2. Review a support service case
2.1 Review a support service case
A support plan must be reviewed at least every six months. More frequent reviews may be conducted, based on the circumstances of the case.
The review of a support plan will incorporate a meeting with the child and family, pregnant woman or young person, and where applicable, other agencies responsible for providing support and assistance during the period of intervention. The review is to be a collaborative process with all parties, to assess whether the agreed actions have been undertaken and whether the intervention has achieved the goal and outcomes of the existing support plan.
The review process will also be informed by the below-mentioned additional requirements, specific to each type of support service case.
Child and family
For the review of a support service case with a child and family:
- obtain updated information from all agencies involved in implementing the support plan
- consider the outcome of Child Safety Services' contact with the child and family for the period subject to review
- complete the family risk re-evaluation, to assess the current level of risk for the child
- based on the above information, assess whether the goal and outcomes of the support plan have been achieved, and future risk to the child has been reduced.
If the period of intervention is assessed to have been effective, and the outcome of the family risk re-evaluation is 'low' or 'moderate', the case may be closed - refer to 3.1 Close a support service case for actions required prior to closing the case.
If the outcome of the family risk re-evaluation remains 'high' or 'very high', request the parents consent to continue with the support service case. Where consent is provided, develop a revised support plan, to reduce the likelihood of future harm to the child - refer to 1.2 Develop and record a support plan.
If the parents do not consent to a further period of ongoing intervention, refer to 3.1 Close a support service case for actions required prior to closing the case.
A support service case should generally not exceed 12 months. If after 12 months of intervention, the family risk re-evaluation indicates that the risk remains 'high' or 'very high', consider whether a support service case is still the most appropriate response by Child Safety Services to the child and family. Any subsequent decision to keep the support service case open requires approval by the CSSC manager. Where approval is given, record the details in a case note in ICMS.
Pregnant woman
Review the support plan for a pregnant woman in the four week period prior to the child's estimated date of delivery, unless the six monthly review falls within this timeframe, to inform decision-making and ensure there is a current assessment of the unborn child's protective needs after birth. The SDM assessments are not used for the review of a support service case with a pregnant woman.
Based on updated information from all agencies involved in implementing the support plan and the outcome of Child Safety Services' contact with the pregnant woman for the duration of the intervention, assess whether the goal and outcomes of the support plan have been achieved, and whether the likelihood of harm to an unborn after birth has been reduced.
In circumstances where it is assessed that ongoing intervention will be required after the birth of the child, the review will incorporate the decision about the type of intervention that will best meet the child's needs (intervention with parental agreement or a child protection order).
In circumstances where it is assessed that informing the pregnant woman of planned intervention by Child Safety Services would place the child at further risk after the birth, the decision may be made not to inform the pregnant woman - for example, where there is a high likelihood that the pregnant woman will relocate to avoid intervention, if Child Safety Services plans to apply for a child protection order.
The team leader is responsible for the decision not to inform the pregnant woman of planned Child Safety Services' intervention. This decision and the rationale must be recorded in a case note in the 'ongoing intervention' event in ICMS.
Young person
Intervention with a young person who has transitioned from care may occur over 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 goal and outcomes have been achieved.
Support plan reviews are to occur following six months of ongoing intervention. The SDM assessments are not used for the review of a support service case with a young person over the age of 18 years.
- Last updated
- 21 September 2009
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