Child Protection Workforce Action Group Child Protection
Induction Program Slide 2 Purpose To provide new staff of
non-government organisations with an overview of Queenslands child
protection system Why? Important that workers: Have a clear
understanding of the child protection system and how it works Can
identify how the work they do fits within or interfaces with this
system Next Slide 3 What we will cover You will obtain an awareness
and understanding about: Queenslands child protection service
system and how it links to the broader child and family service
system good child protection practice statutory child protection
services (including legislation and key stages and steps) child
protection processes that impact on your role and responsibilities
approaches to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children, families and agencies approaches used by organisations in
working together key values and principles that should inform your
work self-care and maintaining a healthy work-life balance Next
Slide 4 The child protection system and its linkages to the broader
child and family service system Child protection is concerned with
ensuring the safety and well-being of children and young people
within their: Next Family Community Culture Slide 5 Next United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights
of children to: Protection from abuse and neglect Have a say in
matters that affect their lives By signing the Convention,
Australian governments have committed themselves to: Protecting and
ensuring childrens rights Being held accountable for their actions
in meeting this commitment in the eyes of the international
community The child protection system and its linkages to the
broader child and family service system Slide 6 Next Tertiary
Secondary Primary Universally available strategies targeting whole
communities or all families to build public resources and attend to
social factors contributing to child abuse and neglect Eg. public
health, education, housing and income support; family/
neighbourhood centres; health home visiting programs; school-based
personal safety programs How is the child protection system
structured? The child protection system and its linkages to the
broader child and family service system Slide 7 Next Tertiary
Secondary Primary Interventions targeting vulnerable families or
children who are at risk of abuse or neglect i.e. those with
special needs or who are in need of greater support Eg. Playgroups
for at-risk children; family support programs for young parents;
community development in high needs areas; Referral for Active
Intervention Services ; Helping Out Families Initiative The child
protection system and its linkages to the broader child and family
service system How is the child protection system structured? Slide
8 Next Tertiary Secondary Primary Interventions targeting families
where child abuse or neglect has already occurred; interventions
that seek to reduce the long- term implications of abuse or neglect
and to prevent its re- occurrence; includes statutory child
protection services Eg. Counselling for abused children;
investigation of child abuse and neglect; family intervention
services; community programs; reconciliation process The child
protection system and its linkages to the broader child and family
service system How is the child protection system structured? Slide
9 Next Tertiary Secondary Primary Children and families who are in
contact with the child protection system may also be in contact
with other service systems eg. disability, youth justice,
homelessness, domestic violence, drug and alcohol and/ or mental
health The child protection system and its linkages to the broader
child and family service system How is the child protection system
structured? Slide 10 Next Tertiary Secondary Primary Children and
their families may have multiple needs requiring services from
multiple service systems hence the importance of seeing the child
protection system in the broader context of child and family
welfare and other service systems seeking to meet the needs of
children and families The child protection system and its linkages
to the broader child and family service system How is the child
protection system structured? Slide 11 Exercise: Mapping the local
child protection system Next 1. Locate your service within the
child protection service system 2. Locate other services provided
by your organisation within the child protection system 3. Identify
other services provided in your local area within the child
protection system 4. If your service is not part of the child
protection system, identify how it interfaces with this system 5.
Identify services from within other sectors that are relevant to
the needs of the children and families with whom you work Slide 12
What do we know about good child protection practice? Next Child
protection system is complex Abandonment of practices based on the
notion of rescuing children Enhanced appreciation of: The
significance of childrens attachment to their family The trauma and
harm that can be caused to children when these attachments are
disrupted by their removal form their familys care The dangers of
child protection practice being influenced by judgements based on
moral and social norms, economic hardship or cultural differences
Slide 13 What do we know about good child protection practice? Next
Lessons from the past informing practice today The importance of
supporting childrens ongoing attachments to their primary adult
care-givers Understandings about the trauma and harm that can be
caused by disrupting childrens attachments and connections to their
family, friends, community and culture The need for legal and other
safeguards to protect the rights of all parties, with the best
interests of children remaining the paramount concern The necessity
for checks and balances when weighing up the risks of harm to a
child of interventions do not take place compared with the
potential harm caused by the intrusion and disruption to their care
if these interventions do occur The need for regulatory and other
mechanisms to monitor and enforce the quality of out-of-home care
services that children receive Slide 14 What do we know about good
child protection practice? Next Key aims of an effective child
protection system Safety Life opportunities Well-being Ensuring the
safety of children and young people from harm and risks of harm
Promoting all aspects of their wellbeing Facilitating their access
to the same life opportunities afforded to all other children and
young people These aims are inter- related Slide 15 What do we know
about good child protection practice? Next About safety from harm
Safety Life opportunities Well-being In most instances, a safe and
permanent home with family members is the best place for a child to
be nurtured towards adulthood. Children also have a right to be
free from: physical, sexual or emotional harm perpetrated by family
members or others, or harm that may be self- inflicted. Children
also have a right to be free from: physical, sexual or emotional
harm perpetrated by family members or others, or harm that may be
self- inflicted. When children are at risk of harm, there is a
shared responsibility held by family members, governments and the
community to keep them safe. In most instances, this is best
accomplished by supporting families. When a safe environment cannot
be obtained within a family, alternative care arrangements may be
warranted. Slide 16 What do we know about good child protection
practice? Next About wellbeing Safety Life opportunities Well-being
Requires that the basic needs for food, clothing and shelter of
children and young people are being adequately met These needs are
best met within an environment that provides sufficient nurture,
support and stimulation to enable childrens physical, intellectual,
emotional, pro-social, cultural and spiritual growth. Promotes
stability of relationships and the connections of children and
young people with their community and culture Slide 17 What do we
know about good child protection practice? Next About life
opportunities Safety Life opportunities Well-being Children who
have experienced harm or been placed at risk of harm are entitled
to the same life opportunities as the general population of
children. This includes opportunities to: Access education that
meets their needs Participate in activities that support their
physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual growth and
development Form long-term relationships with supportive adults Be
informed about and participate in decision- making about their care
Take ownership of their lives and be supported in making informed
life decisions Learn life skills and progress towards independence
with support to over-come economic disadvantage Transition from
care with a capacity for positive engagement in relationships and
community life Slide 18 What do we know about good child protection
practice? Next How do children and young people benefit from the
aims of an effective care system being met? How do children and
young people benefit from the aims of an effective care system
being met? Key factors: Continuity and stability of their care
arrangements Having contact with their parents, siblings and
extended family and the quality of this contact Maintenance of
their cultural connections Consistent and continued engagement with
the school they have been attending Continued contact and
engagement with their friends Consistent and continued engagement
with known and trusted workers Safety Life opportunities Wellbeing
Security Identity Belonging Having a choice about seeing their
family Knowing why they are in care Feeling safe, respected,
listened to and believed Being involved in decision- making about
their care Slide 19 What do we know about good child protection
practice? Next Implications of our key understandings about good
child protection practice National Framework for Protecting
Australias children: Protecting Children is Everyones Business
2009-2020 Statutory services Targeted services and programs for at
risk families and children Early intervention services targeted to
vulnerable children and families Universal preventative initiatives
to support all families Slide 20 What do we know about good child
protection practice? Next Implications of our key understandings
about good child protection practice Statutory services Universal
preventative services Early intervention services Targeted services
for at-risk families Statutory services Universal preventative
services Early intervention services Targeted services for at-risk
families Achieving a more balanced child protection system Slide 21
Statutory child protection services Next Include: Receiving and
responding to reports of child abuse and neglect Working with
parents to address child protection concerns through agreement or
court sanction Providing out-of-home care to children Reunifying
children and their parents Providing long-term care for children
Supporting young people in leaving care Slide 22 Statutory child
protection services Next Provided by: Department of Communities
(Child Safety Services) through Child Safety Service Centres
Queensland Police Service Queensland Health Recognised Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander child protection services Childrens
Court Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Non-government
organisations Slide 23 Statutory child protection services Next
Child protection legislation: Includes Child Protection Act 1999
and Child Protection Regulation 2000 An expression of government
policy about the way it intends to protect and care for children
Provides a context in which the statutory provisions of the Act are
to be exercised in practice and interpreted by courts Details
statutory provisions to intervene in the lives of children and
their families Slide 24 Statutory child protection services Next
Principles of the Child Protection Act 1999 The safety, wellbeing
and best interests of a child are paramount A child has a right to
be protected from harm or risk of harm A childs family has the
primary responsibility for the childs upbringing, protection and
development The preferred way of ensuring a child's safety and
wellbeing is through supporting the child's family If a child does
not have a parent who is able and willing to protect them, the
State is responsible for protecting the child Slide 25 Statutory
child protection services Next Principles of the Child Protection
Act 1999 In protecting a child, the State should only take action
that is warranted in the circumstances If a child is removed from
their family, support should be given for the purpose of allowing
the child to return to the childs family if the return is in the
childs best interests If a child does not have a parent able and
willing to give the child ongoing protection in the foreseeable
future, the child should have long-term alternative care If a child
is removed from the childs family, consideration should be given to
placing the child, as a first option, in the care of kin Slide 26
Statutory child protection services Next Principles of the Child
Protection Act 1999 If a child is removed from their family, the
child should be placed with their siblings, to the extent that is
possible A child should only be placed in the care of a parent or
other person who has the capacity and is willing to care for the
child (including a parent or other person with capacity to care for
the child with assistance or support) A child should have stable
living arrangements, that provide for: o a stable connection with
their family and community, to the extent that this is in the
childs best interests, and o their developmental, educational,
emotional, health, intellectual and physical needs to be met Slide
27 Statutory child protection services Next Principles of the Child
Protection Act 1999 A child should be able to maintain
relationships with their parents and kin, if it is appropriate for
the child A child should be able to know, explore and maintain
their identity and values, including their cultural, ethnic and
religious identity and values A delay in making a decision in
relation to a child should be avoided, unless appropriate for the
child. Slide 28 Statutory child protection services Next Areas
covered by the Child Protection Act 1999 Reporting of harm or
suspected harm Investigation of harm or suspected harm Grounds on
which statutory authorities can intervene in the lives of families
Planning and review of interventions to protect children and young
people Use of intervention with parental agreement Use of court
proceedings to protect children including the range of orders that
may be made by courts Administration, management and supervision of
court orders Regulation of care including standards of care,
approval of carers, licensing of care services and Charter of
Rights for a Children in Care Coordination of service delivery and
exchange of information Confidentiality provisions Decisions that
can be reviewed by the Qld Civil and Administrative Tribunal Slide
29 Statutory child protection services Next Other legislation
relevant to the protection of children Childrens Court Act 1992
Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act
2000 Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Jurisdiction
Provisions) Amendment Act 2009 Education (General Provisions) Act
2006 Public Health Act 2005 Adoption of Children Act 2009
Information Privacy Act 2009 Slide 30 Statutory child protection
services Next Organisation of statutory child protection services
Department of Communities (Child Safety Services) Queensland Police
Service Queensland Health Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect
Assessment and Management (SCAN AM)Teams: Department of Communities
(Child Safety Services) Department of Education and Training
Queensland Health Queensland Police Service Recognised Entities
Slide 31 Statutory child protection services Next Organisation of
statutory child protection services Childrens Court Commission for
Children and Young People and Child Guardian Monitors and reviews
laws, policies and practices Administers Community Visitor Program
Receives and investigates complaints Maintains a Child Death
Register and Child Death Review Committee Employment screening
Conducts research Promotes laws, policies and practices that uphold
the rights, interests and wellbeing of children Queensland Civil
and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) Slide 32 Statutory child
protection services Next Child protection process Reporting
harmInvestigation and assessmentOngoing interventionCase
planningPlacement and supportTransition from careClosing
intervention Slide 33 Statutory child protection services Next
Other key functions of the Department of Communities Placement
support Funding Licensing Slide 34 How do child protection
processes affect you in your job? Next Reporting harm Referrals for
family support Case planning and family meetings Placement meetings
and agreements Service standards and licensing Slide 35 How do
child protection processes affect you in your job? Next Reporting
harm: Definition of harm Protection from liability Protection from
identification Mandatory reporting requirements: Employees of the
Department of Communities Employees of a licensed care service
Staff of the Commission for Children and Young People and Child
Guardian Doctors and registered nurses Family court personnel and
counsellors Staff of State and non-State schools Your organisations
procedures for reporting harm or risk of harm Slide 36 How do child
protection processes affect you in your job? Next Referrals for
family support: May be made after a report of a child protection
concern to the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services)
where there is no identified need for ongoing child protection
intervention May be made after a determination that there is a need
for ongoing child protection intervention, either: with parental
agreement, or with a child protection order Helping Out Families
Initiative Slide 37 How do child protection processes affect you in
your job? Next Case planning and family group meetings: Case
planning is intended to be an inclusive and participative process
Four key stages: Assessment Planning Implementation Review Family
group meetings are held to: Develop and review case plans Provide
family-focussed responses and ensure an inclusive process Your
organisation may be asked to participate in the development or
review of a case plan Slide 38 How do child protection processes
affect you in your job? Next Placement Agreements and care
planning: Placement Agreements must be negotiated by the Department
of Communities (Child Safety Services) with each childs carers and
the relevant care service to: document agreed-upon support and
services to be provided to the carer, and establish roles and
responsibilities of each party in achieving the goals of the
Non-government organisations providing out-of-home care are
required to develop and regularly review care plans that identify
goals and strategies used to address identified needs of each child
Slide 39 How do child protection processes affect you in your job?
Next Service standards and licensing: Quality assurance strategy
incorporating 11 minimum service standards grouped into 3 focus
areas: 1. Focus on children, young people and families using
services, address: Accessibility of services Responding to the
needs of children, young people and families Participation and
choice Confidentiality and privacy Feedback, complaints and appeals
Protecting the safety of children and young people Slide 40 How do
child protection processes affect you in your job? Next Service
standards and licensing: Quality assurance strategy incorporating
11 minimum service standards grouped into 3 focus areas: 2. Focus
on staff, carers and other volunteers, address: Recruitment and
selection processes Induction, learning, training and development
Support and supervision Slide 41 How do child protection processes
affect you in your job? Next Service standards and licensing:
Quality assurance strategy incorporating 11 minimum service
standards grouped into 3 focus areas: 3. Focus on governance,
address: Organisational alignment Governance accountability Slide
42 Exercise: Reporting harm Next 1. What are your obligations to
report harm or the risk of harm to the Department of Communities
(Child Safety Services)? 2. What is the process for making a report
of harm or risk of harm within your organisation? 3. Which is your
local Child Safety Service Centre/ Regional Intake Service? Slide
43 Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children,
families and services Next The Child Protection Act 1999 includes a
number of principles, provisions and requirements that specifically
relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and
families These provisions recognise and acknowledge: Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Australians The culture
and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples The
continuing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander child and young people in the child protection system The
past forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children from their families and the continuing impact of such
policies on individuals, families and communities Slide 44 Working
with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and
services Next Principles additional to the Acts general principles
An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child should be allowed to
develop and maintain a connection with their family, culture,
traditions, language and community (s5C(a)) The long-term effects
of a decision on an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander childs
identity and connection with their family and community should be
taken into account (s5C(b)) Slide 45 Working with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children, families and services Next Other
provisions of the Act require: The involvement of Recognised
Entities in significant decision-making Recognised Entities to be
consulted when decisions, other than significant decisions, are
being made When the above is not possible, the Recognised Entity to
be consulted as soon as practicable after the decision has been
made The Childrens Court to consider the views held by a Recognised
Entity or where this is not practicable, the views of the
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community to which the child
belongs Observance of the general principle that Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children should be cared for within their
own communities Consultations, negotiations, family group meetings
and other proceedings to take place in a way that is culturally
appropriate to Aboriginal tradition or Torres Strait Island custom
Slide 46 Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children, families and services Next Other provisions of the Act
require: Consultation with a Recognised Entity when it is suspected
that an unborn child may be in need of protection (and the pregnant
woman agrees) for purposes of: o assessing the likelihood that the
child may be in need of protection after he or she is born, and o
offering help and support to the pregnant woman. Case planning to
be carried out in ways that encourage and facilitate the
participation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander agencies and
persons Certain factors that must be considered when decisions are
made about the placement of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
child in out-of-home care Slide 47 Working with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children, families and services Next The
Child Placement Principle: Proper consideration must be given to
placing the child, in order of priority, with: a member of the
childs family a member of the childs community or language group
another Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander who is
compatible with the childs community or language group, or another
Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander Slide 48 Working with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and
services Next The Child Placement Principle: If this is not
possible, in order of priority, with: a person who lives near the
childs family, or a person who lives near the childs community or
language group Person must be committed to: facilitating contact
between the child and their parents and other family members
helping the child to maintain contact with their community or
language group helping the child to maintain a connection with
their culture, and preserving and enhancing the childs sense of
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity Slide 49 Working with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and
services Next 1. Find out the names of relevant family or tribal
groups in the area that you work 2. Find out about the demographics
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in
the area you work 3. Find out about the representation of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in the
child protection system in the area you work 4. Identify relevant
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services in the area you work
and what they do 5. Visit the services that you are likely to have
most contact with 6. If you are required to visit an Aboriginal or
Torres Strait Islander community, find out about the protocol for
entering the community and talking with people Slide 50 Working
together Next Participation of children, young people and families
Inter-agency collaboration Slide 51 Participation of children,
young people and families Next Key skills and abilities for
developing effective relationships: Recognise and build on
strengths Develop sensitive and informed client-worker relationship
with appropriate balance of power Treat clients with respect and as
unique not a case Establish effective communication Recognise
stigma of involvement with statutory services rebuild parental
confidence Provide dependable support and practical help Establish
openness and honesty in all contacts Create transparency in
decision-making (share records and access to files) Foster a
climate that assures people that their concerns or complaints will
be taken seriously Elicit, listen to and be open to the views and
theories of clients Slide 52 Inter-agency collaboration Next
Working together may involve: Identifying local services and
developing an understanding about what they do Getting to know and
develop working relationships with others Attending case planning
forums held by other agencies Inviting others to attend your
agencys case planning forums Developing formal structures for
working together (e.g. protocols, resource sharing) Participating
in service networks and inter- agency forums Slide 53 A note on
confidentiality Next Important that workers are open with children
and families about their organisations approach to
information-sharing, confidentiality and the limits to
confidentiality Limits to confidentiality may include: o safety of
a child or adult o commission of a criminal offence o subpoena
issued by a court Important that you understand your legal, agency
and professional obligations to: o report harm, and o share
information, where necessary, for purposes of coordinating services
for children in need of protection and care or who may become in
need of protection and care Slide 54 Exercise: Participation Next
1. What is your organisations approach to the participation of
children and families in the delivery of services? 2. Identify some
of the barriers to the participation of children and families in a
child protection context 3. Discuss how you could address these
barriers Exercise: Collaboration 1. What is your organisations
approach to collaboration with other organisations in your area? 2.
Are there any examples of formal structures between your
organisation and other organisations to support collaboration? 3.
Discuss specific examples of collaboration that have improved
service delivery to children and families Slide 55 Understanding
the values and principles underlying your practice Next Personal
sets of values and beliefs Self Philosophies and values of your
organisation Organisation Understandings and aims of good child
protection practice Good child protection practice All workers may
be challenged, from time to time, in reconciling their own personal
sets of values and beliefs with the stated philosophies and values
of the organisation with whom they are employed as well as the
understandings underpinning good child protection practice Slide 56
Understanding the values and principles underlying your practice
Next Your own professional framework Personal values and beliefs
Philosophies and values of employing organisation Understandings
and aims of good child protection practice Slide 57 Next Steps
towards developing your own professional framework Consider your
own beliefs about sound parenting and what constitutes child abuse
or neglect Identify the key influences on your formation of these
beliefs e.g. your own childhood experiences Identify the key
influences from outside of your family (e.g. life events or study)
that have shaped or re-shaped your beliefs Assess the extent to
which these influences have been accepted and internalised or
actively rejected or modified by you, and why Evaluate the extent
of consistency and compatibility of your values and beliefs with
those of your organisation and understandings about good child
protection practice Where differences exist, can they be reconciled
and how? Understanding the values and principles underlying your
practice Slide 58 Exercise: Values and understandings Next List 3
key beliefs or understandings about sound parenting and/or what
constitutes child abuse or neglect Consider key influences from
childhood that may shape these beliefs and understandings Consider
other influences from outside of family (e.g. education, work
experience, other relationships or life events) that may confirm,
add to or change these values and beliefs 1. 2. 3. Slide 59
Self-care and maintaining a work-life balance Next Work Life
Discovering the right balance for you requires: Self-monitoring
your own wellbeing and reactions and responses to demands
Reflecting on what you need to achieve a healthy balance and
identifying realistic goals Planning strategies to build on factors
that are helpful and eliminating or reducing the impact of those
that arent Implementing strategies sometimes with the help or
cooperation of others (e.g. making use of supervision and
de-briefing opportunities) Monitoring and reviewing the success of
the selected strategies and adding to or amending them where
necessary Slide 60 Key elements and sets of questions (adapted from
Azure Programs, Work life balance preventing burnout) Key elements
and sets of questions (adapted from Azure Programs, Work life
balance preventing burnout) Self-awarenessTime
managementGoal-settingProblem-solvingStress managementAssertiveness
and saying, No Self-care and maintaining a work-life balance Slide
61 Exercise: Self-care and managing your work-life balance Next
Matter % currently spent % preferably spent Personal development
(identity, self-esteem, learning, talents) Social (family, friends,
groups, teams) Work (paid, voluntary, home duties, study) Spiritual
(values, beliefs, religion, meaning) Heart and mind (managing
emotions & thinking stress, worry, joy) Physical (exercise,
sport, activity, diet, health) Relaxation (leisure, rest) Estimate
% of your time, attention and energy you: Currently expend on the
following Would prefer to expend on the following to maintain a
better work-life balance
