CSPM_Apr_2009 updates
Fourth release of the revised Child Safety Practice Manual - CSPM_Apr_09. Released online - 7 April 2009.
This release includes the following revised chapters in the new format:
There are additional practice resources attached to the revised chapter 5. These resources can be accessed via the hyperlink within the procedure, the hyperlink under resources in each chapter or Resources.
In addition there have been minor amendments made to chapters 2: Investigation and assessment and 8: Regulation of care, see below.
Chapter 5. Children in out-of-home care
Practice changes
The practice changes included in this chapter are outlined below.
- The inclusion of additional detail and clarity around pre-placement matching of children in out-of-home care.
- The incorporation of the child strengths and need assessment outcomes to identify appropriate support levels and placement types.
- The inclusion of information about Safe Houses, Specific Response Care and Transitional Placements and Flexible Funding.
- The inclusion of information and requirements for referrals to the Ellen Barron Family Centre.
- The process to obtain a birth certificate for children in out-of-home care.
- The removal of the requirement to conduct annual health checks for the Child Passport unless there are specific health issues.
- The inclusion of information about the newly approved Positive Behaviour Support policy and developing positive behaviour support plans.
- The change of delegation, to enable team leaders to approve placements in out-of-home care with foster and kinship carers and in Safe Houses.
- The change of delegation to enable team leaders to decide family contact and refuse, restrict or impose conditions on family conduct.
- The inclusion of housing referral information in the transition from care procedure.
- Advice about what to do when parents retain guardianship and a change of school is required to facilitate a placement.
- The inclusion of updated procedures for the approval of overseas travel and obtaining a passport for a child.
- The inclusion of a ‘What if’ about responding to concerns about the quality of care provided to a child in out-of home care, and links to the matters of concern procedures.
- The inclusion of requirements for a child employed in the entertainment industry.
- The inclusion of links to ICMS documents and events.
Chapter 5 also incorporates:
- existing Evolve Interagency Services procedures that were previously in the General Procedures
- existing interstate carer assessment procedures that were previously in Chapter 17
- existing child protection and youth justice interface procedures that were previously in Chapter 16
- the inclusion of the practice resources.
Practice resources
The following practice resources are attached to Chapter 5:
- Bank accounts
- Child health passports
- Children with sexual abuse histories
- Evolve Interagency Services
- Facilitating family contact
- Funeral and memorial services
- Guide to developing a positive behaviour support plan
- Out-of-home care: an integrated child protection response
- Placement documentation
- Placement matching principles
- Placements with another entity - 82(1)(f)
- Respite options
- Support levels and behaviour characteristics
- The authority to care form
- Transition from care
- Youth justice: an overview
Chapter 6. Intervention with parental agreement
Practice changes
There are no practice changes or new practice resources included in this chapter.
Chapter 2. Investigation and assessment
A minor amendment has been made to include the new process for seeking information about families from Centrelink, including the new form to send to DMS. This information is found in Chapter 2, What if a child and family cannot be located?
Chapter 8. Regulation of care
A minor amendment has been made to correct information about the assessment process for carers in another jurisdiction. Staff in the other jurisdiction do not complete the 'Form 3A - Foster Carer Applicant Assessment and Recommendation Form - Initial Approval Only' or the 'Kinship Carer Assessment Report', as previously stated, but complete a written assessment report, addressing the assessment factors identified on the 'Request for Interstate Assessment of Carer/s'. This information is found in Chapter 8, What if a carer applicant resides interstate?
- Last updated
- 7 April 2009
Other languages