Procedure for Referrals
- 1. Referral for Active Intervention – RAI Inala/Goodna 1 Last Updated 17th August, 2010 Procedure For Referrals
- 2. The Department of Child Safety up to 13 years of age Queensland Health/Education up to 10 years of age The Department of Child Safety sends referrals via the RAI/IS System/Data Base. Some of these referrals are emailed directly to Service Coordinator. The Department of Child Safety agencies are Inala, Goodna and Forest Lake. The Department of Education send referrals via email. These referrals are usually sent by; Karen Phillips Libby Gray The Department of Health – are any community funded organisation. Eligibility Child aged 0 – 10 years Child NOT at imminent risk of harm and Child does not meet QH mandatory reporting threshold Family has moderate to high needs and/or may have complex issues Concern that in absence of intervention, child may progress to need statutory protection The family would benefit from an intervention which may include specialist support services Child Safety assess the child is not in need of statutory intervention and advise the referrer that Child Safety is taking no further action. We DO NOT accept direct referrals from General Practitioners or Specialists. These agencies need to send their referrals through the correct referral channels. The Department of Child Safety Contacts: Inala Child Safety Contact: Katrina Wheeley Katrina.Wheeley@communities.qld.gov.au Goodna Child Safety Contact: Sandra Holywell Sandra.HOLYWELL@communities.qld.gov.au Forest Lake Child Safety Contact: Jessica Rodriguez jessica.rodriguez@communities.qld.gov.au The Department of Education Contact: Referral for Active Intervention – RAI Inala/Goodna 2
- 3. Karen Phillips Libby Gray Referrals The Department of Child Safety will refer to the RAI service families who are the subject of a recent Notification who have been assessed that no further Departmental intervention is required through the investigation and assessment process conducted by the Department of Child Safety; and/or Families who have been assessed by the Department of Child Safety as ‘substantiated child not in need of protection’ or ‘unsubstantiated’. Families who have self-referred and a decision has been made to record this as a Child Concern Report, and it is believed that the family would benefit from intensive intervention; and the family and child/children voluntarily agree to a referral to the RAI service When a family is referred to the RAI service, the family is no longer deemed to be a client of the Department of Child Safety. Referral Criteria The Department of Education and Training (DET) (Principals, Guidance Officers) and Queensland Health (QH) (child health social workers, maternity nurses, mental health professionals, behavioural management professionals) are able to refer families directly to RAI services when: The referring officer/agency does not consider the risk meets their own reporting threshold The referring agency has identified that that the family has child/children within the target group, has identified support needs and would benefit from intervention/ activities offered by the RAI service The referring agency professionals have concerns that the child/children may progress to the child protection system in the absence of an intervention from an intensive and specialist support service. The family/ child/children voluntarily agree to a referral to the RAI service When a family is referred to the RAI service, the family is not deemed to be a client of the Department of Child Safety. Referral Process 1. Child Safety intake and assessment process. Consider aspects to identify which clients will be referred to RAI service e.g. Priority is families with children 0 – 10 years Complex needs / low risk Clients are not to comprise of those families who: have been referred to IPA (Intervention with Parental Agreement) have been “screened in” through the SDM process Referral for Active Intervention – RAI Inala/Goodna 3
- 4. are reunifying after out of home care are subject to current allegations of sexual abuse significant physical abuse 2. All referring officers/representatives to seek agreement from families to be referred to the RAI service. Family agreement/consent (In writing) will be noted on the referral form. This is to occur regardless of whether the referral results from a notification or another reason. 3. All referring officers/representatives will complete an electronic referral form and forward to RAI team leader via email 4. Department of Child Safety Team Leaders or Senior Practitioners will refer to RAI Service. 5. Department of Education referrals will be received from delegated representative 6. Queensland Health will refer directly to the RAI service 7. If a referral is declined and or does not progress the referring agency will be contacted by RAI team Leader/Manager as soon as reasonable possible to discuss 8. When a referral is received by the RAI service: The Team Leader will respond to the referral within 48 hours. Team leader may liaise with referring officer in relation to the referral/to determine eligibility/suitability. Having determined eligibility/suitability the Team Leader will allocate the family to a RAI case worker The team leader or case worker may telephone the relevant CSO or referrer to discuss the family prior to intake Information The referring officer will seek consent from the family prior to the referral being made to the RAI service. Consent will be received from the family to share information across services The standard referral form will be completed by referring officer prior to forwarding to RAI service and identify information relevant to the family circumstances, presenting or concerning issues, informing the RAI intervention It may be necessary or desirable to convene a case conference to determine or clarify other information or responsibilities or co-ordinate responses to presenting issues/concerns In the event of the Department of Child Safety receiving a new notification the RAI service will be notified as soon as they are aware of new concerns In the event that the RAI service finds it necessary to make a notification to the Department of Child Safety the RAI team leader will discuss those concerns with the family, referring officer and inform the parties that a notification is going to be made. In the event of any communication issues arising between the RAI Service and the referring officer or department, communication (by phone or email) will be facilitated between RAI Team Leader/Manager and referring officer/Team Leader/Senior Practitioner/Manager to progress issue. Referral for Active Intervention – RAI Inala/Goodna 4
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