Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to plan responses to reports of risk, gather and analyse information to inform the determination of risk, and then monitor the actions resulting from the assessment.
This unit applies to child protection workers who use advanced critical analysis, communication and evaluation skills to make professional judgements about risks and resulting strategies in child protection work.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Plan response | 1.1 Access and critically analyse existing reports and other information to inform planning 1.2 Determine and respond to required legal frameworks and processes 1.3 Establish timeframes for response, make assessment of immediate risk to any and all parties and implement actions accordingly 1.4 Determine and establish internal and external collaborative arrangements within established protocols and guidelines 1.5 Anticipate and negotiate resources required 1.6 Develop and document plan for assessment/investigation in the context of organisation requirements 1.7 Advise other workers about their role using established procedures and protocols |
2. Gather information about the risk or actual harm | 2.1 Make an informed judgement, based on review of initial information, about the scope, depth and sources of information required to inform determination 2.2 Source and gather information holistically based on an endorsed model of risk assessment 2.3 Consult with internal and external colleagues and source information about previous history, supports or interventions provided 2.4 Seek information from parents/caregivers regarding the alleged concerns and incorporate into the assessment of risk 2.5 Observe and review the child’s development and behaviour 2.6 Identify and document information about the broader cultural, economic and social context that contribute to risk or protection 2.7 Organise and oversee specialist assessments according to individual case requirements |
3. Analyse information | 3.1 Critically analyse information in the context of the organisation’s assessment model and the tools used 3.2 Confer and collaborate with colleagues about determinations of immediate and long term risks to the child 3.3 Recognise and respond to situations requiring specialised expertise and make referrals to other organisations following established procedures 3.4 Make a professional judgement about the assessed levels of risk, harm and wellbeing according to the model being used, organisation and legal requirements 3.5 Document the outcome of the assessment and decisions made, including substantiated rationale |
4. Develop case strategies | 4.1 Prepare recommendations for action consistent with the assessed risk/need and available resources 4.2 Confer and collaborate with colleagues to develop actions that best meet the needs of the individual child 4.3 Involve the child/young person and family in the decision-making processes according to case requirements, and provide information through the process 4.4 Develop case documentation according to organisation procedures, legal requirements and scope of own authority 4.5 Incorporate regular review mechanisms according to legislative and organisation requirements |
5. Monitor and evaluate case strategies | 5.1 Monitor actions taken according to agreed case requirements 5.2 Regularly assess and review developmental needs of child or young person, including health, education, social and emotional needs 5.3 Facilitate processes for engaging children/young people and families in problem solving 5.4 Provide opportunities, both formal and informal, for child/young person, to meet in private with case worker and talk about their situation 5.5 Provide information to parents/family or significant others about progress of child or young person 5.6 Use evaluation of individual cases to inform learning and future work planning |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit in the workplace
conducted child protection risk assessments for at least 5 different children, including:
engaging in a structured process of critical analysis according to the assessment model
determining the child’s level of risk according to legislation, policies and procedures and the information gathered
documenting the outcome and articulating in writing comprehensive rationale for decision-making process using approved organisation tools
conducted child protection risk assessments that individually or cumulatively involve the follow situations:
need for specialist assessments
drug and alcohol use/abuse
mental health concerns
physical health and ability considerations
intellectual disability
domestic and family violence
developed, documented and monitored case strategies for at least 5 different children
collaborated with both internal and external colleagues and specialist practitioners.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations for child protection work, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:
challenges associated with potential tensions between own and organisation values
children in the workplace and child-focused practice, including issues for children in dealing with the legal system
codes of conduct
discrimination
duty of care
human rights
mandatory reporting
practitioner/client boundaries
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
policy frameworks
records management
rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients, including legal services available to the client and notification protocols
specific legislative frameworks that apply to child protection risk assessment, including:
roles and responsibilities of key bodies within the child protection system including their powers, orders and processes
legal options available to children and families
child protection
witness legislation
bail conditions to protect children
role of the independent child lawyer in the Family Court jurisdictions
criminal injuries compensation
orders under domestic violence legislation
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations
work health and safety
concept of risk in a child protection context
situations requiring immediate intervention
theoretical and practical frameworks for issues in child protection assessment, including:
abuse
types – psychological, physical, sexual, neglect, domestic violence
indicators
impact on child and adolescent development
intergenerational abuse and how to respond
harm
definition
dynamics
indicators
factors that increase or reduce vulnerability, severity and probability
trauma – types and impacts
family systems theory and its application to child protection work
nature of collaboration in the child protection context
factors that impact vulnerability, and how these are evaluated in the risk assessment process, including:
child's age and developmental stage, physical, social and emotional wellbeing
immediate/actual evidence of harm
availability of family/other protective support systems
isolation
previous history of harm and intervention needs
commitment to engage to reduce/eliminate risk of harm
ability and capacity to address the situation
admissions/disclosure information
factors that affect family functioning and their impact on the risk assessment process, including:
drug and alcohol use/abuse
mental health concerns
physical health and ability
intellectual disability
domestic and family violence
family dynamics in different cultures and the cultural issues that inform child protection work
sources of information that inform risk assessment, and how to analyse these, including:
consulting with relevant people known to the child and their circumstances
notifier information
previous child protection history
specialist assessments, how and when they are used, including:
forensic
medical
criminal
psychosocial
developmental
organisation standards, policies and procedures in relation to:
documentation processes and organisation information systems and tools to be used for complex risk assessment
information sharing and referral protocols
interagency practices
critical incident reporting
options and requirements for action in response to differing assessment results
roles and functions of support agencies and processes
contemporary approaches to respectful and professional standards for case documentation.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including
case information
risk assessment tools
organisation policies and procedures
modelling of industry operating conditions, including scenarios that involve complex interactions with others.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.