vii. Making a referral to Evolve
Section contents
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for making a referral to Evolve for a child subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive.
Authority
- Child Protection Act 1999, Chapter 1, Part 3 12 (2), 13, Schedule 1 (Charter of Rights for a Child in Care) (h).
Introduction
Evolve services aim to reduce a child's problem behaviour and assist in the development of more appropriate skills and behaviours, by using a child focused approach, with involvement of the key people in the life of the child.
Evolve is a collaborative partnership between Queensland Health, Disability Services Queensland, the Department of Education, Training and the Arts and the Department of Child Safety (the department). Evolve provides therapeutic and behaviour support services for children in out-of home care who have:
- significant behavioural and psychological issues; and/or
- disability behaviour support needs.
To have access to the Evolve support services, a child must be subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive.
Evolve comprises teams of both mental health professionals from Queensland Health (Child Safety Therapeutic Support Teams (CSTST)) and psychologists and speech and language therapists from Disability Services Queensland (Child Safety Behaviour Support Teams (CSBST)) who work in collaboration with school guidance officers and the CSO with case responsibility.
Evolve services
Research indicates that children subject to statutory interventions are more likely to suffer from varying degrees of emotional and behavioural problems than other children. Factors that can predict the ability of children to develop are:
- competent parenting;
- a warm relationship with a carer;
- a better network of informal relationships; and
- a better educational experience.
Children who demonstrate stress and trauma in their life through challenging behavioural and/or high emotional needs are at risk of, or have already experienced, increased placement breakdown, disruptions in schooling and lack of continuity in their relationships with peers, carer/s and other significant people in their lives. A referral to Evolve is aimed at assisting a child reduce the intensity and frequency of their problem behaviour in order to:
- improve their functioning and opportunities to achieve placement stability; and
- be involved in schooling and activities designed to facilitate their well-being.
A referral of a child may also be an early intervention and prevention action to address stress and trauma issues before they escalate to be significant behavioural issues.
As part of the Evolve service, each child will receive an initial comprehensive assessment of bio/psychosocial/cultural factors and/or a functional assessment (for children with a disability). A therapeutic and/or a behaviour support plan is agreed, implemented and monitored by clinicians of the CSTST and CSBST teams, as well as by the key people in the life of the child, such as carers, family and school officers.
The interventions may be crisis or short term intervention and/or medium to long term therapy.
Evolve services are currently located in:
- Townsville (Charters Towers, Bowen);
- Gold Coast (Gympie, Cherbourg);
- Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore);
- Logan (Beenleigh, Beaudesert);
- Brisbane North (Redcliffe, Caboolture);
- Rockhampton; and
- Cairns.
Criteria for making a referral to Evolve
Information from the completion of the child strengths and needs assessment, and other case planning activities will assist in the determination of whether specialist therapeutic and behaviour support services will be sought for the child.
The criteria for an intensive mental health therapeutic intervention are defined by:
- the child is subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive and placed in out-of-home care
- the presence of multiple, intense and persistent emotional and/or behavioural problems;
- a high level of risk factors requiring a therapeutic support response;
- severe functional impairment across a variety of domains; and
- cases where it has been determined, as part of a planned case decision, that a child would benefit from the Evolve service.
The criteria for an intensive disabilities intervention are defined by the Disability Services Act 2006.
The collaboration between Queensland Health, Disability Services Queensland and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts in Evolve, ensures that children with a range of issues can be referred.
Informed consent should be sought for referrals to Evolve services. This requires the decision maker (the child if 'Gillick competent' or the child's guardian) to have information about the assessment and Evolve care plan and to have the opportunity to discuss concerns with Evolve clinicians before signing the consent form.
The CSO with case responsibility will engage with other professionals and agencies to access the best services for the child. While the support and professional advice and focus of other agencies may present different perspectives in determining the best for the child, it is important to ensure that these perspectives are considered with a view to the best outcome for the child within available resources. Often other professionals can access resources or services within their system, in collaboration with the CSO with case responsibility.
Prioritising service demand
Evolve CSBST teams have undertaken a demand mapping activity, identifying and collecting data on all children with a disability in out-of-home care in each CSSC with a local Evolve service. This information will assist the CSSC manager in prioritising referrals to the local Evolve service. Disability Services Queensland will be update this data on a quarterly basis.
Evolve panels
Evolve panels are responsible for:
- determining whether a child is eligible for Evolve services, including:
- receiving information provided by the referral form;
- receiving case presentation by the CSO and team leader when required;
- examining information available from other service providers; and
- using of screening tools as to inform panel decisions;
- considering the severity and complexity of the presenting problem, the goals and potential outcomes of provision of Evolve services; and
- providing consideration of preliminary goals for Evolve services and decisions regarding what agencies are best placed to meet these goals;
- focusing on coordination of interagency service responses, information sharing and strategies to support effective service delivery; and
- working in conjunction with the monitoring and review processes internal to each department; and
- determining case closure, including coordinating service provision when Evolve services are no longer required to meet the agreed goals of the referral.
An Evolve panel core membership consists of:
- the department: a CSSC manager or senior practitioner from one of the CSSCs covered by the panel, as nominated by the relevant zonal director;
- Queensland Health: team leader of the mental health CSTST;
- Disability Services Queensland: team leader of the CSBST; and
- Department of Education, Training and the Arts: officer from the DETA region covered by the panel, as nominated by the relevant Department of Education, Training and the Arts regional executive director.
Making a referral to Evolve
Where it is assessed that an Evolve referral ('Appendix D Referral Form') is necessary, the following actions will occur:
- The decision to make a referral to Evolve and the agreed interventions will be recorded as actions in the case plan for a child.
- The CSO and team leader will complete an Evolve referral ('Appendix D Referral Form').
- The CSO will obtain the informed consent of the child for the release and sharing of information wherever possible.
- The CSO and team leader will send the referral form and any other relevant written information to the CSSC manager for consideration.
- The CSSC manager will prioritise the referrals and make a submission to the chair of the Evolve panel.
- The CSO and/or the team leader will attend the panel meeting to discuss the referral and engage in an interagency case presentation, if requested.
- Where the referral is accepted, the panel will determine who will be the primary service provider, either the CSTST or the CSBST.
Case plan implementation
The CSO with case responsibility will maintain close links with the Evolve service providers, as part of the implementation of the child's case plan.
The Evolve panel will monitor the progress of the Evolve plan and the CSO with case responsibility will participate in panel activities such as reviews and case closure.
Recordkeeping
The CSO is responsible for ensuring the following documentation is included in the child's case file:
- a copy of the Evolve referral ('Appendix D Referral Form') and record of relevant panel activities; and
- a copy of assessments and information provided by the Evolve teams.
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- Child Safety Practice Manual
- 30 June 2007
- Last updated
- 30 June 2007
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