v. Case management
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for managing cases where there is departmental intervention with a child and their family, and outlines the roles and responsibilities of the CSO.
Introduction
Case management refers to the overall responsibilities of the department when intervening in the life of a child and family. Case management is a way of working with children, families and other agencies to ensure that the services provided are coordinated, integrated and targeted to meet the needs and goals of children and their families. Effective case management requires the CSO to work collaboratively with a range with professionals and work from a holistic perspective.
Key objectives of case management
Key objectives of case management in child protection are:
- to investigate and assess allegations of harm or risk of harm, to determine whether a child is in need of protection
- to ensure the ongoing safety of children subject to departmental intervention
- to ensure holistic assessment of children's emotional, physical and developmental well-being in order to ensure their needs are clearly stated as case plan goals and outcomes
- to ensure that integrated and responsive therapeutic services are provided in a timely manner to children and their families
- to ensure that children are provided with appropriate out-of-home care placements and continuity of care
- to manage the cycle of assessment, planning, implementation and review for a child in need of protection
- to ensure a child's safety and that their protection and care needs are met, until the case is closed.
The CSO with case responsibility will:
- provide a planned response to children and families subject to departmental intervention and meet the statutory requirements for the intervention
- communicate effectively with children and their families in situations of high stress and conflict
- engage the recognised entity for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
- co-ordinate activities to complete the investigation and assessment
- negotiate with other agencies to develop a multi-disciplinary response to the needs of children
- participate in family group meetings and ensure the case plan meets the child's protective and care needs
- advocate for the provision of appropriate services to be provided to the child and family
- build collaborative relationships with other service providers and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of services provided by other government departments, non-government agencies and informal community groups
- place a child in an out-of-home care placement, where required
- monitor the standard of care provided to a child in out-of-home care
- ensure that ongoing intervention with the child and family remains focussed on the goal of the case plan or support plan
- provide the child and the family with information about matters affecting them and opportunities to participate in the decision-making that affects their lives
- undertake the ongoing assessment and review of the case plan or support plan
- close an ongoing intervention case, when the child's protection and care needs have been resolved, or ongoing support is no longer required.
Different professional perspectives, agency mandates and priorities can create challenges for the CSO. Case management requires the CSO to recognise these challenges, to work collaboratively with services in the local community and to facilitate effective and consistent service provision to children and families.
The CSO will manage a case in an inclusive and participatory manner to ensure appropriate intervention and services are delivered to the child and family.
Case management - investigation and assessment
The key activities for an investigation and assessment case are:
- planning: completing the investigation and assessment plan and preparation
- information gathering: gathering information and interviewing children, parents and other relevant persons
- assessment: assessing the risk and protective factors for a child, including the completion of the safety assessment and family risk evaluation tools)
- decision-making: determining whether the child is in need of protection and the appropriate ongoing intervention to address the child's protection and care needs.
Case management - ongoing intervention
Support service case
The key activities for a support service case are:
- assessment: assessing the support needs of the child and family, pregnant woman or young person transitioning from care
- planning: developing a support plan
- implementation: implementing the support plan
- review: reviewing the support plan (including completion of the family risk re-evaluation where appropriate).
Intervention with parental agreement and child protection orders
The key activities for an intervention with parental agreement or child protection order case are:
- assessment: assessing the child's
- child and parental strengths and needs assessments
- family risk re-evaluation or family reunification assessments
- safety assessments
- planning: developing a case plan for the child and attending family group meetings
- implementation: implementing actions to meet the case plan goal and outcomes, and completing actions related to the placement of children in out-of-home care
- review: reviewing the case plan, assessing progress towards the case plan goal and outcomes and completing the review report.
The cycle of assessment, planning, implementation and review of a child's safety and protection and care needs continues until a case is closed.
- Last updated
- 30 January 2009
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