4.13 Visiting a child, parent or carer
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for visiting a child, parent or carer and the roles and responsibilities of the CSO.
Authority
- Child Protection Act 1999, section 5(1) and 51T
Requirements for contact with a child, parent or carer
The CSO will conduct face-to-face visits with the child, the parents and the child's carer (where applicable), as recorded in the case plan. Face-to-face contact is the key to building positive relationships with clients. It is important for the CSO to undertake visits with a clear purpose and an understanding of the outcome required from each visit.
For children living at home, or where reunification is the goal of the case plan, the level of contact between the CSO and the child and the parents is determined by the minimum departmental contact requirements as determined by the relevant structured decision making tools.
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For children in an out-of-home care placement, where the case plan goal is not reunification, the CSO must, as a minimum requirement, visit the child once a month. The CSOs visits to a child must meet the needs of the child, and in some cases more visits may be needed.
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The role of the CSO during face-to-face visits
Before visiting a child, their parents or a carer, the CSO will:
- negotiate an appropriate time and place to visit the child, the parent or the carer;
- assess any personal safety issues and take necessary action to ensure their safety; and;
- for a child in an out-of-home placement, check the community visitor's report relating to the child. This report is available at the CSSC. Any issues raised in the report should be assessed and, where possible, addressed during the visit.
When visiting a child, the CSO will:
- actively listen to, and support the child;
- inform the child about significant events such as court proceedings or changes to contact;
- discuss personal issues of concern to the child;
- determine whether the child is safe and receiving adequate care; and
- discuss with the child the progress of activities that are occurring as part of the case plan.
During each visit with a child, the CSO must arrange to talk with the child alone. The CSO should use this time to build the relationship with the child, and enable the child to discuss any concerns or risks to their safety.
When visiting a parent the CSO will:
- discuss the parent/s achievements toward meeting the case plan goal;
- discuss any significant changes that have occurred in the parent's circumstances, that may impact on the child and the case plan goal;
- determine whether the child's protection and care needs are being met by the parents, if the child is living at home;
- discuss the progress of the contact arrangements between the parents (and other significant people) and the child, to assess whether the arrangement are still appropriate and meeting the child's needs; and
- inform the parents about significant events such as court proceedings or changes to contact.
When visiting the carer of a child in an out-of-home care placement, the CSO will:
- provide support to the carer;
- monitor the activities detailed in the placement agreement;
- identify any issues in the care environment that may impact upon the safety and well-being of the child;
- monitor the carer's responsibility as outlined in the case plan; and
- identify issues that may impact on the progress of the case plan, for example, conflict with the child's parents, transport arrangements or finance.
At the end of each visit, the CSO will organise the next visit.
Following visits with a child, their parents or a carer, the CSO will:
- record relevant information in a case note;
- take the action required to address any issues identified, particularly with regard to the child's safety or case plan issues.
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- Last updated
- 3 November 2008
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