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2.2.11 Disclosure of Information Regarding a Person Assessed as Actual Harm Continuing Risk

Last Modified: 29-Mar-2023 Review Date: 30-Jul-2010

 ‭(Hidden)‬ Legislation

Overview

To provide guidance to child protection workers making decisions on whether and/or how to disclose information regarding a person assessed as Actual Harm Continuing Risk (AHCR) to a family, or to an employer where the person assessed may pose a continuing risk to specific children.

Rules
   
  • You must assess continuing risk to specific child/ren by a person assessed as Actual Harm Continuing Risk (AHCR) to determine whether they still pose a risk, and if so what information will be disclosed.

  • There are restrictions on the disclosure of information relating to a criminal conviction of a child under 18 years of age (whether or not that person is now an adult). You must consult with Legal and Business Services - email legal@communities.wa.gov.au or lodge a request through SharePoint, before releasing any information relating to a person who was/is a juvenile at the time of their conviction.

  • You must inform the person assessed as AHCR of the outcome of the assessment and of any decision that information will be released (refer to procedures below).

  • Disclosure of a person’s AHCR classification must be preceded by a review of that status before the information is used or released.

  • You must record the information disclosed, to whom, and the rationale for release and save to child’s file. Where a letter is sent, a copy should be placed on file.

  • Legal and Business Services must approve any letters before they are sent out. Request legal services via the Legal Request Form on SharePoint (link in related resources).

Process Maps

Not applicable.

Information and Instructions

  • Considerations for disclosing information to a corresponding authority or interested person under s.23(1) and (2)
  • Immediate safety of children
  • Decision to disclose information
  • Safety planning with families to address continuing risk
  • Disclosure to an employer
  • Considerations for disclosing information to a corresponding authority or interested person under s.23(1) and (2)

    Where the Department has concerns for the safety and wellbeing of specific children, you may need to consider to disclosing relevant information to a corresponding authority or an interested person (possibly family, employer or service agency) under s.23(1) and (2) Children and Communities Act 2004 (the Act), where it is determined that there is ongoing risk to a child by a person assessed as AHCR.  

    Under s.23 (1) relevant information may only be provided to a public authority, a Commonwealth agency, a corresponding authority, a non-government provider, or an interested person or body who or which, in the CEO’s opinion, is seen to have a direct interest in the wellbeing of a child, a class or group of children, or a person who qualifies for assistance under s.96 - a person under 25 years of age who has left the CEO’s care and was the subject of:

    • a protection order (time-limited) or protection order (until 18) over 15 years of age
    • a negotiated placement agreement that was in force for a continuous period of a six months, or
    • was provided with placement services under s.32(1)(a) for a continuous period of at least six months.

    Relevant information may be disclosed to those people or agencies who need the information to secure the protection of a child, group or class of children, for example:

    • the legal guardian or carer of the child at risk
    • the employer of the known perpetrator when the employment involves access to children, and
    • other persons involved in a monitoring role ensuring the child's safety.

    This is an extremely sensitive area of practice and all decisions must be informed by an assessment of continuing risk to specific child/ren by a person assessed as AHCR.  For detailed information refer to Assessment of continuing risk to a child by a person of concern.

    Refer to Chapter 4.2 Working with other agencies - memoranda of understanding and information sharing to access the Commonwealth and Child Protection Agencies Information Sharing Protocols (the Protocols) with Medicare and Centrelink.  The Protocols set out the procedures for requesting information from Commonwealth agencies, specify the type of information that can be requested and what supporting evidence is required, and provide time frames for responding to requests.

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    Immediate safety of children

    An interim safety plan must be developed where a ACHR has contact with specific children, and it will take a period of time to conduct an assessment of continuing risk to the children by the person of concern. The interim safety plan should involve the children and persons with parental responsibility.  Refer to Chapter 1.2 Safety planning and the section '1. Immediate safety planning' in Chapter 2.2 Conducting a Child Safety Investigation.

    Where releasing information about the person of concern is necessary to keep a child safe, you must inform the person assessed as AHCR of our intention to release the information. This action must be approved by the district director.

    When undertaking a safety assessment, the information about the AHCR is normally regarded as confidential. Ideally, the Department should obtain the person's consent to release of the information.  Where consent is not given refer to Ensuring Immediate Safety - Disclosure of Information regarding a person assessed as AHCR.

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    Decision to disclose information

    You must advise the AHCR of the outcome of the assessment of actual harm continuing risk to specific children, and any decision to disclose information.

    Where the AHCR refuses to communicate with Department officers, you must record evidence of the reasonable efforts you have taken to contact the person. 

    The implementation of a decision to release information to a third party must be planned and managed. The AHCR must be informed that information will be released, and given the opportunity to:

    • give consent for the information to be released to a third party,
    • provide any additional information about their circumstances.

    Wherever possible you should discuss how the third party will be informed of the decision with the AHCR, with the following options to be considered:

    • The AHCR informs the third party
    • We support the AHCR to inform the third party
    • We advise the third party without the AHCR's participation or cooperation.

    When the AHCR does not consent to information being released:

    • You  must consult with Legal and Business Services and a Director, Specialist Child Protection Unit as part of the decision making process about whether or not, and the manner in which, the AHCR should be informed that information will be released.
    • The district director must approve the release of information.
    • Where information is released to caregivers and families it must be written, and you must seek advice from legal and Business Services before providing information. Use the SharePoint Request Form to submit the request for advice.  Complete the request form, attach required document using the 'Add Attachment' link, and select the 'Legal Mailbox' button.  Then select 'Yes' from the drop down menu 'Submit to Legal & Business Services' at the end of the form and save it to lodge the request.   
    • District director approval must be obtained and advice sought from the Screening Unit via the Director, Business Support and Coordination when making a decision to the release of information to an employer – for more information refer to the procedure ‘Disclosure to an employer’ below.

    Once appropriate approvals have been obtained, implementation of the safety assessment and planning may proceed.   

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    Safety planning with families to address continuing risk

    If, after assessing a person as AHCR, you must:  

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    Disclosure to an employer

    Where a decision is made to disclose information to an 'interested person' who is an employer of the person of concern under s.23(1), the district director must refer the matter to the Manager Screening Unit, Legal and Business Services. The following process will apply:

    1. Where we have credible information that a person of concern is having contact with specific children at their place of employment, the district director refers the concern is to the Relevant Executive Director or Regional Executive Director.

    2. The Executive Director endorses the referral to the Manager Screening Unit.

    3. The Manager Screening Unit refers the endorsed matter for assessment and Probity Panel consideration and advice to determine whether the information should be disclosed.  

    4. The Manager, Screening Unit advises the relevant Executive Director of likely timeframes for undertaking the assessment and Probity Panel process.

    5. The Executive Director considers the Probity Panel’s advice and recommendations before making a decision to disclose adverse information. 

    6. The Executive Director informs the Assistant Director General of all high risk and contentious matters, particularly where the matter concerns an external organisation, a children’s service and where a decision is made contrary to advice. 

    7. Where the release of adverse information is endorsed, the Executive Director considers the appropriateness of who should sign the disclosure letter, for example the Assistant Director General, Executive Director or Manager Screening Unit.

    8. The relevant district director is briefed on recommended actions and the outcomes of decisions made to release or not release information and actions to be taken.

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