Follow this policy when managing reports to about a child, and other types of intakes.
Document ID number 1002, version 4, 20 November 2021.
Introduction
The intake phase usually commences with a report about a child and concludes when the report is transferred for investigation or closed with or without the provision of advice or referral.
Intake involves receiving reports and determining the appropriate response, providing advice to reporters, helping children and families access support services and where appropriate making referrals.
Intake receives the following reports under the CYFA:
- report of significant concern for the wellbeing of a child (s. 28)
- report of significant concern for the wellbeing of an unborn child after birth (s. 29)
- report of a child in need of protection (s. 183 or s. 184)
- report of a child in need of therapeutic treatment (s. 185).
Intake also receives other types of intakes, such as court report requests and so on.
Policy
All intakes are recorded in CRIS.
Reports have an outcome based on an intake risk assessment completed by intake practitioners, consistent with the SAFER children framework.
All reports are screened for family violence in line with MARAM requirements. Intake practitioners reach a reasonable professional judgement which will then inform decision making on report classification, which must occur within three days of the report and be endorsed by a supervisor.
Seeking, sharing, sorting and storing information for the purpose of completing the intake risk assessment is to occur as set out in relevant procedures and advice.
Protective intervention reports are transferred for investigation according to the urgency of the report and key performance indicator (KPI).
All other reports are resolved according to the classification and circumstances of the case.
In all cases, professional reporters receive feedback on the outcome of their report unless doing so is contrary to the child’s best interests.
Other intake types are responded to in accordance with the relevant procedure.
Procedures under this policy
- Receiving, registering and classifying a report
- Unborn child reports
- Allegations of sexually abusive behaviour (TTR)
- Child in contact with sex offender
- Section 38 consultations
- Interstate requests
- Family Court, Federal Circuit Court and Magellan List
- Hague Convention
- Referral from Children's Court - Criminal Division
- Irreconcilable differences
- Court report request - family division
- New allegations
- SOS client contact