See Therapeutic treatment reports and orders - advice for additional information.
Child Protection is responsible for the management of TTOs and TTPOs. Regular contact with the child, family and the Sexually Abusive Behaviours Treatment Service (SABTS) provider is required to monitor compliance with, and effectiveness of, the order. A TTPO is subject to case planning responsibilities (ss. 166 – 169, Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (CYFA)).
Collaboration is the key to maximising the opportunity to address the child’s therapeutic needs during assessment and treatment. SABTS work with the child, their family and the child’s social support network, and provide regular feedback to Child Protection about treatment progress.
A child may be the subject of a protection order concurrently with a TTO, or with both a TTO and TTPO.
TTOs must be made prior to a young person turning 18, but it can continue past a child’s 18th birthday once made (s. 250, CYFA). Further, an application to extend a TTO can be made even if the child has already turned 18 (s. 256(1A), CYFA). A TTPO expires upon the child turning 18 years of age, or when a child marries, whatever happens first (s 254(2), CYFA).
See Therapeutic treatment resources for decision trees, tip sheets and report templates. See Case planning - advice for additional information.
Case practitioner tasks
- Formulate a Therapeutic Treatment Plan (TTP) within six weeks of the order being made and provide this to: the child; the child’s parent; any person who has care of the child and the provider of the therapeutic treatment program (unless circumstances exist where it would be inappropriate for a person to be given a copy of the plan).
- Formulate a case plan (in addition to the TTP) where the child is subject to a TTPO.
- Convene regular meetings (e.g.monthly or six-weekly, noting the frequency may need to change over time, or if risk escalates) between the child, their family, the SABTS provider, and out-of-home care provider where relevant, to promote a cohesive service response.
- Confirm expectations about meetings and reports are negotiated and understood at the outset by all so the child, their family and service providers are aware of their responsibilities under the TTO/TTPO.
- Consider a consultation with the divisional principal practitioner or the Office of Professional Practice to develop regarding any concerns or escalating behaviour during treatment.
- Review the TTP at regular intervals.
- If circumstances change during the order and order conditions require revision, apply to the Children’s Court to vary, add or substitute conditions of the TTO/TTPO.
- Update essential information categories.
- Consider a review risk assessment when circumstances change.
TTOs/TTPOs cannot be breached.
- Review the TTO/TTPO prior to expiry. If required, apply to the Children’s Court to extend the TTO/TTPO for a further period of up to 12 months. A TTO/TTPO can only be extended once.
If the child turns 18 during the first 12 months of the TTO, the order may be extended. If the young person is also subject to a TTPO, the TTPO cannot be extended.
A TTPO expires upon a young person turning 18 or marries, whichever happens first.
The Court can only extend the order/s if it is satisfied that the child is still in need of therapeutic treatment and therapeutic treatment is available for the child.
There is NO requirement for child protection to seek advice from the Therapeutic Treatment Board (TTB) regarding extending a TTO/TTPO.
- If review of the TTO/TTPO determines that the TTO/TTPO is no longer appropriate, and criminal proceedings have been adjourned pending completion of the TTO/TTPO, seek advice from the TTB on the revocation of the order before applying to the Court to revoke the order.
Team manager tasks
- Endorse the TTP.
- Endorse the case plan (where there is a TTPO).
- Endorse any risk assessments.
SABTS tasks
- Provide quarterly progress reports to Child Protection about the child’s treatment.
- Alert Child Protection to any emerging concerns as they arise.