Protective intervention phase outcomes

For further information see Protective intervention outcomes - advice.

There are three possible outcomes in the protective intervention phase:

1. Child protection intervention is no longer required and the case is moved to the closure phase.
2. A protection order is made following a protection application being found proven and the case is moved to the protection order phase.
3. A protection application does not result in a protection order and the case is moved to the closure phase.

The outcome of the protective intervention phase determines the action required.

Case practitioner tasks if a protection order has been made

• Record activity, decisions and rationales and complete CRIS fields.
• Record the event outcome, including the matters heard, grounds proven (if applicable) and the order details.
• Check if the case plan aligns with the order and any conditions. If it does not, prepare a new version of the case plan, get it endorsed and provided to the parents and young person within six weeks.
• Update the essential information categories with any relevant information.
• Undertake a review risk assessment at phase transition to protection order.

Case practitioner tasks if the case is to be closed

• If the case involves a young person with a significant or complex disability or complex medical needs who is 16 and 9 months (and will not be 18 when the case closes), seek the endorsement of the Principal Practitioner to close the case.

If direct child protection involvement with a young person with a significant or complex disability or complex medical needs is ceasing at or after 16 years 9 months but before 18 years of age, it is critical that appropriate arrangements are in place to provide continued support. This will increase safeguarding for vulnerable young people who are close to, or are 17, where thereafter Child Protection no longer has statutory authority to intervene.

• Update the essential information categories with any relevant information.
• Complete a review risk assessment to inform decision making.
• Obtain agreement of a team manager that the case is to be closed.
• Prepare a final version of the case plan that will constitute the closure plan.
• Consistent with the SAFER children framework practice activities of formulating and enacting case plans, confirm that community support services are engaged to achieve sustained outcomes and record this in the actions table. A closure meeting may be appropriate where there are multiple services and professionals involved to confirm roles and responsibilities of those involved after child protection involvement ceases. This may also include confirming lead case management responsibility, where required.
• Liaise with Youth Justice where relevant – see Youth Justice - protocol.
• Review the infant response decision – see Infant risk assessment and response decision – procedure.

A case cannot be closed if an infant continues to require in infant intensive response.

• Obtain endorsements for case closure according to procedure when required (for example before re-classifying from infant intensive response required to infant response required, report of child in contact with a sex offender).
• Obtain endorsement of the case plan supporting closure from a team manager.
• Provide a copy of the endorsed case plan supporting closure to the child and parents – see procedure Case plan preparation and review following the making of a protection order.
• Move to case closure - see closing a case - procedure.

Supervisor tasks

• Provide ongoing supervision and consultation.
• Approve case decisions.

Team manager tasks

• Endorse key decisions including case plan, review risk assessment and closure.

Practice leader tasks or principal practitioner tasks

• Endorse decision to re-classify an infant case from infant intensive response required to infant response required.

Principal practitioner tasks

• Provide consultation and endorse case closure decision when case originated with a report of a child in contact with a sex offender.
• Review arrangements in place for continued support of a young person with a significant or complex disability or complex medical needs aged 16 years 9 months or more when child protection involvement will cease before 18 years of age and endorse case closure.

• Closing a case
• Protective intervention policy
• Case management in protective intervention
• Case plan preparation and review following the making of a protection order
• Infant risk assessment and response decision - procedure
• Reviewing the risk assessment

• Youth Justice - protocol