Information and Instructions

• Identifying a high risk infant
• Infant is assessed as not being at risk
• Unborn baby is assessed as high risk of harm after birth
• Infant is assessed as high risk – Child Safety Investigation
• Culturally responsive practice
• Notifying the parents
• Talking to parents about co-sleeping and Abusive Head Trauma
• Sighting the infant
• Abuse types requiring a specific response
• The medical assessment
• Priority responses to the physical abuse of infants
• Safety planning for high risk infants
• Consulting with others or referring to services
• When to consult your team leader

Identifying a high risk infant

An unborn infant or a child under 3 years of age and at increased likelihood of significant harm or death due to the presence of risk factors is referred to as a high risk infant.


1.  Identify the risk factors that contribute to an infant being at increased likelihood of harm - use the resource Determining risk factors for an infant to consider the risk factors that are relevant for the case you are assessing and whether further investigation is required.

2.  You must commence a Child Safety Investigation (CSI) within 24 hours (priority 1) when an infant is open for an Interaction or Initial Inquiry and there is information to suggest they may be at increased likelihood of significant harm, or a determination is made that a CSI is required.

3.  Familiarise yourself with the protective factors.  Protective factors are observable strengths that equate to safety and provide evidence to mitigate the risk factors present. 

PROTECTIVE FACTOR	Description
Attachment to the infant	The presence of strong attachment between the infant and parents, including responsiveness and commitment to the infant's needs.
Social supports and social services	Pre-existing supports that the parents have in place which increase visibility of the infant in the family and community.
Good health care, healthy nutrition and lifestyle	Can include appropriate antenatal care, good nutrition, no smoking, no drug use, no inappropriate alcohol use; these good lifestyle factors decrease the likelihood of premature birth or low birth weight.
Health relationship between parents	A strong, positive relationship can be a buffer to other stressors that arise following an infant's birth.
Parenting skills and understanding of basic child development	Parents with more than one child have previous understanding of infant behaviour and parents who have taken time to learn about what to expect after their infant is born are more likely to be prepared for infant behaviour.
Understanding of risk factors and being motivated to make changes	Parents being responsive to information about risk factors and willing to make lifestyle changes in order to minimise those risks.
Planning for the infant’s birth	Sourcing safe accommodation, items for the baby and learning about how to care for an infant gives in indication of the parents’ attachment to the infant, their capacity to make arrangements and motivation to care for the infant.

 
4. Familiarise yourself with the risk factors.  A high risk infant assessment takes into consideration three main types of risk factors:

1. parental risk factors;
2. environmental risk factors; and/or
3. infant risk factors.

These are explored thoroughly in the resource Determining risk factors for an infant and this resource must be utilised throughout the investigation to assess the risk factors present and the likelihood of harm to the infant.

Consider, in the context of the abuse type you are assessing, which risk factors are relevant for your assessment and what protective factors are present to mitigate the likelihood that the infant will experience harm.  

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Infant is assessed as not being at risk

 

Where concerns about an infant are assessed as requiring no further action, you must record the rationale for this decision in an Assist Interaction or Initial Inquiry. The rationale must be approved by your team leader.

 

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Unborn baby is assessed as high risk of harm after birth

All unborn infants assessed to be at risk of significant harm after birth and high risk infants must be actively case managed until the risk factors have been addressed and there is sufficient safety to close the case.

Where you have assessed that an unborn infant is at risk of significant harm after birth, you must refer the case for pre-birth planning and to Best Beginnings Plus (BB Plus).  Before the infant's birth (where possible) or at the first home visit, you must give parents and/or carers verbal information about:

• the effects of shaking on an infant (Abusive Head Trauma). You must document this discussion in the case notes; and

• the risks associated with co-sleeping practices via the related resource, BB Plus safe infant sleeping checklist - the discussion must be documented in case notes.

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Infant is assessed as high risk – Child Safety Investigation

Commence a Child Safety Investigation.

Use the resource Determining risk factors for an infant to complete an assessment – you must consider the: 

• parent's understanding of the infant's needs and how they must respond

• parent's ability and willingness to provide appropriate nutrition and stimulation

• parent's previous parenting role models

• impact of stress on the parents and their capacity to meet the infant's needs

• impact of family and domestic violence on family functioning and whether power, control and violence is preventing the infant from having their needs met, and

• parent's strategies for attempting to deal with difficult feeding issues or other complications, which can result in an unsettled or distressed infant.

During the course of the Department's involvement, sufficient protective factors may be demonstrated that mitigate the risk factors.  These protective factors may provide the necessary evidence that the infant is not at increased likelihood of harm and/or that the risk factors have been addressed. 

You must clearly document the protective factors alongside any rationale for closing the Department's involvement.

The following actions must be taken as part of assessing the risk factors present for the infant; these may be undertaken as part of a CSI or Intensive Family Support activity.  

Where guidance dictates that an action must be taken, but due to resources, availability or other reasons you are unable to undertake the action, then you must provide written rationale or planning documents to support this.

Actions include, but are not limited to the steps below:


1.  Notify both parents that a CSI is being undertaken.  You should use an internal Signs of Safety mapping to document clear harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals. 

2.  Consult with the local Best Beginnings Plus (BB Plus) team leader and forward a referral.  If this is unsuccessful, you must discuss this with the team leader and consider whether, in the absence of BB Plus' involvement, there is sufficient safety for the infant.  Specific consideration must be given to whether further actions are required to increase the infant's safety. 

3.  Sight the infant as soon as possible after commencing the assessment.

4.  Discuss the reported concerns with both parents, and provide them with information about the effects of shaking an infant, risks of co-sleeping and assess the infant's sleeping area to make sure it is a safe sleeping environment.


Signs of Safety meetings must be undertaken when: a child has suffered significant harm, or is likely to suffer harm as a result of abuse and/or neglect the child's parents have not protected or are unlikely or unable to protect the child from harm, and a safety plan is required.

 
5.  Commence safety planning to address the reported concerns.

6.  Continue to sight the infant at least weekly for the duration of your involvement.


7.  Consult with other relevant internal and external staff e.g. Aboriginal Practice Leader, Senior Practice Development Officer, General Practitioner, Child Health Nurse.  Information must be gathered from multiple sources – the parents during home visits, other professionals and the safety network, etc.

8.  Refer to services where appropriate, such as BB Plus, drug and alcohol services and mental health services.

9.  Document your investigation and the outcome, and notify the parents of the outcome where appropriate. 

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Culturally responsive practice

When conducting an investigation and the child or their family identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you must consult with an Aboriginal Practice Leader.

When working with culturally and linguistically diverse families, you must gather information relevant to the family's culture by first consulting with the family or their community, via online research, or consultation with a CaLD officer or the Principal Policy and Planning Officer, Cultural Diversity in head office.

If the Aboriginal Practice Leader from your district is not available then you must seek out another Aboriginal Practice Leader, starting with your adjacent district.

Cultural identity means different things to different people and there is not one correct way to ask about it. You must show respectful and culturally safe practices when talking to families about their culture and seek advice from other practitioners as required. It is important that you talk to families about their culture and what it means for them.

The Department is committed to making active efforts which are purposeful, thorough and timely, and are supported by legislation and policy to enable the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. 

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Notifying the parents

You must notify the parents if you commence a CSI. You should do this with the intention of developing a working relationship and in the interests of procedural fairness.

1.  Review the referral information and re-contact the referrer, where required, to clarify the reported concerns. 


You should use an internal Signs of Safety mapping to document clear harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals.

2.  Ensure you have the correct contact details for the parents.

3.  Contact the parents and notify them of the nature of the referral and your role in conducting an investigation.

"Hi ........., my name is ........ and I work for the Department of Communities. Is it safe for you to talk at the moment?" "I'm calling because we've received a report relating to your children that I need to talk to you more about. The report is in relation to ......... abuse, do you already know anything about why I might be calling?" "My role is to undertake a Child Safety Investigation in relation to the referral we have received. I'd like to talk to you more in person about this if that's possible..." "I know this can be a stressful time but I want to reassure you we are keen to hear your perspective and make a balanced assessment of the information I have."

 

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Talking to parents about co-sleeping and Abusive Head Trauma

​You must talk to the parents about the risks associated with co-sleeping and the effects of Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) (shaken baby syndrome) at your first home visit/contact contact and regularly to reinforce this advice. These conversations should be documented on the case file. 


You must provide parents of infants with the Department of Health's Safe Infant Sleeping Brochure.

 

For further information and brochures for families please refer to the NAPCAN website.  For more information on Abusive Head Trauma, refer to the resource Its not OK to shake babies, also on the NAPCAN website. 

 

Abusive Head Trauma (shaken baby syndrome)

Some key points you must talk to the parents about:  

 

Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) overview	Abusive Head Trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome, refers to any injury to an infant's skull or intracranial contents as a result of blunt impact (infant being hit in the head or having their head hit against something) and/or shaking (whiplash).
Possible consequences	This type of injury can result in severe consequences, such as permanent disability or death.
Risk factors	Infants aged less than six months are most vulnerable to trauma from shaking due to the combination of a heavy head, weak neck muscles, soft and rapidly growing brain, thin skull wall and lack of control of the head and neck.
Age of greatest risk	The greatest risk period for this type of injury is between six weeks and four months of age, when continuous crying can be particularly stressful for parents.

 

If you suspect that an infant has experienced AHT follow the prompts in the section 'Abuse types requiring a specific response' below.

 

Safe infant sleeping (co-sleeping and Sudden Unexplained Deaths in Infancy (SUDI) 

Some key points you must talk to the parents about: 

Co-sleeping overview	Co-sleeping is defined as the practice of a parent (or any other person) being asleep on the same surface as an infant.
Possible consequences	That the person or bedding will accidentally suffocate the infant or that a mother may fall asleep while breastfeeding the infant, smothering the infant with her breast or body.

 

​Where you are concerned that co-sleeping is occurring you should utilise the  BB Plus Safe Infant Checklist.

You can also provide the following resources: 

• SIDS and Kids WA: Reducing the Risk of SUDI in Aboriginal Communities
• SIDS and Kids webpage: Safe Sleeping in Other Languages, and
• Quitnow webpage: Pregnancy and Quitting for information on:
• the impact of smoking during pregnancy
• the effects of second-hand smoke on infants, and
• smoking and SIDS.

Child protection workers and Best Beginnings home visitors may also provide the family with additional information and resources from the SIDS and Kids WA - Safer Sleep website. 

 

Factors increasing co-sleeping risks 

There is evidence that co-sleeping is associated with a greater incidence of SUDI. The risks associated with co-sleeping are increased when: 

• the parent or carer has consumed alcohol or used illicit drugs
• the parent or carer has taken any medication which may alter consciousness or cause drowsiness
• either the parent or the carer is a smoker, and/or
• the mother smoked during pregnancy.

Other factors that increase the risks associated with co-sleeping include: 

• either the parents or carers are experiencing extreme tiredness to the point where they may find it difficult to respond to the baby
• sleeping with the baby on any soft surface (for example, on a sofa, couch, waterbed, bean bag or sagging mattress)
• excessive bedding on the bed (risk of smothering and/or over-heating)
• the baby is less than 11 weeks of age, and/or
• the baby is preterm or small for gestational age. 

Sudden Unexplained Deaths in Infancy (SUDI)

SUDI is an umbrella term that refers to a broad category of sudden infant deaths including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), fatal sleep accidents and other types of unexpected deaths such as congenital, infections and trauma. The following recommendations for sleeping a baby safely have all been shown to reduce the risk of the SUDI and should be provided to parents and carers to reduce risk:

• sleep baby on his or her back*
• keep baby's head and face uncovered
• keep baby smoke free before and after birth
• provide a safe sleeping environment night and day
• sleep baby in a safe cot in parent's room, or
• breastfeed baby.**

* Medical advice may be needed for babies with a severe disability.
** While breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed babies, we understand that it is not possible for all mothers.

To increase knowledge and understanding of safe infant sleeping practices, child protection workers and Best Beginnings home visitors should refer to the:

• related resource material 
• to the Rednose WA Safer Sleep website, and
• complete the Department's online Safe Instant Sleeping E-Learning course (Via Compass).

 


You must document in Objective that you have provided the parents with information about both of these issues.

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Sighting the infant

You must sight the infant as soon as possible after commencing the CSI. Where an infant has been assessed as being at high risk, and a safety plan is developed with the parents, you must see the infant at minimum of once per week.

At each visit, you as the authorised officer must engage with the infant by holding them, interacting with them and actively assessing their presentation and circumstances.


To facilitate understanding and responsibility for safety planning there should also be regular and open communication between you and the other key stakeholders and agencies or services engaged with the family as part of the safety plan/network to test the viability of the plan. 

You should use an internal Signs of Safety mapping to document clear harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals.

 
Steps: 

1.  Ask the parents if you may hold the infant. You should let the parents know that the Department has an increased role in assessing infants due to their vulnerability and increased risk.

Where parents prevent you from seeing the infant, you must persist and attempt to see the infant, regardless of whether the infant is sleeping. If you are unable to see the infant you must consult with your team leader on the same day about the next steps to take.

2.  While holding the infant, interact with the infant by talking to him/her in a playful way. Speak softly and engage in eye contact. 

3.  Observe the infant throughout the contact, including during your direct interactions and the parents interactions.

4.  Document your observations and analysis of the relationship between the infant's behaviours, parent's behaviours and the abuse type you are investigating.


At each visit observe and assess the infant's:   

1. Level of eye contact (mutual gaze)

• Mutual gaze (eye to eye contact) is critical for infants, to promote optimal brain development, support a rich sense of self in the infant and promote attachment between the infant and caregiver.

• You should explain the benefits of eye contact to parents.

2. Responsiveness to stimuli

• How does the infant respond to sound and light?

• Does the infant follow the sound of people's voices?

• Does the infant respond to his/her name?

3. Fatigue, sleepiness, and disinterest

• Is the infant unusually fatigued? Can the infant hold his/her own head?

• Are the parent's reports consistent with your observations of the infant sleeping?

• Is the infant unusually/consistently disinterested in engaging with his/her parents?

4. Gross motor skills and development

• Have you observed changes in development in the infant?

• Is the infant showing development consistent with his/her age?

• Can the infant suck, point, hold his/her head? Is the infant starting to sit up/crawl/walk?

5. Weight

• Did the infant have a low birth weight?

• Is the infant consistently gaining weight?

• Does the infant appear dehydrated? (Watch for sunken eyes and/or fontanel (Soft spot on the head) and strong smelling urine)

6. Cleanliness

• Does the infant have clean and healthy skin? Are his/her nails dirty? (Dirty nails on a non-mobile infant indicate the infant may not be being kept clean)

• Check under the infant's chin. Fluff and dirt build up in between the skin here when not bathed regularly.

• Does the infant have an odour?

• Does the infant suffer from nappy rash? If so, how is this being treated?

• Is the infant dressed in clean clothing which is appropriate for the weather? 

7. Interaction between parents and infant

• Do the parents play with, show affection and communicate with the infant?  

• Does the infant seek comfort from the parents and do they reciprocate in providing comfort?

• Do the parents speak about the infant with love and admiration or harshness?

• What are the parents current feelings towards the infant? How do they feel about the changes the infant has brought to their life?

8. The environment

• Who lives in the home? Is the environment overcrowded?

• Is the environment hygienic? Have you observed any environmental dangers?

• Is the home chaotic?

• What are the sleeping arrangements for the other occupants? Does the infant have their own uncluttered bassinet or cot?

​In regional and remote areas, you may need to rely on other professionals or even safety network members to sight the infant, due to distance and availability.   Where this occurs you must document the rationale for this and provide appropriate feedback to the person who sighted the infant. Where possible, you should make a plan for when a child protection worker can sight the infant.

 

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Abuse types requiring a specific response

There are several abuse types relating to high risk infants that require a specific response from the Department. They are:

1. Physical abuse - Bruising or injury to a non-mobile infant

2. Physical abuse - Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) or shaken baby

3. Neglect - Non-organic Failure To Thrive (FTT), and


4. Neglect - Co-sleeping and risk of accidental suffocation      

Infants with bruising, injuries, burns and/or other symptoms of injury such as vomiting, seizures, rigid appearance, a lack of response to stimuli, alterations in breathing/temperature, poor feeding, irritability or lethargy must be medically assessed immediately, via an ambulance if necessary. If you suspect that an infant may have been harmed, or where an infant is found to have any injury or symptoms of injury, the infant must be medically assessed on the same day by a paediatrician or local medical service in consultation with a paediatrician, preferably with child protection experience. The worker should accompany the infant with the parent/s and attend this appointment.    When parents do not consent to an infant with symptoms of injury being medically assessed, you must consider whether the infant is at immediate and substantial risk. You must advise the parents that you are required to consult with your team leader.  If not available, consult another team leader in your district; if after hours contact Crisis Care.  NOTE:  Move to a private place away from the parents immediately (e.g. out the front of the house or in the car).

       
Physical abuse

Bruising or injury to a non-mobile infant

Bruising is uncommon in infants because they are non-mobile. As such, any bruising or symptom of injury located on a non-mobile infant must be further assessed by a paediatrician or local medical service in sonsultation with a paediatrician, preferably with child protection experience.  Prior to any visit to a non-mobile infant you should be familiar with the resource Accidental and Non-Accidental Injuries. 

Abusive Head Trauma or shaken baby

If you suspect an infant as suffered AHT, urgent medical attention must be sought for the infant - call for an ambulance.

Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) refers to an injury to the skull or the intracranial contents (e.g. brain) inflicted by a blunt impact (infant is hit in the head or has their head hit against something) and/or has been shaken (whiplash). This type of injury can result in detrimental outcomes and is the leading cause of death amongst infants who have been abused.

Infants aged less than six months are most vulnerable to AHT from shaking through the combination of a heavy head, weak neck muscles, a soft and rapidly growing brain, thin skull wall and lack of control of the head and neck.

The greatest risk period for infants is between six weeks and four months of age when crying peaks and can be particularly stressful for parents. If you suspect that an infant has suffered AHT, you must seek urgent medical attention by calling an ambulance, explaining your concerns about the infants possible AHT and providing any relevant details you have. You should remain with the infant and parents until the ambulance arrives and accompany the infant/parents to the hospital.

Severe symptoms of AHT:

• a bulging and/or spongy forehead
• rigidity
• seizures
• loss of consciousness, and/or
• difficulty breathing or alterations in breathing or temperature.

Non-specific signs and symptoms of AHT:

• irritability
• tiredness
• loss of appetite
• poor feeding
• vomiting
• poor sucking or swallowing
• lack of smiling or vocalising
• poor muscle tone, or
• pinpointed, dilated or unequal pupil size.

If you suspect that an infant has been harmed, you must conduct a visual check for injuries and bruising by engaging and respectfully inviting the parents to undress the infant, including removal of nappy, as follows:

1.  Explain to the parents your concerns and respectfully ask the parents to undress the infant, including the nappy. 

If…	Then…
The parents refuse	You must advise the parents that you need to consult with your team leader, and move to a private place away from the parents immediately (e.g. out the front of the house or in the car).

2.  Explain to the parents that you are looking at the infant for any physical signs of injury, such as bruising, cuts, scratches, burns or bite marks.

3.  Look at the infant's body, and ask the parents to move the infant if required.

If…	Then…
You are satisfied with the explanation provided by the parents	​Thank the parents for cooperating and continue your investigation. However if the infant is without visible injuries although is still lethargic, or has dilated pupils and/or is not feeding, you should consider seeking medial assessment.
You are not satisfied with the explanation provided by the parents	You must tell the parents and request that the infant is medically assessed on the same day by a paediatrician, preferably with child protection experience.
You observe significant injuries such as, bruising, burns, bites and/or other symptoms including vomiting, seizures, rigid appearance, a lack of response to stimuli, alterations in breathing/temperature, poor feeding, irritability or lethargy	You must consult with a team leader and seek an immediate medical assessment, including calling an ambulance.

Neglect

Non-organic Failure to Thrive (FTT)

Non-organic Failure to Thrive (FTT) is "significantly prolonged cessation of appropriate weight gain compared with recognised norms for age and gender…" (Block & Krebs 2005, Failure to Thrive as a Manifestation of Child Neglect).

Non-Organic FTT is caused by environmental factors and/or the actions or inactions of the parent or caregiver. Organic FTT occurs when there is an underlying medical cause for the condition. Your role is to ascertain from medical professionals if the FTT has resulted from non-organic causes and if so, to facilitate services and supports to assist the infant's parents to better care for them.

Symptoms of FTT include:

• lack of weight gain
• dehydration
• delays in reaching developmental milestones such as rolling over, crawling and talking
• learning disabilities
• lack of emotions such as smiling, laughing or making eye contact
• delayed motor development
• fatigue, sleepiness, disinterest, and/or
• irritability.

Failure to Thrive is often diagnosed by child and/or community nurses in conjunction with other health practitioners, who will conduct a medical assessment to exclude underlying medical conditions.  If you suspect that an infant is FTT then you should discuss this with the parent/s and notify/consult with the Child Health Nurse or GP.


Co-sleeping and the risk of accidental suffocation

Where there is a suspicion that an infant has been harmed as a result of neglect then you must:

1.  Explain to the parents your concerns and respectfully ask to see and hold the infant.

2.  Observe the infant including noticing:

• Does the infant have clean and healthy skin?
• Are their nails dirty?
• Does he or she have an odour?
• Is the infant's clothing appropriate?
• Does the infant appear dehydrated, have sunken eyes and/or fontanel (soft sport on the head)?

3.  Talk to the parents about what you have noticed about their infant and the routines they have in place, including sleeping arrangements and feeding routine. Also explore any changes the parent/s may have noticed about the child, including how long they have been occurring.


4.  Observe the area where the infant sleeps.

5.  Observe the parents engagement with the infant. Take into consideration:

• Do the parents play with, show affection and communicate with the infant?
• Does the infant seek comfort from the parents and do they reciprocate by providing comfort?
• Do the parents speak about the infant with love and admiration, or harshness?

6.

If…	Then…
You observe no indications of neglect	Thank the parents for cooperating and continue your investigation.
You observe physical injuries or other symptoms that you believe may be the result of neglect	You must point the signs out to the parents immediately and seek an explanation.

7.

If…	Then…
You are satisfied with the explanation provided by the parents	Thank the parents for cooperating and continue your investigation.
You are not satisfied with the explanation provided by the parents	You must tell the parents and request that the infant is medically assessed on the same day by a paediatrician, preferably with child protection experience.
You observe significant injuries such as, bruising, burns, bites and/or other symptoms including vomiting, seizures, rigid appearance, a lack of response to stimuli, alterations in breathing/temperature, poor feeding, irritability or lethargy	You must consult with a team leader and seek an immediate medical assessment, including considering calling an ambulance.

 

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The medical assessment

Where you observe an infant with bruises or symptoms of injury, or you suspect injury, you must attend the medical service in person with the infant (and where possible, a parent or relative of the infant),.  Telephone the service ahead of presentation and provide the paediatrician (or the hospital social worker), with clear details of your concerns.

​If at any time you become concerned about the child's immediate safety or the parents are unwilling to engage then you must consult with your team leader immediately and consider whether the child is at immediate and substantial risk requiring action under s.37 of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (the Act).

Metropolitan area

1.  Infants must be referred to the Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) Child Protection Unit (CPU).

2.  You should phone ahead and make an appointment.

• During business hours, PCH CPU services can be requested directed through the CPU Acute Service 6456 0089.

• For after-hours, the duty social worker can be contacted through the PCH Switchboard on 6456 2222.

3.  You should accompany the infant to the appointment, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you are not able to, you must (at minimum) brief the paediatrician or social worker with complete details of the concerns.

4.  The medical assessment is expected to:

• provide treatment for the infant's injury and recommendations for further medical treatment;

• exclude any underlying medical conditions leading to the bruising or injury;

• document the current injury (written and photographic);

• conduct an in depth health assessment including blood tests, bone scans, x-rays (where necessary), and an ophthalmological assessment (where necessary – an eye exam to identify retinal haemorrhages indicating abusive head trauma or shaken baby) in order to identify other possible injuries or indicators of previous injuries;

• provide a medical opinion on the child's injuries, including the degree to which the explanation/mechanism matches the injury and whether the bruising is due to accidental or non-accidental causes, by considering: 

• age and developmental stage – can the infant do what the parents are saying?

• consideration of the location of bruises - face, back, abdomen, arms, genitalia/perineum, buttocks, head, neck, torso, hands and feet are uncommon in accidental injury;

• number of bruises; and

• size, shape or pattern – fingertip bruising, tramline bruising, pinch marks, slap marks, implement bruising.

5.  You must seek clarification from the paediatrician as to whether the injury has been deemed to be accidental or non-accidental (also referred to as an inflicted injury). 

	If…	Then…
	The infant is assessed by a medical practitioner who is not a paediatrician e.g. nurse, General Practitioner, junior medical officer	You must ask the medical practitioner if they have consulted with a paediatrician linked to their service or 'on call'.

 
6.  If there has been no consultation with a paediatrician, either you or the medical practitioner must consult with PCH CPU on the same day.


7.  When an infant is hospitalised as a result of a non-accidental or suspicious injury you must commence safety planning if it is not occurring already.

8.  If at any time you are not sure of the next step to take or the parents are unwilling to engage in safety planning, you must consult with a team leader.

Regional and remote area 

1.  When a paediatrician is not be available on the same day, you must arrange to attend either the local medical service (GP or hospital) with the infant and request that they consult with the on call paediatrician.

2.  You should phone ahead and make an appointment.

3.  You should accompany the infant to the appointment, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you are not able to, you must (at minimum) brief the paediatrician or social worker with complete details of the concerns.

4.  The medical assessment is expected to:

• provide treatment for the infant's injury and recommendations for further medical treatment;

• exclude any underlying medical conditions leading to the bruising or injury;

• document the current injury (written and photographic);

• conduct an in depth health assessment including blood tests, bone scans, x-rays (where necessary), and an ophthalmological assessment (where necessary – an eye exam to identify retinal haemorrhages indicating abusive head trauma or shaken baby) in order to identify other possible injuries or indicators of previous injuries;

• provide a medical opinion on the child's injuries, including the degree to which the explanation/mechanism matches the injury and whether the bruising is due to accidental or non-accidental causes, by considering: 

• age and developmental stage – can the infant do what the parents are saying?

• consideration of the location of bruises - face, back, abdomen, arms, genitalia/perineum, buttocks, head, neck, torso, hands and feet are uncommon in accidental injury;

• number of bruises; and

• size, shape or pattern – fingertip bruising, tramline bruising, pinch marks, slap marks, implement bruising.

5.  You must seek clarification from the paediatrician as to whether the injury has been deemed to be accidental or non-accidental (also referred to as an inflicted injury)                      

	If…	Then…
	The infant is assessed by a medical practitioner who is not a paediatrician e.g. nurse, General Practitioner, junior medical officer	You must ask the medical practitioner if they have consulted with a paediatrician linked to their service or 'on call'.

6.  If there has been no consultation with a paediatrician, either you or the medical practitioner must consult with PCH CPU on the same day.


7.  When an infant is hospitalised as a result of a non-accidental or suspicious injury you must commence safety planning if it is not occurring already.

8.  If at any time you are not sure of the next step to take or the parents are unwilling to engage in safety planning, you must consult with a team leader. 

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Priority responses to the physical abuse of infants

When an infant has been hospitalised as a result of a non-accidental or suspicious injury, safety planning must be implemented, monitored and tested, so that any future contact between the infant and the parents and/or possible perpetrators will not pose any continuing risk to the infant (e.g. supervision of contact between parents and the infant). Safety planning must also consider the safety of siblings and other children in contact with the parents or possible perpetrators.

When dealing with the suspected physical abuse of an infant you should familiarise yourself with the resource Accidental and Non-Accidental Injuries.

​If at any time you suspect that there is an immediate and substantial risk to the infant's wellbeing then you must notify a team leader and consider intervention action under s.37 of the Act.

 

Metropolitan response

1.  Any non-accidental or suspicious injury to an infant must be referred to the WA Police using Form 542 - Request for Relevant Information in the forms list. This may have occurred before the matter was allocated to you, but you must ensure that this has occurred. 

2.  You must complete a review of any history the Department has with the infant and his/her family; this information is critical in informing any patterns of behaviour or previous recorded harm of the infant or other children.

3.  Consult with a team leader.

4.  You must make contact with the hospital staff immediately following receipt of the concerns and ascertain the current status of the infant and the parents. You should also ascertain what contact they have had with WA police and any immediate plans that may have been developed. 

5.  When infants are admitted to the Perth Children's Hospital (PCH), the Child Protection Unit (CPU) usually organise a Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) meeting.  The SCAN is held at PCH, and the Department, WA Police and relevant hospital staff are invited to attend, discuss the injury and develop a plan to investigate the concerns. Fiona Stanley Hospital also conduct SCAN meetings as required. Refer to the Medical Child Abuse Flowchart in related resources.


6.  A plan should be developed that addresses:

• The presenting injuries and the outcome of any medical assessment already conducted.

• Any further treatment the infant requires, including possible discharge timeline.

• Who has already spoken with the parents and/or perpetrator and what they have been told.

• Who is going to speak with the parents and/or perpetrator about the concerns; consider whether this can be done jointly by agencies e.g. the Department and WA Police together.

• Any current safety plan and possible safety network members.

• Clear next steps by each agency in addressing the concerns for the infant.

• How the agencies will communicate with each other during the course of the investigation.

7.  Ensure that any meeting that is held is documented on the case file and distributed appropriately.

Regional and remote response

The following steps should be taken in the context of a priority 1 response (within 24 hours) to a referral of physical abuse of an infant:

1.  Any non-accidental or suspicious injury to an infant must be referred to the WA Police. This may have occurred prior to the matter being allocated to you, but you must ensure that this has occurred. 

2.  You must complete a review of any history the Department has with the infant and his/her family; this information is critical in informing any patterns of behaviour or previous recorded harm of the infant or other children.

3.  Consult with a team leader.

4.  You must make contact with the hospital staff immediately following receipt of the concerns and ascertain the current status of the infant and the parents. You should also ascertain what contact they have had with WA police and any immediate plans that may have been developed. 

5.  You must verify that a paediatrician conducted the medical assessment of the infant or that the 'on call' paediatrician for the medical service was consulted. Perth Children's Hospital Child Protection Unit can also be consulted at any time in relation to regional or remote matters.

6.  You must develop a coordinated, planned response with the relevant organisations involved. This may require you to arrange a local strategy meeting between WA Police, hospital staff and the Department.

7.  Develop a plan that addresses:

• The presenting injuries and the outcome of any medical assessment already conducted.

• Any further treatment the infant requires, including possible discharge timeline.

• Who has already spoken with the parents and/or perpetrator and what they have been told.

• Who is going to speak with the parents and/or perpetrator about the concerns; consider whether this can be done jointly by agencies e.g. the Department and WA Police together.

• Any current safety plan and possible safety network members.

• Clear next steps by each agency in addressing the concerns for the infant.

• How the agencies will communicate with each other during the course of the investigation.

8.  Ensure that any meeting that is held is documented and distributed appropriately.

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Safety planning for high risk infants

Safety plans involving high risk infants must be rigorous and consider:

• Increasing the infant's visibility in the community and decreasing parental stress via the use of childcare services, parenting and respite services.

• Increasing parenting skills and providing strategies to manage the infant crying (such as Best Beginnings Plus, Ngala or Child Health Nurse-led services).

• A schedule of home visiting so that the infant is seen and held by a member of the safety network, daily if necessary, to monitor the infant's safety and to provide support to the parents.

• Safe sleeping practices are monitored and tested by the safety network, daily if necessary.

• Family and domestic violence, assessment of risk and support to the adult victim.

• Parents and caregivers are assisted to manage their anger and improve impulse control via referral to services if necessary.
  

• Department visiting plans including frequency of home visits, and other arrangements such as seeing where baby is sleeping and actively seeing/holding baby.
  

• The arrangements or actions being undertaken by the safety network and others involved to support parenting and reduce the concerns.
  

• Arrangements for the parents and safety network about who they should contact in an emergency. This should include the district office phone number as well as Crisis Care number.
  

You must review safety planning weekly with the parents, their network of support people and professionals undertaking both a monitoring and supportive role.

For a safety plan to be considered valid it must be documented.

Related resources for specific safety plans:

If…	Then…
Physical abuse High risk infant assessment	Dynamics and Context of Fatal or Serious Injuries to Infant and Children Building Safety When Harm is Denied
Emotional abuse – family and domestic violence (FDV)	Emotional Abuse - Family and Domestic Violence Assessment Toolkit Emotional Abuse - Family and Domestic Safety Planning Toolkit  Building Safety When Harm is Denied
Neglect	Child Development and Trauma Guide Building Safety When Harm is Denied
Sexual abuse	Building Safety When Harm is Denied

 

You should complete a Signs of Safety meeting with the family before conducting safety planning, in order to determine the level of safety for the child and whether safety planning is required. For more information about Signs of Safety, including developing harm statements, danger statements and safety goals and safety planning in specific circumstances refer to Chapter 2.2 Signs of Safety - child protection practice framework.

What is safety planning?

• Safety planning is a proactive, structured and monitored process that provides parents with an opportunity to demonstrate that they can address the Department's concerns by providing safety for their child.

• You may have heard people within the Department refer to safety planning in different ways, for example, immediate Safety Plan, interim Safety Plan, verbal Safety Plan and FDV Safety Plan.

• It is essentially a meeting between the Department, the parents, the safety network and the child (where appropriate) during which a written plan is developed that addresses the harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals.  

Authority to safety plan

• Section 32(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) of the Act outlines the actions you, as an authorised officer, can take in arranging or facilitating a meeting in order to safeguard or promote a child's wellbeing. You can invite:

• a parent or other relative of the child;

• a person who is significant in the child's life;

• a representative of a service provider; and/or

• a representative of a public authority.

• The purpose must be to develop a plan to address the ongoing needs of the child in a way that ensures the best outcome for the child.

• You cannot prevent  parents having contact with their child or mandate conditions of contact. 

• You cannot use your statutory powers or coercive influence to move a child away from their parents or keep a child away from their parents.

• You can approve a safety plan where parents have developed a plan to address the Department's concerns. If the parents' plan involves a change of residence then they should be referred for legal advice with respect to Family Court proceedings.

• You can state your concerns if an action, such as contact, occurs and possible consequences from the Department, for example consideration of intervention action.

If you are unsure about your authority or role in safety planning, consult your team leader or consider contacting the Child Protection Legal Unit.

Preparing for safety planning

• Before commencing safety planning, you must develop clear danger statements and safety goals, and should attempt to reach a shared understanding of these with the family.

• Explain to the family and other relevant people what the safety planning process is and what is expected of them.

• Think about who should attend the safety planning meeting, including family members, the children and relevant professionals. Ensure that the professionals understand their role in the process.

• Organise the meeting at a suitable location, establish who will facilitate the meeting and who will document and distribute what is agreed.

• Ensure you are aware what, if any, possible consequences the Department is comfortable to include in the safety plan.

If you don't feel confident in facilitating a safety planning meeting then utilise other members of your team or a team leader who is not a decision-maker in relation to the case.

What is a safety network?

• A safety network is a group of people who care for the child and are willing to engage with the Department in addressing the concerns for the child's safety.

• You should always encourage the parents to bring along as many people as they can to a safety planning meeting to participate in the safety network. A robust safety network can be an indication of the level of support available to the parents and/or child and may mitigate the Department's concerns.

• Not all members of the safety network will be able to provide the same level of support. In assessing safety network members you should consider:

• their availability to the parents and/or child;

• if they will listen if contacted as part of the safety plan;

• if they will respond, as agreed, if contacted as part of the safety plan; and

• if they are willing to engage with the Department.

• There may be people who the Department deems unsuitable to be a part of the safety network, such as a person convicted of child sex offences.  You must communicate this clearly and appropriately as part of the safety planning process.

What happens at a safety planning meeting?

• The facilitator should chair the meeting and ensure that focus is maintained throughout the meeting.

The harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals should be discussed to ensure that everyone present understands the concerns for the child.

The parents and safety network should be invited to come up with rules for the safety plan that they believe will ensure the safety goal is achieved. Questions to elicit this could include: "What do you think you, you partner, your family or the safety network can do to increase safety for the children?" "In your opinion, what would it take to make your child safer?" "If we asked your children what would make them feel safer, what do you think they would say?" "How did you make sure your children was safe before the Department was involved?" "As a parent, what would you like to learn about this situation?" "If you had exactly the sort of support you needed to deal with these concerns, what would that support look like?"

The rules must adhere to the SMART principles:

• Specific - Who does what, when and how?

• Measurable - Who is making sure that everyone is doing what they say? How will we know?

• Achievable - Is the plan achievable? Can the people who are a part of the plan realistically achieve what they say they are going to do?

• Relevant - Are the actions in the plan from the family and network relevant to the danger statements and safety goals?

• Time-Limited - How is this going to be reviewed? By whom? How often? When will the case be closed? Once safety is demonstrated, how long will we ask them to keep demonstrating it.

You may want to use a scaling question to measure, over time, the effectiveness of the safety plan. 

Discuss the consequences that the Department is including in the safety plan in the event that it is not followed or breached:   "In the event that this safety plan is not followed, the Department will convene everyone for a review meeting and may consult with the district director about intervention action".

What needs to be in a safety plan document?

For high risk infants include how the safety network and others (i.e. carers), can contact you urgently, for example to report any concerns or speak with someone when you are on leave. The plan should include contact telephone numbers for you, your team leader and local office during business hours and Crisis Care for after hours.  It is critical that everyone who provides care to a non-mobile infant, or is part of the safety network, knows they must seek immediate medical attention if they observe bruising or any signs identified in Abusive Head Trauma or Shaken baby section.

Safety plans should document in writing the following elements:


• Date of safety plan meeting.

• Purpose of the safety plan e.g. to plan unsupervised contact or to address the Department's worries about 'dad' hurting 'mum'.

• Who attended the safety planning meeting.

• Child's name and date of birth.

• Facilitator of the meeting.

• Genogram (optional).

• Details of the safety network and their role and contact information, e.g. Sally Smith (maternal grandmother).

• Harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals.

• Agreed rules of the safety plan and clear details about who is undertaking what tasks and actions to support the infant's safety.

• Consequences if the rules are broken or the plan is breached.

• Who is going to tell the children about the safety plan and how.
  

• local office and Crisis Care Unit contact numbers.
  

• Date to review the safety plan.

• Signature of participants (optional). 

 Distributing a safety plan

• The safety plan must be distributed in a timely fashion. Ideally it should be available to the safety network on the same day.

• It's critical that the entire safety network or anyone with a role in the safety plan receives a copy.

• Think about how the child will receive their safety plan and who will ensure that they do.

You can be creative with how people receive a copy of the safety plan, there may be members of the safety network who are happy to take a photograph of the plan and have it on their phone, while others may want a typed hard copy.

Reviewing a safety plan

• In cases involving high risk infants, you must review safety planning weekly with the parents, their network of support people and professionals undertaking both a monitoring and supportive role.

• Where a safety plan has been developed to address emotional abuse - family and domestic violence it must be reviewed regularly to respond to the dynamic nature of the risk.

• When developing a safety plan you should agree upon, and document a timeframe for review. 

• A review of a safety plan should examine its effectiveness and whether changes are required. A good way to review the effectiveness is through the use of scaling questions to examine whether safety for the child has improved.

• Not all safety plans require review as some a time-limited, however, where a case is being closed and a safety plan remains in place you should consider who will continue to monitor the safety plan in the Department's absence.

When a safety plan is breached

• In cases involving high risk infants where the parents do not comply with a safety plan, or the risk to the infant and their siblings is so great that a safety plan may not prevent further harm, you must consult with their team leader regarding whether intervention action is necessary to promote the infant's safety.

• When the safety plan is developed it should include considerations about what will happen if it is breached, for example a review meeting being called immediately with the safety network.

• A breach of the safety plan does not automatically mean that it has failed, it may provide an opportunity to revisit the details of the safety plan and make changes so that the safety plan is more effective.

Where a breach is considered to pose an immediate and substantial risk to the child involved then consultation with a team leader and district director should occur to determine whether intervention action is required. 

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Consulting with others or referring to services

Where referrals are received from medical professionals and hospital social workers regarding safety concerns for unborn infants or infants, the referrer must be consulted and the concerns thoroughly assessed.

Assessment should not solely rely on telephone contact or parents self-reporting their progress. Information must be gathered from multiple sources e.g. parents during home visits, other professionals and the safety network.

Working with medical practitioners

• Where an infant presents with bruises or symptoms of injury, you must attend the medical service in person with the infant (and where possible, a parent or relative of the infant), or telephone the service and provide the paediatrician (or the hospital social worker), with details of the concerns.
  
• You must seek clarification from the paediatrician as to whether the injury has been deemed to be accidental or non-accidental (also referred to as an inflicted injury).
  
• Where an infant has been assessed by a medical practitioner who is not a paediatrician, for example a nurse, General Practitioner or junior medical officer, you must ask the medical practitioner whether they have consulted with a paediatrician linked with their service or 'on call' in their region. If this has not occurred, you and/or the medical practitioner must consult with the Perth Children's Hospital Child Protection Unit on the same day.
  

 

​Engage respectfully with medical practitioners to build a working relationship for the child’s benefit.

 
Best Beginnings Plus

• When you have assessed that an unborn infant or a child up to 12 months is at increased likelihood of significant harm after birth, the matter must be referred for pre-birth planning and to Best Beginnings Plus (BB Plus).

Where BB Plus are unable to accept a referral, discuss whether they have capacity to be consulted during the life of the case. You must document your actions and any rationale as to why the referral was not successful.







It is important that the BB Plus worker is included in the Signs of Safety planning meetings and safety planning.

• If parents do not engage with BB Plus, BB Plus will use alternative strategies and/or active efforts to engage the parents. If this is unsuccessful, you must discuss this with the team leader and consider whether in the absence of BB Plus's involvement, there is sufficient safety for the infant.

Referrals

• Through the Signs of Safety planning process, parents and families should be assisted to manage through referral to services if necessary. 

• Referrals to services should be considered in consultation with the parents, family and the service to determine whether the referral is appropriate.

• You should consult with a team leader prior to completing a referral to a service. 

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When to consult your team leader

​Consulting a team leader is a critical process throughout the lifetime of a case. The team leader is the first point of escalation in relation to decision making that might impact the life of a case.

You must consult a team leader at any critical decision making points or when you are unsure about your next step.

You should follow these steps when consulting a team leader:


1. ​Come prepared - know the case you are going to discuss, bring any documents you think are essential.
   

2. Have a suggested action plan - this can include a list of options.
   

3. ​Document the consultation - if it isn't on Objective/Assist, it didn't happen.
   

Consultation can occur during regular case supervision or by separate appointment.


Below are some points in a case where consulting a team leader should occur. Under each item you will find possible practice situations, possible actions you can take (where appropriate) before a consult, discussion ideas and possible next steps.

1. Unable to notify the parents

You have made attempts to contact the parents and notify them of an investigation but have been unable to make meaningful contact. This might mean that you have been unable to contact them at all or that they have declined to engage with you when you have attempted to contact them.

Have you:

• Tried to call the parents at least three times, on different days/times of day.

• Conducted an unannounced home visit.

• Sent a letter to the parents with an appointment time or requesting contact.

• Confirmed that the contact details you have are correct from the original referral/referrer.

• Tried to contact each parent individually.

• Confirm the location of the infant.

• Confirm who the primary carer is.

Discussion ideas:

• What were the reported concerns? How significant are the harm concerns?

• What is the Department's history with the family? Is there a reason they are trying to avoid us?

• What actions have we already taken to try and engage the parents?

• What response has the Department received (if any)?

• Who else have we tried to contact as part of the investigation?

Possible next steps:

• Unannounced home visit.

• Letter to parents.

• Contact with other family members.

• Contact with services involved with the family.

• Consultation with a district director.

2. Unable to sight an infant or child

You have made attempts to sight an infant or child but have been unable to do so. You may have initially been able to engage parents and notify them of the investigation, but you have been unable to engage them further.

OR

You believe that if the parents were to know in advance about you wanting to sight the infant or child that the investigation would likely be jeopardised.

Have you:

• Attempted to re-contact the parents and explained the importance of sighting the infant or child.

• Conducted an unannounced home visit.

• Sent a letter to the parents with an appointment time requesting they bring the infant or child along.

• Made contact with other family members or services that may have sighted the infant e.g. Child Health Nurse.
  

• Developed a rationale as to why the parents should not be notified in advance about your proposed access to the infant or child.

Discussion ideas:

• What were the reported concerns? How significant are the harm concerns?

• What is the Department's history with the family? Is there a reason they are trying to avoid us?

• What actions have we already taken to try and sight the infant?

• Who else have we contacted who may have sighted the infant?

• Could we organise a joint home visit with another service?

• Do we meet the legislative requirements to utilise s.33 of the Act to access the infant or child?

Possible next steps:

• Unannounced home visit.

• Letter to parents.

• Contact with other family members.

• Contact with services involved with the family.

• Sight the infant or child under s.33 of the Act at either a school, hospital or place where a child care service is provided.

• Consultation with a district director.

• Intervention action. 

3. No consent for medical assessment

You suspected an infant may have been harmed or has an injury. With parent's permission you have conducted a physical check of the infant and sighted bruising which the parents cannot explain.  You ask parents to attend Perth Children's Hospital (or a local medical service) with you to have the infant medically assessed, they have not given consent.

You have moved to a private place away from the parents (e.g. out the front of the house or in the car).

OR

You suspect that a child has a non-accidental injury and the parents have declined to arrange a medical assessment or take the child to hospital.

Have you?

• Identified the injury to the parents and allowed them an opportunity to explain the injury.

• Been clear with the parents about your concerns and the possible impact on the infant or child.

• Explained the medical assessment process.

• Notified the parents that you are consulting a team leader about your next steps.

Discussion ideas

• What exactly did you observe about the infant or child that made you so concerned?

• How exactly did the parents respond to your concerns? What explanation did they provide?

• How were the parents engaging prior to the physical check of the infant or child?

• What history do we have with the family?

• Does the suspected injury you have sighted on the infant or child match the reported concerns?

• If the parents do not consent, what further actions might we take?

Possible next steps

• Return to the parents and make further attempts to explain the importance of the medical assessment and seek consent. 

• Consultation with a district director.

• Intervention action.

4. Suspected non-accidental injury

You have received confirmation as a result of a medical assessment that an infant or child has a suspected non-accidental injury. It is alleged that one or both of the parents are responsible for inflicting the injury to the infant or child.

Have you:

• Liaised with relevant services e.g. WA Police, Department of Health.

• Received detailed information about the harm to the infant and suspected cause.

• Ascertained the parents' explanation of the injury to the infant.

• Developed draft harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals.

Discussion ideas:

• What is our opinion of the medical assessment?

• What information do we have so far about the parents explanation?

• What is our assessment of the parents' explanation and the injury to the infant?

• What information is missing so far?

• Can we identify any possible safety network members?

• Are our harm statements, danger statements and safety goals clear? Do they directly relate to the abuse types? Is there only one per abuse type?

• Are we able to interview the child? Do we have consent to do this? Do we need to consider using s.33 of the Act?

• Is there an immediate and substantial risk to the infant's wellbeing? Should we consider intervention action under s.37 of the Act?

Possible next steps

• Meet with the parents to explain the Department's concerns, discuss the harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals and commence safety planning.

• Interview the child.

• Meet with the safety network and parents.

• Reiterate the harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals so the family and their safety network can develop a safety plan. 

• Consultation with a district director.

• Intervention action.

5. Parents unwilling to develop a safety plan

You have received information that one or both parents are unwilling to develop a safety plan.

Have you?

• Confirmed what the parents have said about why they don't want a safety plan.

• Attempted to engage with the parents directly and confirmed they don't want to engage in safety planning. 

• Liaised with relevant services e.g. WA Police, Department of health.

• Developed draft harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals.

Discussion ideas:

• What were the reported concerns? How significant are the harm concerns?

• What is our history with the family?

• What information do we have so far about the parent's explanation?

• What is our assessment of the parent's explanation and the injury to the infant?

• What information is missing so far?

• Can we identify any possible safety network members?

• Are our harm statements, danger statements and safety goals clear? Do they directly relate to the abuse types? Is there only one per abuse type?

• Is there an immediate and substantial risk to the infant's wellbeing? Should we consider intervention action under s.37 of the Act?

• Do we have sufficient grounds? Has the infant, or is the infant likely to suffer, harm as a result of abuse (s.28 of the Act) AND are the infant's parents not protecting the infant or unable to protect the infant from further harm?

Possible next steps

• Meet with the parents to explain the Department's concerns, discuss the harm statements (where applicable), danger statements) and safety goals and attempt safety planning.

• Seek out a safety network for the infant and bring them to a meeting with the parents.

• Reiterate the harm statements (where applicable), danger statements and safety goals so the family and their safety network can develop a safety plan. 

• Consultation with a district director.

• Intervention action.

6. The safety plan has not been followed

You have received information that the agreed safety plan has not been followed.

Have you?

• Talked to the parents about their explanation of the breach.

• Talked to members of the safety network about the breach.

• Liaised with relevant services e.g. WA Police, Department of Health.

Discussion ideas

• Was the safety plan actually breached or was it just tested? Did the parents and/or safety network respond as per the agreed safety plan or not?

• What is the significance of the breach? What does it tell us about the parents?

• What do the safety network members think about the breach?

• What consequences were built into the safety plan if it was breached?

• Will it be sufficient to review the safety plan? Do we need more members of the safety network?

• Are our harm statements, danger statements and safety goals clear? Did the family actually understand what was expected of them?

• Was our safety plan created by the family or did we act coercively to develop the safety plan?

• Is there an immediate and substantial risk to the infant's wellbeing? Should we consider intervention action under s.37 of the Act?

• Do we have sufficient grounds? Has the infant, or is the infant, likely to suffer harm as a result of abuse (s. 28 of the Act) AND are the infant's parents not protecting the infant or unable to protect the infant from further harm?

Possible next steps

• Meet with the parents and safety network to review the safety plan, safety network and explore what led to the breach.

• Document the reviewed safety plan.

• Seek out more members for the safety network.

• Consultation with a district director.

• Intervention action.

7. Ready to write your Child Safety Investigation outcome report

You have completed sufficient actions within the Child Safety Investigation and believe that you can make a determination about whether or not the infant or child has experienced harm as a result of abuse, the parent's capacity to protect the infant or child and whether or not further action is required to safeguard the infant or child.

Have you:

• Notified the parents of the investigation?

• Sighted and/or interviewed the infant and/or child?

• Given the parents and/or perpetrators the opportunity to respond to the concerns?

• Consulted with other people or services as required?

• Commenced safety planning if required?

• Gathered credible evidence to form your analysis and decision?

Discussion ideas:

• What actions have you undertaken to collect evidence?

• How credible is the evidence that you have gathered?

• What did the child have to say?

• What have other people or services had to say about the abuse type and possible harm to the child?

• What do you think will be your recommendation in relation to whether or not the child have has experienced harm?

• Does a team leader verbally agree with your recommendation?

Possible next steps

• Further actions to gather credible evidence, as recommended by a team leader.

• A meeting to notify the parents and/or perpetrators of the likely outcome of your investigation.

• Write your investigation outcome report and send to a team leader for approval via Assist.

8. Considering referral to external services

You or the family have identified that there is an appropriate support service that may assist in addressing the concerns or the complicating factors affecting the family. 

Have you?

• Researched the support service and confirmed it is appropriate for the needs of the parents, child or family?

• Discussed the referral with the parents or family and sought their agreement and consent?

• Established from the support service whether the Department has to remain involved in order for them to accept the referral?

• Established any waiting period that may exist to access the support service?

• Confirmed the referral process?

Discussion ideas

• What is the Department's expectation of the support service? Can the support service fulfil our expectations?

• What role does the Department want to have with the family following the referral? What role is the Department expected to have?

• What is the waiting period for the support service? Does this affect our referral?

• What services can the Department offer?

• Do we expect the parent's behaviour to change as a result of the service? Do we need to see that change for u to close the case, and have you told the parents this?

Possible next steps

• Further contact with support service.
  
• Informal referral to support service - provision of information to the parents.
  
• Formal referral to support service - referred by the Department.
  
• Consultation with a district director.
  




When an infant is at risk of significant harm and all attempts to support the infant to safely remain with the parents have been exhausted, consultation must occur your team leader and district director to consider intervention action.

 

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