What ifs - responding to specific support service case matters
1. What if the child’s parents will not consent, or withdraws consent, to ongoing intervention?
In cases involving a child, where the outcome of the family risk evaluation tool is 'high' or 'very high', and consent is not given to a support service case, consult the team leader to re-consider whether a support service case is the appropriate Child Safety Services' response to the child and family - refer to Chapter 3, 1. Decide the type of ongoing intervention.
Where the decision to offer a support service case remains unchanged, record in ICMS:
- the family's refusal to consent to a support service case
- the discussion held with the team leader, including the outcome and rationale for the decision.
In cases involving a child, where the outcome of the family risk re-evaluation tool is 'high' or 'very high', and consent to the support service case is withdrawn following a period of ongoing intervention, complete a subsequent safety assessment to inform the actions to be taken - refer to 3.1 Close a support service case.
2. What if a pregnant woman will not consent, or withdraws consent, to ongoing intervention?
When it has been assessed that an unborn child will be in need of protection after their birth and the pregnant woman does not consent to intervention with a support service case, no ongoing intervention can occur.
Similarly, where a pregnant woman withdraws her consent to the support service case, during the period of ongoing intervention, ongoing intervention cannot continue.
In both of these circumstances:
- make every effort, including sending a follow up letter, to:
- alert the pregnant woman to the potential risks identified to her unborn child after birth
- provide information about support services to assist her family prior to the birth of her child
- advise the pregnant woman that a new notification will be recorded when the child is born, an investigation and assessment of the child's protective needs will occur and Child Safety Services' intervention may involve the use of court orders. However, this information must not be provided to the pregnant woman when it is assessed that, by providing this information, the child may be placed at further risk after their birth
- record an 'unborn child alert' on the person records of the mother and the unborn child - refer to Chapter 10.7 Recording alerts for a child and family
- complete and forward either, or both:
- an HRA Form 1 Unborn Child High Risk Alert (HRA Form 1) to the hospital/s where the pregnant woman is likely to give birth - refer to Queensland Health List of Maternity Hospitals and Nominated Positions
- a letter to the private or interstate hospital/s where the pregnant woman is likely to give birth
- attach the 'HRA Form 1' to the 'investigation and assessment' event in ICMS
- consider whether a referral to the SCAN AM Team is warranted, or if the case is open to the SCAN System, update the SCAN AM Team
- provide the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre with a Child Safety After Hours Service Centre: After hours referral form and any additional relevant information, including a copy of the 'HRA Form 1'
- recontact the pregnant woman's medical practitioner, if known, to:
- discuss the concerns identified
- request that information be shared with relevant health professionals such as the midwife or social work services
- ask that Child Safety Services be advised of the birth of the child.
When notified of the birth, record a new notification documenting the birth and the mother's previous refusal to work with Child Safety Services prior to the birth.
3. What if intervention is required after the birth of a child?
When at the time of the child's birth ongoing intervention is occurring with a woman via a support service case, and ongoing intervention is to continue after the birth with the woman's or parents agreement:
- close the support service case
- open an intervention with parental agreement case - refer to Chapter 6. Intervention with parental agreement
- commence case planning for the child - refer to Chapter 4. Case planning.
When at the time of the child's birth there is no ongoing intervention occurring, because the woman has not consented to the intervention, but the child was assessed as being in need of protection after birth, record a new notification:
- when notified of the birth, documenting the birth and the mother's previous refusal to work with Child Safety Services - refer to 2. What if a pregnant woman will not consent, or withdraws consent, to ongoing intervention?
- if an application for a child protection order is planned, in order to commence court action - for further information, refer to Chapter 2. Investigation and assessment and Chapter 3, 2. Decide the type of child protection order, if required
- if further child protection concerns are received at the time of the child's birth, that have not previously been investigated and assessed.
4. What if a child is also subject to youth justice intervention?
If a child is subject to a support service case and youth justice intervention by the Department of Communities (Youth Justice), ensure service delivery coordination for the duration of the support service case. It may also be appropriate to invite the child's youth justice case worker to a meeting to develop, or review, a support plan. For further information, refer to Chapter 3, 5. What if a child is subject to ongoing intervention and youth justice intervention?
- Last updated
- 21 September 2009
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