2.2.22 Connect for Safety
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Last Modified:
13-Sep-2022
Review Date:
08-Sep-2023
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| Overview |
All Australian states and territories have agreed to share child protection data with each other for Connect for Safety (C4S) according to the C4S Governance Manual specifications. C4S is a national child protection data matching solution designed to enable biographical information to be shared more efficiently between jurisdictions to protect children and families. C4S allows authorised users to identify a potential match based on a person's biographical information in another jurisdiction. It can quickly identify if information exists for a person in any statutory child protection agency across Australia. C4S will not display casework information held by another jurisdiction. All states and territories are live with their data in C4S as of November 2021. As at 2021, the solution is currently only available for use by authorised staff in Australian jurisdictions and not New Zealand. If a C4S search identifies a possible record match with a person/s known in another jurisdiction, child protection workers must follow existing information sharing processes to obtain further interstate history in accordance with the agreed procedures set out in the Interstate Child Protection Protocol (2021) (the Protocol). For information on the procedure for requesting interstate child protection history, please refer to CPM 3.4 Interstate and New Zealand Liaison. This entry provides information about the processes for: - undertaking a Connect for Safety (C4S) search
- obtaining information from interstate child protection agencies
| Connect for Safety
must not be used without client consent except where there are child protection concerns. |
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| Rules |
- C4S is available for use by authorised staff within Communities who have met prerequisite requirements which include completion of the user training, holding a current WWC card and have a National Criminal Record check clearance in line with Communities' requirements.
- Where the Department has received information that raises concerns about a child's safety and wellbeing and there are indications that the child/family may have previously resided in another state, it is recommended that child protection workers undertake a Connect for Safety search to identify if information exists in any child protection agency across Australia.
- Authorised users with access to C4S must agree to comply with the terms and conditions of C4S access and must complete a C4S search, in accordance with CPM guidelines prior to submitting a request for information.
- Where a potential match in C4S has been located, child protection workers must follow existing information sharing processes to obtain further interstate history.
- Workers must not directly contact any person found listed in the C4S solution.
- Workers must not use the information obtained via the C4S solution to update information in ASSIST or WA client information systems unless the matched information is verified with the other jurisdiction.
- When a match is identified and confirmed through the interstate liaison process, workers must document this on Objective, and include any follow up decisions or actions taken, this includes saving the form 901 (Interstate Request) on the Objective file.
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| Process Maps |
- Request for Child Protection Information from Another State Child Protection Agency
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Information and Instructions- Authorised use of Connect for Safety
- Undertaking a Connect for Safety search
- When to undertake a Connect for Safety search
- Practice Guidance - When interstate information has recently been sourced
- Practice Guidance – Completing Connect for Safety Process
- Requesting child protection information from interstate child protection agencies
- Recording a Connect for Safety search and interstate request for child protection information
- Technical Issues
Authorised use of Connect for Safety The most common reason to search C4S is when there is an identified safety and wellbeing concern or risk of harm to a child or young person with whom we have an Initial Inquiry or Child Safety Investigation. C4S can also be used with the applicant's written consent for assessment and other case planning purposes for a prospective carer, family member or adult client. In some instances, this includes identifying possible family carers when this information is identified as part of a broader child protection risk assessment. Co-located Family Law Court child protection officers can also access Connect for Safety to advise the courts in their jurisdiction of information relating to child safety risks which may be held by another jurisdiction.
Undertaking a Connect for Safety searchPlease refer to the C4S Quick Reference Guide which provides a step-by-step guide to using C4S. For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and the C4S User Manual.
When to undertake a Connect for Safety search A C4S search is recommended in the following circumstances: - During open initial inquiries/intake or a child safety investigation when there are indications that the child/family/person of interest has relocated to WA from another state.
- During an initial inquiry or child safety investigation and there is a possibility of the child/family/person of interest having lived in another state, or the family has no known addresses, or no known history with Communities.
- If there are child protection concerns and the family are known to move frequently, or there are gaps in our history with the family.
- With the applicant's written consent, a C4S is recommended when undertaking screening checks for a prospective carer (Family Carer, Departmental or Agency General Carer) or for household members as part of a carer assessment or carer review.
- With the individuals written consent, C4S is recommended for the purpose of identifying if another jurisdiction may hold information that is relevant to the assessment of:
- Parent/s, family or significant others for reunification purposes,
- An adult for holiday or contact purposes,
- An adult for safety planning purposes,
- An adult for 'family arrangements'.
- If interstate information has been obtained previously, and it is believed the child/family may have had more recent contact with another interstate child protection agency, it is recommended that child protection workers submit a new request for Interstate Child Protection Information via established processes to seek any updated history.
Practice Guidance - When interstate information has recently been sourcedA C4S search is optional if the current referral of child protection concern was initiated by an interstate alert, notification or casework assistance referral from another statutory child protection agency and the interstate child protection history for the child/family was provided within the referral documentation. A C4S search is optional if interstate child protection history has recently been obtained through existing information sharing processes and/or recent interstate history is already available on Communities' client information systems.
Practice Guidance – Completing Connect for Safety Process
- If a potential match is identified in C4S, follow the existing information exchange processes outlined in the Interstate Child Protection Protocol and CPM 3.4 Interstate and New Zealand Liaison.
- When filling out an interstate request form, you should include any C4S searches you have conducted, and the details of these searches, in the relevant section. You should not use the information listed in C4S to update any other parts of the request form, as this can make it difficult for jurisdictions to verify matches.
- If no clear match is identified from a C4S search and you have reason to believe that a person could have a record in another jurisdiction, you must still follow up with an interstate request for child protection information as per existing processes. The request should indicate that the result of the search was Nil ID match or inconclusive, to make the receiving State aware of the search outcome.
- You must never directly contact a person whose information you retrieve from C4S, or use this information to update your jurisdiction's records, unless you have sought the appropriate authorisation through the interstate liaison process.
Requesting child protection information from interstate child protection agencies The Protocol allows for the exchange of information between child protection departments in other Australian States and New Zealand. Information from another child protection department can be requested by completing a Form 901 Request for Interstate and New Zealand Information (in related resources) and forward to the WA Interstate Liaison Officer via WAInterstateLiaison@communities.wa.gov.au
Form 140 Consent to Interstate Child Protection History Check (in related resources) must accompany a request for interstate child protection history/information check for a person over the age of 18 years when the information relates to:
- A prospective carer
- Adult household member
- An adult's own history as a child/adolescent
- Parent/family for reunification purposes
- Parent/family/significant other/adult for or holiday or contact purposes
- Parent/family/significant other / adult for 'family arrangement' purposes
- Residential Care Services staff for employment purposes
The intention of child protection requests for information made under the terms of the Protocol is to provide States with a response in a short timeframe. States will provide a summary of information, which may include an email summary and / or limited documents.
In accordance with the Protocol, each state has a dedicated Interstate Liaison Officer (ILO) who coordinates interstate referrals, requests for information and assistance, and promotes understanding of the Protocol. The specialist WA Interstate Liaison Officer (WA ILO) role sits in the Statewide Referral and Response Service.
Accessing the Connect for Safety Portal
C4S is the national child protection information sharing and data matching solution designed to enable authorised users to search and identify a possible record match with a person/s known in another jurisdiction. The information available on C4S is strictly confidential and must not be shared. The pre-requisites for a statutory child protection worker to access Connect for Safety are:
- Current Working with Children check
- National Criminal Record check clearance in line with jurisdictional requirements
- Team Leader approval and;
- Completion of user training, accessed via the Connect for Safety SharePoint page: Connect for Safety
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| You must have Team Leader approval to access the user training.
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Recording a Connect for Safety search and interstate request for child protection information Workers must not use the information obtained via the C4S solution to update information in ASSIST or WA client information systems such as the Family Group unless the matched information is verified with the other jurisdiction. When a C4S search has been undertaken, workers should complete a Case Note and place on the client file in Objective and/ or record within the Interaction in ASSIST. If a match is identified and confirmed by jurisdictions, workers must document this on the client file including any follow up decisions and actions taken. Interstate requests for information including the request form and all responses and child protection information provided by the other State should be placed in the client file.
Technical IssuesIf you are experiencing technical difficulties, you should report this issue to the IT Help and Support Desk. If you have queries regarding practice guidance for Connect for Safety, please contact:
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