4.16 Completing the family risk re-evaluation tool
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for completion of the family risk re-evaluation as part of the review of the case plan for a child when all children in the household subject to ongoing intervention are living in the home.
Responsibilities
- CSOs are responsible for completing and recording the family risk re-evaluation.
- Team leaders are responsible for approval of the family risk re-evaluation tool in ICMS.
The purpose of the family risk re-evaluation for in home cases
The purpose of the family risk re-evaluation tool is to guide the decision about:
- whether to continue ongoing intervention for a child, or close a case; and
- whether a higher or lower level of contact by the CSO with the child and family is required.
The family risk re-evaluation tool assesses the risk level in a household by considering the progress under the case plan and any changes in the family's environment and behaviour during the implementation of the case plan. The outcome is compared to the outcome of previous risk evaluations to identify changes to the risk level in the household.
When to complete a family risk re-evaluation
The family risk re-evaluation will be completed prior to each review of either the support plan or case plan for a child, where there are children living at home and subject to:
- a support service case, where a child is not in need of protection, but there was a high or very high risk outcome on the family risk evaluation tool;
- intervention with parental agreement;
- a directive supervision order; or
- a custody or guardianship orders where the child has been returned to the home.
The family risk re-evaluation tool is not completed for:
- support service cases with a pregnant woman or a young person transitioning from care; or
- cases where the family reunification assessment tool is to be completed because one or more of the children are living in out-of-home care and other household children are living at home, but subject to intervention with parental agreement. In this circumstance a family reunification assessment is completed for all the children in the household.
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Structure of the family risk re-evaluation
The family risk re-evaluation tool is made up of nine items or questions that must be answered. The first four items duplicate questions in the family risk evaluation tool, and are strong indicators of subsequent abuse or neglect of a child. The remaining five items relate to events that may or may not have occurred since the last risk evaluation or re-evaluation was completed, such as:
- new incidents of abuse or neglect;
- changes in previously identified problems, for example, drug abuse, domestic violence or not meeting the basic care needs of the child; and
- progress made toward meeting the goal and outcomes of the case plan.
The tool also has an override section where either a policy or discretionary override can be used to increase or decrease the scored risk level, if required, and record the subsequent 'final risk level'.
Practice considerations and appropriate completion
The following practice considerations must be considered as part of completing each family risk re-evaluation:
1. General completion information
- Only one family risk re-evaluation tool is completed for each family or household and all items must be answered.
- The 'primary parent' referred to in the tool is the person in the family who has most responsibility for the care of the child. When the care is equally shared between two parents, the CSO will select the person who is the legal guardian of the child, or the parent who was responsible for causing harm or likely harm to the child.
- The family risk re-evaluation tool is generally completed in conjunction with the child and parental strengths and needs reassessments, except for a support service case, when it will be the only structured decision making tool completed;
- The family risk re-evaluation tool is completed prior to the child and parental strengths and needs assessments and, if the decision is made to close a case, updated strengths and needs assessments are not required.
- The CSO can measure changes in household risk by comparing the current risk level with the outcome of the preceding family risk evaluation or family risk re-evaluation. Where the risk level has increased, the CSO will review the appropriateness of the current intervention and consider the following:
- whether a safety assessment is required;
- what factors are preventing the effective implementation of the case plan;
- whether the service provider/s are culturally appropriate;
- whether intervention with parental agreement is still the most appropriate type of intervention;
- whether other services are required;
- whether the family is committed to implementing the case plan; and
- whether a family group meeting is needed to review the case plan.
- The level of contact by the CSO will increase in response to any increased level of risk assessed by the tool.
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2. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
The recognised entity must be given the opportunity to participate in the decision-making for the case plan review process and are to be consulted in relation to the completion of the family risk re-evaluation for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.
It is particularly important that the CSO is aware of the cultural considerations that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Completing the family risk re-evaluation tool
To complete the family risk re-evaluation, the following steps must be completed:
- Select the correct answer for each of the nine risk items to determine the 'scored risk level'.
- In any of the following situations, select a policy override, which changes the risk level to 'very high' regardless of the score and compels the department to continue ongoing intervention:
- sexual abuse is substantiated and the person responsible for this abuse is likely to have access to the child;
- non-accidental injury to a child under age three years;
- a parent has caused severe non-accidental injury to a child (either in the past or currently); and
- a parent has caused the death of a child due to abuse or neglect (either in the past or currently);
- Consider whether a discretionary override is applicable, to increase or decrease the risk level by one level.
- Seek team leader approval for use of a discretionary override, if considered applicable.
- Record the rationale for use of the discretionary override, if used.
- Record the 'final risk level'.
- Record the 'ongoing intervention decision, either 'case remains open' or 'case closed'.
- Submit the completed family risk re-evaluation tool to the team leader for approval.
Family risk re-evaluation recommendation
The final risk level of the family risk re-evaluation tool will inform the decision about whether to close a case or continue ongoing intervention, as set out below.
| Risk classification | Open/close recommendation |
|---|---|
| Very High | Continue case |
| High | Continue case |
| Moderate | Close case unless there are unresolved immediate harm indicators |
| Low | Close case unless there are unresolved immediate harm indicators |
Ending ongoing intervention
Ending ongoing intervention with the family is part of the case planning process and will only occur following a case plan review, when the goal and outcomes of the case plan have been achieved. To decide to end ongoing intervention the CSO will also take into account:
- the outcome of a safety assessment;
- whether a low level of risk to the child can be safely managed by the family with no support; and
- whether the family has acquired the skills necessary to manage or reduce the risk.
Where a decision is made to close a case and end ongoing intervention, when the case plan outcomes have not been achieved or the family refuses to participate in the ongoing intervention, a safety assessment must be completed. The case cannot be closed if there are unresolved 'immediate harm indicators' present in the home.
The rationale for case closure must be clearly recorded and approved by a team leader.
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Detailed definitions are provided for the risk items in the family risk re-evaluation tool, as outlined in the ' SDM™ tools and definitions - family risk re-evaluation'.
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- Last updated
- 30 June 2007
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