CSO and approved by the team leader.
Face-to-face contact by CSO
The definition and purpose of a face-to-face contact by the CSO includes:
- face-to-face contact with children and parents that is meaningful, purposeful and goal-directed;
- contact with parents that focuses on the assessment of strengths, needs and case plan progress; and
- contact with children that is child-focused and assesses each child's strengths, needs, views, well-being and any change to the child's safety.
Contact by a CSSO may supplement the required contacts, provided that the nature of the contact meets the above definition for face-to-face contacts.
Support contacts
Support contacts are personal or telephone contact with a person who has information about the child and/or the parents in circumstances where that person has a relevant contribution to the case plan, for example, educational personnel and staff of health services, counselling services, the Juvenile Aid Bureau or Youth Justice Services.
Contracted contacts
The CSO will always maintain at least one face-to-face contact per month with the parents. Contact by a contracted service provider may supplement the required contacts with parents, in circumstances where that service provider has a relevant contribution to the case plan, for example, staff of a recognised entity or a counselling service.
Additional considerations for departmental contact requirements are outlined in the 'SDM™ tools and definitions - minimum departmental contact requirements'.
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
- Last updated
- 3 November 2008
Other languages