viii. Referral for Active Intervention services
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process to refer families to Referral for Active Intervention (RAI) services.
Introduction
RAI services target children, aged 0-10 years and their families, with the aim of preventing the need for a statutory child protection service to these child/ren and their families.
RAI services are prevention and early intervention services that provide intensive family support services to children and their families for up to six months. In addition to this RAI services are able to use funds to purchase additional services to assist families. Where referrals are made to other organisations, RAI services will maintain case management of clients until the case management plan has been finalised.
RAI services
The objectives of RAI services are to:
- improve outcomes for vulnerable children and their families by supporting the development of a comprehensive prevention and early intervention service system;
- reduce the number of re-notifications and minimise progression through the statutory child protection system;
- reduce the number of statutory child protection investigations and assessments in Queensland and thereby increase the capacity of the Department of Child Safety to respond immediately to those children identified at highest risk; and
- assist in reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the statutory child protection system.
Referral pathways
Families can be referred to RAI services through three referral pathways. The priority for take-up of referrals by the RAI services is:
- First priority: Referrals from the department.
- Second priority: Facilitated referrals.
- Third priority: Direct referrals.
Referrals from the department and Facilitated Referrals should constitute at least 70% of referral take-up by the RAI services, with up to 30% of referral take-up constituted by Direct Referrals from the Department of Education, Training and the Arts and Queensland Health.
The referral pathways are:
(a) Departmental referrals to the RAI service. Departmental officers are able to refer current cases that involve any of the following:
- families where a child concern report is recorded, which includes contact with the family and it is assessed that the family would benefit from assistance provided by the RAI service.
- completed investigation and assessments where the case is assessed as either 'unsubstantiated - child not in need of protection' or 'substantiated – child not in need of protection' and the family would benefit from assistance provided by the RAI service.
- cases where the department has been working with a family subject to intervention with parental agreement and the department decides to close the case as the child or children are no longer in need of protection, but that the family would benefit from assistance provided by the RAI service. The CSO will refer the family to the RAI service and keep the case open until the family is engaged by the RAI service.
(b) Facilitated referrals to the RAI service. Guidance Officers in the Department of Education, Training and the Arts and Child Health Nurses in Queensland Health are able to refer cases where there is uncertainty about whether a family should be referred to the department for an investigation and assessment, or referred directly to a RAI service. In this circumstance they would contact the departmental intake worker and discuss the family circumstances. The information provided by the Guidance Officer or Child Health Nurse would be screened, and if the matter is assessed as requiring and investigation and assessment, the department will follow up with the child and family. If it is assessed that departmental intervention is not required, the Guidance Officer or Child Health Nurse is advised to refer the family to the RAI service.
(c) Direct referrals to the RAI service.Guidance Officers and Child Health Nurses are able to refer cases directly to the RAI service. The Guidance Officer or Child Health Nurse needs to determine that the family has multiple complex problems that can impact on the well-being of a child and the family would benefit from assistance provided by the RAI service. The allocation of direct referrals to RAI services will be done through a vacancy management approach led by the Department of Communities.
RAI referral criteria from the Department of Child Safety
A RAI referral requires the first four criteria to be met, and one or more of criteria 5-8:
- the child is unborn or up to 10 years old; and
- the child is not currently in need of protection; and
- the child and family are located in the RAI service area; and
- the family agree to the referral; and
- when a child concern report is recorded, which includes contact with the family (for example, self referral by family), and it is assessed that the family would benefit from assistance provided by the RAI service; or
- when there is an investigation and assessment with either a 'substantiated – child not in need of protection' or 'unsubstantiated - child not in need of protection' outcome; or
- where an intervention with parental agreement case is to be closed; or
- the family has contacted the department seeking a RAI referral.
A referral cannot be made where the:
- child is in need of protection; or
- amily are not in agreement to the referral.
Making a referral to RAI
(a) Department of Child Safety Referrals – when there is a child concern report recorded, which includes contact with the family, and it is assessed that the family would benefit from assistance provided by the RAI service, the CSO will:
- discuss the referral with the family and seek their agreement to attend the RAI service; and
- complete the 'RAI Referral Form', contact the RAI service provider to discuss the referral and send the referral form to the RAI service.
(b) Department of Child Safety Referrals – where an investigation and assessment has either a 'substantiated – child not in need of protection' or 'unsubstantiated - child not in need of protection' outcome, the CSO will:
- discuss the referral with the family and seek their agreement to attend the RAI service;
- discuss the referral with their Team Leader;
- complete the 'RAI Referral Form', contact the RAI service provider to discuss the referral and send the referral form to the RAI service.
(c) Department of Child Safety Referrals – where the department has been working with a family as part of an intervention with parental agreement case, and it has been assessed that the child or children are no longer in need of protection, the CSO will:
- discuss the referral with the Team Leader;
- discuss the referral with the family and seek their agreement to attend the RAI service;
- Complete the 'RAI Referral Form', contact the RAI service provider to discuss the referral and send the referral form to the RAI service; and
- Keep the case open until the family has engaged with the RAI service and the RAI service has confirmed engagement.
RAI referral criteria for the Department of Education, Training and the Arts and Queensland Health
The referral criteria for use by Guidance Officers and Child Health Nurses are:
- the child is unborn for up to 10 years of age;
- the child's family has multiple problems impacting on the family functioning and well-being of the child, with a possible future risk to the child if the circumstances escalate;
- the Guidance Officer or Child Health Nurse believe the family requires intensive assistance provided by the RAI service;
- the family agree to attend the RAI service; and
- the family is located in the RAI service area.
The Guidance Officer or Child Health Nurse will use either a facilitated referral or direct referral process outlined above to refer a family to RAI. The Guidance Officer and Child Health Nurse will use the RAI Referral Form to make the referral to the RAI service.
RAI services are available at 10 locations. The table below describes the location and corresponding funded service providers.
| Service Location | CSSC office | Funded Service Provider |
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For more details of RAI service catchment areas, refer to the Prevention and Early Intervention - Referral for Active Intervention information on the 'Department of Communities website'.
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- Last updated
- 5 June 2008
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