Information and Instructions

• Earlier Intervention and Family Support Services
• Regional Service Model (RSM)
• Working with Aboriginal Families
• Referral pathways
• Working in partnership with an EIFS Service Provider

Earlier Intervention and Family Support Services

Referrals to EIFS for Aboriginal families are prioritised. Prioritisation is to provide equitable services to address the intergenerational trauma caused by colonisation and subsequent harmful legislation and policies that many Aboriginal families and communities continue to experience.

Earlier Intervention and Family Support Services is an umbrella term that covers different services, each designed to meet needs of different families. For a summary of each program, see below.


Intensive Family Support Service

Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS) provides trauma-informed culturally competent in-home practical support to families to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children. The primary goal of IFSS is to provide intensive support where there are significant child protection concerns to prevent children from entering the out-of-home care system or to support safe reunification of children with their families.

IFSS only accepts referrals with an open Intensive Family Support (IFS) activity and active case management with the Department. IFSS cases are jointly case managed by the Department and IFSS service provider and must remain an open case to the Department. If the case is closed by the Department, IFSS case management should cease except where . the child protection safety goals have been achieved and the family are still working through clearly identified family goals.  In this circumstance IFFS may remain involved for up to three months after case closure. If required, the IFSS provider can make appropriate referrals to community supports prior to completing their engagement with the family.

There are two service streams within IFSS:

1. Keeping children safe at home: To prevent children entering out-of-home care.
   

2. Reunification: To support families to make sustainable positive changes so their children can return home safely.
   

Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) are located state-wide in all metropolitan and most regional districts and are delivered by various IFSS service providers. IFSS Service providers are led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) or work in partnership with an ACCO. For families being supported under the Keeping Children Safe at Home stream, a referral to an IFSS service provider should be included in the transfer to the IFS Team. The IFS Team will work collaboratively with the IFSS service provider, but the responsibility for determining safety goals, monitoring progress and safety planning remains with the IFS Team. For more information, see 1.2 Intensive Family Support.  

For families being supported under the Reunification stream, Stability and Connection meetings should be held monthly to track case progress and plan how best to promote the goal of reunification. Details on how this support will be provided are outlined in the family's trajectory and included in the s.143 written proposal.


Where reunification is the primary plan within Stability and Connection planning, a referral to IFSS should be considered and discussed with the child's parents.

 

Aboriginal In-Home Support Service

The Aboriginal In-Home Support Service (AISS) is delivered by Wungening Moort, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, to provide a trauma-informed and culturally safe intensive practical in-home support service. 

The AISS works with Aboriginal families to address significant issues impacting their parenting and increasing the child's safety in the home. The AISS seeks to engage and work with Aboriginal families where a child is at risk of entering out-of-home care, or where a child is already in out-of-home care and reunification support to the family is required.

Aboriginal in-home support services are located in four metropolitan corridors and can work with families across the metropolitan area. The corridors are:

• Armadale/Cannington
• Fremantle/Rockingham/Peel
• Mirrabooka/Joondalup
• Perth/Midland

Within the 'Moort' consortium, there are partner services which provide families localised support. This includes Ebenezer Home, Coolabaroo and Moordij Koort.


Where reunification is the primary goal of Stability and Connection planning, a referral to Intensive Family Support Service should be considered and discussed with the child's parents

A referral to AISS should be included in the transfer to the IFS or Care Team. The case managing team will work collaboratively with AISS, but the responsibility for determining safety goals, monitoring progress and safety planning remains with the case managing team. A key service goal of AISS is to work families and safety networks in a culturally secure manner. For more information about AISS, see the Wungening Moort Brochure - link also in related resources.


If a family is engaged in Stability and Connection planning, and reunification is the primary goal, they should be offered the opportunity to engage with an AISS service. Stability and Connection meetings should be held monthly to track the case progress and determine support streams that will best support the reunification trajectory as outlined in the s.143 written proposal. Consult with an Aboriginal Practice Leader before working with the family to decide the service option which will provide them with the best support. Record all consultations in Objective, or via Assist.

Subject to area availability, the family should also be offered an opportunity to engage in the Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making (AFLDM) pilot program.


For a referral to AISS to be made, families need to live in the metropolitan area and have at least one Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.

Family Support Networks

Referrals for care leavers who are 18-25 years will be prioritised. In exceptional circumstances, young people aged 16-17 years who are living independently (and not in the CEO's care) will be accepted.

Family Support Networks (FSNs) represent a partnership between the community sector and the Department. Each FSN has a Child Protection Leader (CPL) employed by the Department co-located within the lead agency. The CPL provides specialised advice, education and support on child protection matters and facilitates effective collaboration between the FSN and Communities.

FSNs provide a single-entry point for allocation to a number of community services and delivers earlier and more targeted support to families who are at high risk of, or are currently experiencing, engagement with child protection. Families do not have to be an open case to be referred to FSNs. Each FSN provides a coordinated approach, where families are matched with the most appropriate services within their area and network. Services may include general and practical support to address complex issues, including experiencing homelessness and family and domestic violence.

There are two FSN streams:

1. Assessment and Coordination (A&C): An early intervention service designed to support families to link-in with existing supports in the community. Families can self-refer, or be referred by other services, including the Department. The A&C stream links the family with a Partner Agency who will coordinate the range of services required and/or provide ongoing support. Assessment and Coordination is not an appropriate service for at risk families. A referral can be made where an Intake to an Initial Inquiry or Child Safety Investigation would not be made, or where there is a plan to imminently close an interaction or case.  

2. Intensive Case Management (ICM): A service designed to divert at risk families away from the statutory child protection system. Referrals are made by the Department for families experiencing difficulties, but where no child protection safety concerns have been identified. Once a referral is accepted, the service can provide up to 12 months of intensive, in-home practical support. In exceptional cases, young people living independently may also be referred. The ICM stream supports parents to achieve the referral goals, or additional goals developed by the family through active case management. Most support is provided within the family's home, through a hands-on practical style of case management and may include facilitating meetings with the family and relevant services to ensure an efficient and integrated multi-service response that addresses the family's case plan goals.

Family Support Networks are provided in the following corridors within the Perth metropolitan area: 

• Mirrabooka/Joondalup
• Perth/Midland
• Cannington/Armadale
• Fremantle/Rockingham. 
  

Each FSN has a network of services, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) they can refer the family to. The FSN can work in collaboration with the ACCO to provide more culturally secure support to a family.







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Regional Service Model (RSM)

​In 2022, Communities engaged an external Aboriginal consultant to develop a regional model of service which was appropriate for local needs and allowed for future expansion to other regions across the State. The Regional Service Model was developed in place of the existing IFSS model delivered in the East Kimberley, Pilbara and South West regions. The RSM provides a trauma-informed culturally responsive service where outcomes are delivered through collaboration and collective effort. Intensive support is provided to families to divert them from the child protection system, or to support children returning home safely as part of the reunification process.

The Regional service Model is made up of three streams: 

• Stream 1 – Early Diversionary Support Network (EDSN): provides a common entry point to accessing support services for families who are not open to the Department but need assistance navigating the service system and would benefit from coordination to link into relevant services.  
  

• Stream 2 – Community Intensive In-home Support Service: for families who are not open to the Department (including families who are stepping down from Stream 3) but have long-term needs, are in complex situations and may be involved with multiple agencies. Case management in Community Intensive In-home Support includes working through clearly identified goals.

• Stream 3 – Statutory Intensive In-home Support Service: for families who are open to the Department and at risk of their children entering care or who are in care and the primary goal is reunification.

Please note: As part of Commissioning in 2024, the RSM will be renamed to the Regional Family Support Hub (the Hub). The streams within the RSM/the Hub, will also be renamed. 


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Working with Aboriginal Families

The EIFS Strategy's core goal is to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care and to divert families away from engagement with the child protection system. 

When considering a referral to EIFS, consult with the Aboriginal Practice Leader for advice on culturally safe and family led ways to engage and work with Aboriginal families. When exploring which service best suits the family's needs, ensure you promote the self-determination of family and community and provide them with the opportunity to participate in any decision-making processes. For example, where there are safety concerns, explore strategies identified by the family that work to create safety for the child,  rather than directing them.  For more information, see Chapter 1.2 – Safety Planning. 

Aboriginal Practice Leaders should be invited to attend critical meetings, including when external services, such as an ACCO, are also attending. Including senior Aboriginal staff members in meetings with Aboriginal families promotes cultural safety and working relationships with ACCOs. Working in a trauma-informed way with Aboriginal families who have experienced intergenerational trauma should be prioritised. Awareness of the history of colonisation in Australia and the continuing impact of past harmful policies and legislation impacting Aboriginal people is important. Working in partnership with Aboriginal Practice Leaders and ACCO Service Providers, practice will be more culturally responsive and the risk of re-traumatisation for families can be reduced. 




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Referral pathways

The referral to EIFS will depend on the circumstances of the family and which service will best suit their needs. All referrals made by the Department are generated using Assist and Objective. For details on how to make a referral, see Assist User Guide – Service Referral in related resources. For more information, see Referral Pathways - EIFS Regional Service Model in related resources.

All referrals should include:


• Identification and contact details for relevant family members

• Details of what the family are doing well, what their strengths are, and how these strengths create safety

• A summary of worries and challenges the family are facing

• Safety goals for the service to work on with the family. Wherever possible, the safety goals should be directed by the family, and

• Confirmation that the family have consented to the referral.

Family Support Networks

The Assessment and Coordination (A&C) stream accepts referrals from child protection, FSN Partner Agencies, non-partner agencies (such as schools and hospitals) in the community, and from families themselves. The target group for A&C includes children and families involved with, or known to, multiple agencies, that have complex needs and have had previous involvement with child protection, and no identified child protection concerns. 

Where a family would prefer to self-refer to the A&C program, provide them with information about the service including contact details for their local service. 

Referrals to the Intensive Case Management (ICM) stream provide intensive support to divert children and families from the child protection system. This stream only accepts referrals from the Department where there is no ongoing statutory involvement (closed case) and no identified child protection concerns. Families open to IFS or reunification planning with the Department are not suitable to this stream.  ICM has the capacity to work with the family for up to 12 months. 

Consent from the family to make a referral is required for both service streams within the FSN. If you have any queries about referral criteria, waitlist times or wish to discuss the referral, contact the CPL at: FSNChildProtectionLeader@communities.wa.gov.au


Intensive Family Support Service

Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS) services accept referrals from the Department only and where statutory child protection involvement is ongoing. Referrals are accepted from Child Safety Teams, IFS Teams, Pre-Birth Planning, and Children in Care Teams where reunification is the primary plan within Stability and Connection planning. IFSS has the capacity to work with each family for up to 12 months.

Referral criteria for IFSS includes:

• Priority for Aboriginal Families.
• Limited supports and isolation of the parents and/or children.
• Limited to no safety network; building engagement with safety network.

Families recently open to an IFS Team or requiring support around reunification. 


Aboriginal In-Home Support Service

Aboriginal In-Home Support Service (AISS) accepts referrals from the Department only and where statutory child protection involvement is ongoing. Referrals are accepted from Child Safety Teams, IFS Teams, Pre-Birth Planning, and Children in Care Teams where reunification is the primary plan within Stability and Connection planning. AISS has the capacity to work with each family for up to 12 months. 


Referrals to AISS can be made at any time during the life of a case following intake.

Referral criteria for AISS includes:


• Aboriginal families only.

• Limited agency involvement together with isolation of the parents and/or children.

• Limited to no safety network; building engagement with safety network and local elders needed.

Families needing culturally safe and supportive connection and community members.

Regional Service Model

The Regional Service Model (RSM) has three streams that receives referrals from the Department and external professional agencies.

Referral criteria for RSM includes:

• Priority to Aboriginal families.
• Parent/s aged 20 or under
• Families recently open to an IFS Team or requiring support around reunification.
• Families with limited supports, safety network and are isolated.
• Families who would benefit from culturally safe connection.

Referrals to the Early Diversionary Support Network (EDSN) can accept referrals from the Department where the case has been closed, family self-referrals, community sector, or other service providers. The target group for the EDSN is families, or young people aged 18 – 25 with a care experience who require assistance navigating the service and would benefit from coordination to link into relevant services. 

Referrals to the Community Intensive In-home Support Service accept referrals from the Department only and provide intensive support to families closed to child protection and who are facing complex challenges. There should be no significant child protection concerns present. Community Intensive In-home Support Service has the capacity work with the family for four to six months.  

Referrals to the Statutory Intensive In-home Support Service can accept referrals from the Department only and where statutory child protection involvement is ongoing. Referrals are accepted from Child Safety Teams, IFS Teams, Pre-Birth Planning, and Children in Care Teams where reunification is the primary plan within Stability and Connection planning. Self-referrals from families are also accepted for families where the primary goal is reunification. Statutory In-home Support Service has the capacity to work with each family for 12 months and can remain open up to 18 months in the case of reunification. 


High-risk referrals


Where there is a high-risk of harm to a child, or adult victim-survivor of FDV, your referral must include specific details of the risk/s and a clear safety plan to mitigate these risks.

 

Even where you are sharing case management with an EIFS Service Provider, the risk and the responsibility for responding to child protection concerns remain with the Department. 

As soon as engagement with the family begins, you should:

• determine what information should be shared and how frequently

• clarify if there any 'non-negotiables' in relation to risk or behaviours

• advise actions will be taken where the risk to safety for any person increases, 

• advise the EIFS Service Provider how to contact the Department in an emergency, and

• ensure that the worker is aware of key policies and information available from the Department, where relevant, such as Chapter 2.2 High-risk infant guidance. 
  

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Working in partnership with an EIFS Service Provider

The EIFS Strategy relies on close collaboration between the Department and service providers to meet complex needs of at-risk families. A positive working relationship with Service Providers, where everyone participating can engage in a genuine and respectful partnership with families, is best placed to provide effective support and to meet the family's needs.

Joint case-management

To create the best opportunity for a positive working relationship between you and the Service Provider, consult early and often. Consider consulting with the service provider prior to submitting a referral so that sufficient information can be included. The following strategies will contribute to a successful partnership once a referral has been accepted:

• Ensure the service provider is clear about your role and responsibilities. This includes an understanding of what decisions you can make and when you need additional approval.
• Ensure you are clear about your expectations from the service provider. For example, what actions are included in their role and what is not? Can they provide transport for clients? Can they attend home visits outside of business hours?
• Be prepared to explain the statutory responsibilities of the Department and what this means in practice.
• Be open to answering questions and be honest when you do not know the answer. If you are not sure of an answer, consult and provide a response to the service provider in a timely manner.
• Be aware that the service provider will be acting as an emotional support and advocate for the family and may feel defensive or protective at times. This can be challenging when difficult decisions are being made, but it is important to avoid collusion and maintain an appropriate use of authority.
• Explain what resources (particularly time) are available to support the family and ensure that you and the family understand the role and resources of the service provider. Ensure expectations are realistic on both sides and mutually understood, and 
• Create an environment where everyone feels respected and safe to express different ideas about the case and to change their opinion as new information emerges or the situation changes. Clear and respectful communication between stakeholders is important, particularly where there may be worries or concerns present.

The IFSS Communication and Governance summary - Statewide IFSS providers in related resources provides guidance to Communities District staff in working with EIFS contracted services in their region as well as outside their working districts.

Information sharing

Information sharing is necessary for safe and effective case management, so the Department should provide all relevant information to the service provider. The service provider is not required to share information to the same extent, as they are not a statutory authority. The service provider has a duty of care and professional obligation to share information where it relates to safety concerns, such as a breach to the safety plan.   

You should discuss any worries the family may have around information being shared and explore ways of including the family in decisions to share information e.g., who, why, how, and when. For more information, see Chapter 4.2 Working with Other Agencies – Memoranda of Understanding and Information Sharing. 

Inviting the service provider to key meetings is an effective way to ensure relevant information is shared in a timely manner. Consider inviting service providers to the following meetings: 

• Signs of Safety meetings
• Signs of Safety Pre-birth meetings
• Multidisciplinary Case Consultation (MCC)
• 7-day Stability and Connection meeting
• 30-day Stability and Connection meeting
• Care Planning meetings
• Cultural Support Planning meetings
• Other ad hoc meeting as required.
  




Where a service provider is not present at a meeting, ask for any updates from them prior to the meeting and consider if the meeting notes should be provided to them after the meeting.

 

Case closure


Planning for case closure between the Department, the service provider and the family should be thorough and transparent. Up until case closure, milestones and achievements should be acknowledged and celebrated to promote acknowledgement of family accomplishments and draw attention to reaching the family's goals and exiting case management.    

Case closure can provoke strong feelings for the family. They may feel excited, relieved, anxious or a combination of these. You should be working towards a goal of case closure from the beginning and ensure the family and service provider are clear about when and how the Department will close the case. Where a case is open longer than necessary, the family may feel frustrated, and the case may be at risk of 'drifting'. Where a case closes abruptly or too early the family may feel like crucial support has been withdrawn and adequate safety may not be achieved. Service providers should be aware of the plan for case closure, any closure safety plans, and any referrals or additional supports put in place for the family post case closure.


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