5.1 Support service cases
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for undertaking a support service case with a child and family, pregnant woman or young person.
Authority
- Child Protection Act 1999, section 5, 6, 7, 14, 21A
A support service case
A support service case involves providing, or helping provide, preventative and support services to strengthen and support families. The purpose is to reduce the likelihood of future harm to a child or an unborn child, or to provide ongoing support to a young person transitioning from care.
A support service case is one type of ongoing intervention. It will be of a short-term and supportive nature, and the child or young person will remain at home or in their usual place of residence for the intervention period. Where possible the use of other government agencies and funded services should be used to provide support to the child and their family, the pregnant women or a young person transitioning from care.
Ongoing intervention with a support service case will not involve the provision of an out-of-home care placement.
When it is appropriate to use a support service case
A support service case can only be opened when:
- a notification has been investigated and assessed and it is determined that a child is not in need of protection, however, the outcome of the risk evaluation tool is 'high' or 'very high';
- a notification has been investigated and assessed and it is determined that an unborn child is likely to be in need of protection after birth; or
- a young person transitioning from care requires ongoing support and assistance following their eighteenth birthday;
In any of these three circumstances:
- the child's parent/s, pregnant woman or young person must consent to work with the department; and
- the child's parent/s, pregnant woman or young person must agree to participate in the development and implementation of a 'support plan'
.
When a family or young person does not consent to participate in a support service case,
no further departmental action can be taken. In cases involving a child, where the outcome of the family risk evaluation tool is 'high' or 'very high', and no consent is given to a support service case, consideration should be given to whether a support service case is the appropriate departmental response to the child and family.
When a pregnant woman does not consent to participate in a support service case prior to the birth of her child, no further departmental intervention can occur until the child is born.
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Financial support
A child or young person subject to a support service case may be eligible for specified financial support through child related costs, to meet requirements of the 'support plan' or transition from care support plan. Such costs will be negotiated with the CSSC manager prior to the development and finalisation of the appropriate support plan, in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
Planning requirements for a support service case
The department's responsibility to a child or young person subject to a support service case differs from that of a child in need of protection, who is subject to either intervention with parental agreement or a child protection order.
The requirements for a support service cases differ from the case planning and review requirements that are required for a child in need of protection, and the CSO is not required to undertake child and parental strengths and needs assessments, or convene a family group meeting to develop a case plan.
The CSO is required to develop a support plan for intervention (using the 'support plan' template), in conjunction with the child and their family, young person or pregnant woman. The support plan outlines the goals for intervention, outcomes and actions required. It is the responsibility of the CSO to ensure that the goals, outcomes and actions required are recorded in the 'support plan' and are able to be understood by all parties involved. This includes the timeframes for completion of tasks outlined in the plan. A 'support plan' must be reviewed, at a minimum, every six months.
Planning with a family to reduce the likelihood of future harm to a child
A support plan will be developed with the family to determine the services required to strengthen and support the family to reduce the likelihood of future harm to the child. Planning will include agencies that will provide services to the family during the intervention period.
In some circumstances it will be appropriate for an agency to have case co-ordination responsibility during the intervention period. This will be negotiated with the agency during the development of the support plan.
Planning with a pregnant woman where there is risk to an unborn child
For planning with a pregnant woman where there is risk to an unborn child, refer to Chapter 10: Unborn children.
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Planning with a young person transitioning from care
Assistance to a young person does not automatically cease when they leave care or reach their eighteenth birthday. Young people who are transitioning from care will be subject to a case plan that has been developed in accordance with the department's case planning and review requirements, up until their eighteenth birthday. In some situations, departmental intervention will need to continue past the young person's eighteenth birthday, and where this occurs, a support plan will be developed for the young person to replace the existing case plan. In this situation the support plan will be developed in consultation with the young person and will not require a family group meeting.
Where appropriate, planning will include the young person's family or support people as agreed to by the young person.
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Review and closure
Support service to a family to reduce the likelihood of future harm to a child
The initial review of a support service case with a family will occur at a minimum, within six months. In order to review the case the CSO will:
- complete the family risk re-evaluation tool. If the outcome is 'low' or 'moderate', no further ongoing intervention is required. If the outcome is 'high' or 'very high', consent will need to be obtained from the family to continue intervention with the 'support plan'; and
- consult with other agencies that have provided services. If this support is to continue, the department may cease intervention.
If the family consents to continuing the ongoing intervention, the support plan is to be reviewed at a minimum, every six months. If the family does not consent to continuing the ongoing intervention, the department will cease intervention, following the completion of a safety assessment. If the safety assessment identifies any immediate harm indicators, the CSO will consult with the team leader about the appropriate response/intervention required.
A support service case should not exceed twelve months, however, it cannot be closed until the risk level is reduced to 'low' or 'moderate'. If at 12 months, the family risk re-evaluation tool indicates that the risk remains 'very high' or high', consideration must be given to whether a support service case is still the appropriate departmental response to the child and family.
Intervention that exceeds 12 months requires approval by the CSSC manager.
Support service to a pregnant woman where there is risk to an unborn child after birth
A support service case will occur when intervention is considered necessary to reduce the likelihood of harm to a child when he or she is born. This intervention can only occur with the consent of the pregnant woman and will continue until the birth of the child.
A support plan will be developed with the pregnant woman at the commencement of the case. Support plan reviews are to occur as required, and, as a minimum a review is to occur close to the expected due date of the birth. This review will include consideration of what, if any, further intervention is required following the birth of the child.
The SDM tools are not used for the review of support service cases with a pregnant woman.
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Support service to a young person transitioning from care
Intervention with a young person transitioning from care may occur for a significant period of time, depending on the developmental level and support needs of the young person. Support is to continue in line with the 'support plan', until the identified goals have been achieved. The review of a support service case with a young
person will occur, at a minimum, at six monthly intervals.
Intervention that exceeds 12 months requires approval by the CSSC manager. The approval must be recorded in a case note.
Recording
A 'support plan' developed for a support service case will be recorded in a case note using the 'support plan' template.
During a support service case, the CSO is required to record:
- case management screens for the child;
- the support plan (in the support plan template to be recorded in a case note);
- case notes about all contact with the child and family, pregnant woman or young person;
- case notes outlining contact with, and assessments by, other services;
- the family risk re-evaluation tool (excluding cases with a pregnant woman or young person transitioning from care);
- a safety assessment, prior to closure of the case; and
- the outcome of reviews and the rationale for closure.
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- Last updated
- 21 April 2009
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