4.8 Developing key items in the case plan
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for developing key items in the case plan.
Authority
- Child Protection Act 1999, section 5, 73, 80, 86, 122 and schedule 1
Responsibilities
If the case plan is developed at a family group meeting, the convenor is responsible for recording the case plan, unless the convenor is a private convenor. In circumstances where a private convenor is involved, or where a case plan is developed without a family group meeting being held, the CSO is responsible for completing the case plan document on ICMS.
The team leader is responsible for endorsing the case plan within 7 days of completion.
Completing the case plan
The case plan form may be used by the convenor to guide the discussion and the agreed outcomes at the family group meeting. Each item should be worded to reflect the intent of the meeting, and must be able to be understood by those at the meeting. The following headings reflect the format of the case plan document in ICMS.
Date of case plan
The date of the most recent family group meeting, or where a meeting was not convened, the date the case plan was developed, is to be entered.
Type of ongoing intervention
The type of ongoing intervention by the department will be entered in the case plan, either the child is subject to:
- intervention with parental agreement;
- a child protection order; or
- intervention with parental agreement/child protection order.
Summary of current child protection concerns
The reasons why the department is involved with the child and family, including why the child has been removed from the care of the parent/s, if applicable, should be provided. This is to be provided as a concise summary of key information, and must be indicative of the assessed child and family needs. The reasons provided in this section should be addressed in the outcomes of the plan.
Goals and outcomes
It is crucial that the child, the department and child's family have a clear and shared understanding of the overall goal of the case plan. Depending on the form of intervention being undertaken, one of the following will be the overall goal for the plan:
- child to remain safely in the home: if a child is remaining in the home, the overall case plan goal will be that the child's protection needs are met by the family without ongoing departmental involvement;
- reunification: where a child has been removed from the care of a parent, unless it is not in the child's best interests or not possible, the overall goal for the initial case plan must be to reunify the child on a safe and long-term basis with the child's parent and family (Child Protection Act 1999, section 5);
- long-term out-of-home care: if reunification with a parent is not possible or not in a child's best interests, the case plan will state an alternative long-term goal for the child such as a long-term care arrangement with a member of the child's family group, foster carer or a shared care arrangement for the child involving particular members of the child's family group or cultural community;
- young person lives independently: if reunification with a parent is not possible, or in a child's best interests, the transition of an older child to independent living; or
- other permanency option: the adoption of an infant or young child.
In the 'rationale for the goal' field, the goal should be stated in a way that is particular to the child and family.
Outcome of the child and parental strengths and needs assessments
The child and parental strengths and needs assessment tools must be completed prior to the development of the case plan to inform the goals and outcomes. Once completed, the outcome of the tools will be available in the departmental version of the case plan document in ICMS.
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Addressing needs
A case plan must respond to a child's assessed protection and care needs. If an application is made for a child protection order, the overall goal and actions of the case plan are to be consistent with the type of order being applied for. Where the type of child protection order being sought changes during court proceedings, the case plan would need to be reviewed. The link between the child's needs and the case plan will be an important issue for the Childrens Court. Evidence of the protection and care needs identified through the assessment process will be provided in affidavit and other material lodged with the case plan with the court.
Affidavits and other material that provides evidence of the protection and care needs identified through the assessment process should be filed in court along with the case plan.
The link between needs and outcomes should also be made explicit in the case plan form by the convenor entering the key areas of need to which each outcome relates.
Case plan outcomes
Outcomes state the changes in conditions and behaviours that need to occur in order to achieve the goal. The outcomes must respond to the reasons for the department's involvement and critical areas of assessed need.
One or more outcomes must specifically address each of the child's protection and care needs as identified in the child strengths and needs assessment. Up to three priority needs identified in the parental strengths and needs assessment will also be addressed by one or more outcomes. The needs to which the respective outcomes relate should be selected in the 'needs' section.
The outcomes should be worded to clearly indicate what is to be achieved and how progress will be measured. They should be specific and results oriented, and words such as 'attempt', 'try' and 'work on' are to be avoided. Result oriented wording is integral to ensuring outcomes which are observable and measurable and that all participants are clear and sure about what is expected.
The outcomes are the basis for measuring progress. In the section 'how will we know it is different?' record how information will be gathered to inform the review process, and from whom it will be obtained.
Case plan actions
Case plan actions must be linked to outcomes in a case plan. Key actions are the activities required to achieve the changes in conditions or behaviour that are reflected in the outcomes. They should be stated in terms of:
- what must be done;
- who is responsible; and
- a timeframe for achievement.
It is important that key actions are stated in specific terms in a case plan. For example, the outcome that 'the child is provided safe care by a person other than the parent until the parent resumes care of the child' will require, at minimum, that either an agreement is reached for the child's placement without an order or an application for a child protection order is made to the Childrens Court. In this circumstance, other actions recorded in the case plan must be in keeping with the need to ensure that:
- the child's needs are met in accordance with the statement of standards in the Child Protection Act 1999, section 122;
- for a child in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive, actions comply with the charter of rights for a child in care in the Child Protection Act 1999, schedule 1; and
- reasonable and practicable steps are undertaken by the department to assist the child's family to meet the child's protection needs (Child Protection Act 1999, section 73).
Actions should reflect a process of outlining who will be responsible for them. Participants at the family group meeting (and those not attending) may be stated as responsible for key actions in the plan. Responsibility for key actions should not be given to those who are not at the meeting unless this was tentatively arranged before the meeting. If an action involving a third party is proposed, but was not explored during the preparation for the meeting, the action should be recorded in the plan as a proposal that will be followed up by a particular date, or as subject to the agreement or confirmation of the particular party.
Where it is anticipated that there could be problems with a proposed action for the case plan, it may be necessary to include strategies to address the problems. It is important that the case plan is workable, and flexible enough to accommodate changes in people's circumstances.
Child information
This section must state the placement and living arrangements for the child. Regardless of which party is granted custody of the child, the following should be included in the case plan, unless it poses a safety risk to the child:
- where and with whom the child is living, provided disclosure is consistent with the Child Protection Act 1999, section 80 and 86;
- where the child will attend school and arrangements to progress an education support plan for the child;
- whether the child requires a child health passport, and how the child's medical and therapeutic needs are to be met (when not included as actions in the above part of the plan); and
- the plan for the child to participate in recreational, sporting and cultural events.
Where the child is in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive, a placement agreement must be completed at the time the child is placed in the care of an approved carer (Child Protection Act 1999, section 84). Many of the above matters could be covered in that agreement but where possible, should be stated in the case plan in recognition that the plan is for the child, the child's parents and family group who are likely to have a legitimate and genuine interest in these matters. In this circumstance, the placement agreement will deal with the outstanding matters in the Child Protection Regulation 2000, section 7, and be read alongside the case plan.
Family and community
The case plan must state how the child will maintain his or her connections with:
- parents;
- siblings;
- extended family and community members; and
- people of cultural or ethnic significance.
The contact arrangements must be consistent with any order made by the Childrens Court under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 61(b) or 67(1)(b), limiting the child's contact with the child's family or under section 68(c), relating to how the contact should happen.
Directions about contact made by the Childrens Court on granting an interim order should be included in this section.
The contact arrangements should reflect the case plan goal. The contact arrangements in the case plan, which has the overall goal of reunification, will differ from contact arrangements in a case plan which has a long-term goal of out-of-home care.
The contact arrangements in the plan must allow for contact to be regularly monitored and reviewed in line with the case plan goal and outcomes and the child's safety and best interests. The arrangements should indicate the type, regularity and location of contact, and whether contact will be supervised or unsupervised. The agreed arrangements are to be recorded under the headings outlined below.
- Type of contact: the case plan should state the type of contact that is to occur. Contact may entail visits, phone calls, e-mails, mail and activities such as attending school events, parent/teacher nights and sporting activities.
- Regularity of contact: the regularity of the contact must be indicated in the plan and stated as subject to ongoing monitoring and review and progress towards the case plan goal. Where it is intended that it will be increased, this should be stated in the plan and subject to the child's safety and review of progress.
- Location of contact: contact visits must occur in a location that is safe and culturally appropriate for the child and family. It is optimal for contact visits to occur at natural settings which provide an opportunity for comfortable parent-child and family interaction. Provided it is in the child's best interests and consistent with a child's need for safety, visits can occur at different places, such as the child's home, a family member's home, a park or contact centre. A CSSC should only be stated as a location for contact visits where there is a legitimate reason, such as, where it is necessary to ensure the child's safety.
- Whether the contact will be supervised or unsupervised: supervision must be provided for contact visits when a level of control or direction (towards parents or other people participating in contact with the child) is necessary during contact arrangements. The case plan must provide for departmental supervision in the following circumstances:
- where there are legitimate concerns about a child's emotional or physical safety;
- where there are legitimate concerns that the child may be abducted;
- the child or family requests that a CSO is present;
- there is a need to assess interactions between the child and the family to check the progress of case plan goal and outcomes and assist with court processes;
- where the CSO is working in a therapeutic capacity with the child and family in accordance with the case plan; and
- where a qualified professional working with the child and the child's family recommends supervision based on legitimate concerns.
Contact for a child under a care agreement
When a child is subject to an assessment care agreement, it is generally not appropriate to supervise the child's contact with the parents, given the voluntary nature of the agreement. There may be occasions where it is assessed that the risk to the child during contact may be high, however, the parents have agreed to both the voluntary placement and to supervised contact, and therefore the use of an assessment order is not appropriate. In these cases, the contact will be supervised, and this contact may also constitute part of the assessment of the parent/s ability to meet the child's protection and care needs.
Recognised entity participation
When developing a case plan for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, the recognised entity must be given an opportunity to participate in the case planning process, and will provide cultural and child protection advice.
Cultural support plan
The case plan for a child must include actions and arrangements that maintain and support the child's cultural identity consistent with the statement of standards, the charter of rights and the principles of the Child Protection Act 1999. This applies to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child or a child from another cultural community.
The CSO must ensure the child's cultural identity and relationships are maintained and provide opportunity for contact, as often as is appropriate in the circumstances, between the child and appropriate members of the child's community or language group (Child Protection Act 1999, section 86). This is particularly important when the child is placed with a non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person or with another Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander not from their clan/tribe or language group (Child Protection Act 1999, section 83).
Strategies for maintaining and supporting the child's cultural identity and relationships will be discussed with the child's family at the family group meeting and incorporated into the child's case plan.
The case plan for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child must include:
- the name of the clan/language group/ethnic or cultural group/Island or community group the child belongs;
- arrangements for contact between the child and the child's parents, guardians or carers;
- arrangements for contact between the child and other family members and significant persons;
- activities and arrangements for maintaining and supporting the child's cultural identity;
- the support required by the carers to maintain and support these arrangements and activities; and
- the names of family members or significant persons to maintain and support the child's cultural identity and their contact details.
Plan for alternative long-term arrangements (if timely reunification is not achieved)
The case plan must include a plan to progress alternative long-term arrangements for the child if:
- a child is subject to a custody or short-term guardianship order;
- the case plan goal is to reunify the child with the parent/s; and
- it has been assessed in the course of working with the child and family (for example, in the case plan review) that there is a likelihood that a child will not be able to be reunified with the parent/s within a timeframe appropriate to the child's age and circumstances.
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Review date
The date for reviewing the case plan must be established, having regard to:
- the child's age and circumstances (for example, a plan for a younger child must be reviewed more frequently than one for an older child);
- the nature of the arrangements in place under the plan;
- the degree of risk and any anticipated problems with the plan;
- the duration of the order (so that the shorter the order, the more frequent the case plan review) if a child protection order is in place; and
- the minimum legislative and departmental requirements, as set out below.
Frequency of reviews
Case plans are to be regularly reviewed. When deciding when, or how often to review the case plan, the following factors are to be taken into account:
- the child's age and developmental needs;
- the provisions of the case plan;
- any change that has a significant impact on the direction of the case plan.
As a minimum the case plan must be reviewed every six months.
A case must not be closed without a case review having been undertaken. This may include identifying community supports or services that will continue to work with the family and support the transition from involvement with the department.
Resources required for the case plan
The financial table attached to the case plan document is for internal use only and should be completed with each case plan and progressed to the appropriate financial delegate for approval as needed. The case plan is not to be 'endorsed' by a team leader until financial approval has been given by the financial delegate (CSSC manager).
- Last updated
- 28 April 2008
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