Child Protection’s investigation and assessment of sexually abusive behaviour focuses on the child and the parental response to the behaviour, the risk the child poses to other children (such as siblings or other children residing with the child in an out-of-home care placement) and the nature of the behaviours, that is, the pattern and history of the behaviours, and the seriousness of the behaviours (age appropriate, concerning and very concerning sexual behaviours).
A child protection investigation and risk assessment must take place for children and young people aged between 10 and under 18 years who are alleged to have engaged in sexually abusive behaviours.
TTR investigations should be conducted by child protection practitioners who have completed ‘Working with children and families affected by sexual abuse’ parts 1 and 2 delivered by the department’s Professional Development and Wellbeing Unit.
See Therapeutic treatment reports and orders - advice for additional information. See Therapeutic treatment resources for decision trees, tip sheets and report templates.
Case practitioner tasks
Investigating a TTR from a community member
- Follow Therapeutic treatment resources decision tree 4.
- Develop an investigation plan. Ensure the plan considers the risk the child poses to other children, especially siblings or other children residing in the same placement as the child.
- Consider a consultation with the divisional principal practitioner or the Office of Professional Practice to develop your investigation plan.
- Consult with police and determine if a joint investigation is appropriate.
- Consult with Youth Justice if the child is a Youth Justice client. Consider if a joint visit is appropriate.
- Undertake an assessment focusing on the child and parental response to the behaviour, the safety issues the child poses to other children and an assessment of the nature of the behaviours.
- Seek information and evidence from the child or young person, family members and professionals involved with the family.
- Update the essential information categories and complete a risk assessment.
- In consultation with your supervisor, determine what intervention is required. Consider whether a referral to the Therapeutic Treatment Board (TTB) is required.
Investigating reports from the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court
- Follow Therapeutic treatment resources decision tree 2.
When the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court refers a matter to Child Protection under s. 349 (2), of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (CYFA) the Court considers that there is prima facie evidence that grounds exist for the making of an application for a Therapeutic Treatment Order (TTO). The Child Protection investigation is therefore concerned with identifying what is the best pathway for treatment to address the behaviours.
- Develop an investigation plan. Ensure the plan considers the risk the child poses to other children, especially siblings or other children residing in the same placement as the child.
- Consider a consultation with the divisional principal practitioner or the Office of Professional Practice to develop your investigation plan.
- Prioritise referrals from the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court.
- Contact the police informant as a priority for information about the criminal investigation and obtain a copy of the brief of evidence. This information from the police will assist in the investigation and assessment and should be included in the referral report to the TTB.
- Consult with Youth Justice to ascertain their views regarding the appropriateness or otherwise of Child Protection’s assessment and planned actions. Ensure that Child Protection and Youth Justice do not provide contradictory advice to the Court.
- Seek information and evidence from the child or young person, family members and professionals involved with the family.
- Update the essential information categories and complete a risk assessment.
- Refer the TTR to the TTB for advice once Child Protection has concluded its assessment. The template for referrals is available at Therapeutic treatment orders forms - Forms and secure documents.
- Provide a report to the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court within 21 days of the referral. See Therapeutic treatment resources for a report template. In your report confirm that the referral has been investigated and advise whether:
- a protection application has been made, or
- an application for a therapeutic treatment order has been made, or
- Child Protection is satisfied that no protection application or no application for a therapeutic treatment order is required.
Investigating reports from Victoria Police
- Follow Therapeutic treatment resources decision tree 3.
- Develop an investigation plan. Ensure the plan considers the risk the child poses to other children, especially siblings or other children residing in the same placement as the child.
- Consider a consultation with the divisional principal practitioner or the Office of Professional Practice to develop your investigation plan.
- Plan a joint investigation with police if police have not yet investigated the concern. See Joint visits with police - advice.
- If police have commenced a criminal investigation or they determine a police investigation will be conducted separately, continue with a Child Protection investigation.
- Obtain relevant information from police such as witness statements or summary of charges.
- Seek information and evidence from the child or young person, family members and professionals involved with the family.
- Update the essential information categories and complete a risk assessment.
- Refer the TTR to the TTB for advice (TTB@dffh.vic.gov.au).
Considerations for ALL investigations:
Where a decision is made that therapeutic treatment is required, either via a TTO or voluntary participation, contact the Sexually Abusive Behaviour Treatment Service (SABTs) to ascertain service availability and whether the service has the specialist expertise.
Where a child is voluntarily referred to a SABTs, or it has been assessed the child will engage voluntarily without the need for a TTO and the child’s criminal proceedings are adjourned, ensure the SABTs is aware it should report the outcome of the child’s progress and, if applicable, completion of the program to the Children’s Court.
Supervisor tasks
- Provide ongoing supervision and consultation.
- Approve the investigation plan.
- Endorse the risk assessment
- Read and sign the Therapeutic Treatment Referral report to the Therapeutic Treatment Referral.
- Allegations of sexually abusive behaviour (TTR)
- Decision making after TTR investigation
- Reporting back following referral from the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court
- Managing therapeutic treatment orders and therapeutic treatment placement orders
- Closing therapeutic treatment orders and therapeutic treatment placement orders