etails of the following two releases are outlined below:
- Seventh release - 29 June 2009
- Sixth release - 9 June 2009
Seventh release - 29 June 2009
This release includes one revised chapter and a new practice resource:
- Chapter 9: Matters of concern - revised chapter
- Practice guide: To developing a Cultural Support Plan
There are additional practice resources attached to Chapter 9. These resources can be accessed via the hyperlink within the procedure, the hyperlink under resources in each chapter or Resources.
Chapter 9: Matters of concern
Practice changes
The practice changes included in this chapter are outlined below.Â
- A practice change that requires the CSSC to advise relevant licensed care services or other entities of the outcome of a matter of concern, regardless of the outcome. Clarification that where a MOC investigation and assessment has a substantiated outcome, there must be a carer or staff member recorded as a person responsible.
- There are minor changes to the recording requirements between Child Safety After Hours Service Centre and Child Safety Service Centres.
- There is updated information about which matters of concern constitute a 'critical incident'.
In addition, this chapter includes additional information about recording matters of concern in ICMS.
Practice resource
Chapter 9 includes one new practice resource:
Updated practice guide resource
A 'Practice guide: To developing a Cultural Support Plan' has been developed to support Child Safety Services staff to:
- create quality Cultural Support Plans for every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child or young person who is subject to ongoing intervention
- support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Placement Principle, Child Protection Act 1999 , section 83
- maintain the cultural connection for the child or young person to their culture and community.
The practice guide will be able to be accessed via the hyperlink within Chapter 4: Case planning, or under the resources list in Chapter 4.
Sixth release - 9 June 2009
This release includes the following revised chapters in the new format:
There are additional practice resources attached to the revised chapters 4 and 7. These resources can be accessed via the hyperlink within the procedure, the hyperlink under resources in each chapter or Resources.
Chapter 4. Case planning
Practice changes
The practice changes included in this chapter are outlined below.
- New information about the requirement to refer a child's case to a permanency panel, to promote consistency when making permanency decisions, without limiting local One Chance at Childhood processes and requirements, based on zonal capacity and subsequent variations.
- New information about the obligation of the department to ensure a parent is aware of a partner's conviction, where the conviction may impact on the reunification process.
In addition, this chapter includes:
- the procedure for progressing a reunification assessment when parents live in another jurisdiction, that was previously in Chapter 17: Interstate matters
- links to three related practice resources
- a link to information about how to access interpreter services, if required
- an additional range of newly developed resources to assist staff in the case planning process, including tools and support information to assist staff complete the strengths and needs assessments, develop case plan goals and engage with families.
Practice resources
The following practice resources are attached to Chapter 4:
- Assessing the progress of the case plan
- Case planning - an overview
- Structured decision making an overview
Chapter 7. Support service cases
Practice changes
This chapter now includes the procedural steps for undertaking a support service case with a pregnant woman. It also clarifies the requirement for the use of safety assessments prior to case closure.
Amended resource - Ch 1: Intake and Ch 2: Investigation and assessment
This release now includes access to the following resource in
This guide replaces the existing resource, 'A Practice Guide: For the Assessment of Harm and Likely Harm'.



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