Human Services. Department of. Barwon Child First is a partnership between. Barwon Child First

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1 Barwon Child First is a partnership between Department of Human Services Barwon Child First Centralised Intake Service for Family Services Referrals INFORMATION GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS

2 Child FIRST (Family Information, Referral and Support Team) has been established to provide a single entry point for families and professionals to access Family Services. The primary function of Child FIRST is to undertake intake assessments of the needs of vulnerable children and families and to then target the appropriate Family Services to meet those needs. The key functions of Child FIRST are: Screening assessment for all calls Information and Advice Referral to Family Services agencies Referral to a broad range of community agencies Assertive outreach/home visiting Case conferencing Active Holding Barwon Child FIRST is a partnership between six Family Services funded agencies, and DHS Child Protection. The six agencies are: Bethany (Lead Agency) Diversitat Glastonbury Community Services Time for Youth City of Greater Geelong Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative (Maternal and Child Health Outreach team) Diversitat Diversitat is a not-for-profit community group established in Diversitat is Geelong s united voice for, and advocate on behalf of, the region s ethnic and most disadvantaged communities. Over the last two decades, Diversitat has become a multi-service provider offering comprehensive programs addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged groups in the community including refugees, unemployed, youth and the elderly. Glastonbury Community Services Glastonbury s Family Services Program assists families during hard times to create positive solutions and improve their wellbeing, whilst helping families to stay together wherever possible. The program aims to enhance family functioning by providing a child-centred family focused range of services to families and young people. Intervention options include; Casework services incorporating assertive outreach, case management, intensive in home support and youth and family work. Community development activities include participation in the GASP project for same sex attracted young people and Youth Foundations Victoria facilitation on the North Bellarine (Drysdale/ Portarlington). Families may also access Glastonbury s Early Years programs - Hippy and Play. Time for Youth Time for Youth (TFY) works to prevent and reduce youth homelessness and improve family relationships by providing support to young people and their families, and referral within the wider service network. The Youth and Family Options Program (YAFO) assists young people remain with their families through approaches such as case management, counseling, pratical support and youth and parent mediation. The approach involves holistic and inclusive practice within a multidisciplinary team. Case managers provide assertive outreach to adolescents to develop rapport with those who are reluctant to participate in the service. Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd provides a broad range of services to its members and the Indigenous Community residing throughout the Barwon region. Our major programs include holistic health, family support, a range of education programs, juvenile and social justice support, housing, welfare and cultural heritage. Barwon Child FIRST Partnership - Family Services Programs

3 Bethany The Integrated Family Services Program incorporates Family Services Casework and Disability Casework, New Parent Infant Network (NEWPIN) Early Years Program, Northern Suburbs Schools Hub Pilot Project (NSSHPP) and Barwon Child FIRST. These services provide child focused and family centred interventions including casework, assertive outreach, case management, volunteer support and group work interventions. The Newpin Early Years program offers a centre-based intensive therapeutic support program for parents and pre-school children as well as managing community based supported playgroups located in school and community settings. The NSSHPP is the integration of Family Services, Child Protection and four primary schools within Northern Bay P-12 College. City of Greater Geelong - Community Health Outreach Team The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health service provides outreach support to vulnerable families of infants and children up to the age of 3 years within the City of Greater Geelong. Specific criteria may apply. Further information can be gained by contacting Child FIRST ( ) or the Outreach Team Leader on The specialist Parenting Assessment and Skill Development Service (PASDS) is also available for families involved with Child Protection. The Barwon sub-region encompasses the municipalities of the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe. What is Family Services? Family Services programs are funded by the Department of Human Services. The aim of integrated Family Services programs is to enhance children and adolescent s safety, stability and development by focusing on building the capacity of parents, carers and families to meet those needs. A suite of services is offered including: family counselling, support and advice with parenting and managing children s behaviour, group work, mediation and case management for families with higher needs. This range of service levels ensures that the most vulnerable children, young people and families can access services and support to enhance their wellbeing. Family Services have developed a stronger focus on culturally sensitive and competent practice with Aboriginal and CALD children, families and communities. What is Child FIRST?

4 Barwon Child FIRST operates between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, 52 weeks a year except for public holidays. Referrals to Child FIRST can be made by calling and speaking to a Child FIRST intake worker. Calls can be made directly by family members, or by professionals or other community members on behalf of families. Written referrals to Child FIRST are preferred when that referral comes from a professional who has significant knowledge of the child/young person/family being referred. The Child FIRST Referral Form can be obtained by calling and requesting the form either by fax , childfirst@bethany.org.au or via Under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, Child FIRST/Family Services are authorised to receive referrals from people with significant concerns for the wellbeing of a child or adolescent without the prior consent of that person s family. The introduction of Child FIRST has not changed the statutory requirements of mandatory reporting to Child Protection, nor have risk thresholds altered in terms of what Child Protection will receive as a protective intervention report. A referral to Child FIRST should be considered if, after consideration of the available information, you are on balance, more inclined to form a view that: The concerns currently have a low-to-moderate impact on the child or adolescent and where the immediate safety of that child or adolescent is not compromised. On receiving a referral the Child FIRST team will conduct further assessment of the family. If that assessment raises concerns for the safety of the child or adolescent, Child FIRST may consult an experienced Community Based Child Protection Worker. A report to Child Protection should be considered if, after consideration of the available information you are, on balance, more inclined toward a view that: The concerns currently have a serious impact on the child s immediate safety, stability or development, or the concerns are persistent and entrenched and likely to have a serious impact on the child s development. If you are still unsure about who to report or refer to, you should contact either Child Protection on or Barwon Child FIRST on Interface between Child FIRST and DHS Child Protection

5 On April 23rd 2007, the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 was proclaimed. One of the key features of this new legislation is that Family Services agencies are brought under the legislative umbrella alongside Child Protection and the Children s Court. The introduction of Child FIRST sites statewide has strengthened the relationship between Family Services and Child Protection, establishing two distinct yet interrelated pathways into Family Services where there are significant concerns about the wellbeing of children and adolescents. Barwon Child FIRST has a Community Based Child Protection Worker (CBCPW), who is co-located with the Child FIRST team 4 days a week. There is also a CBCPW located at Glastonbury 3 days per week. The CBCPW plays the valuable role of: Facilitating referrals from Child Protection to Child FIRST/Family Services Consultation and advice to Child FIRST/Family Services Community education Identification of cases within Child Protection requiring enhanced referral For most referrals for Family Services, it is best practice for the family to be advised of the referral by the referring person prior to that referral being made to Child FIRST. This increases the likelihood of the family engaging with Family Services and encourages the referrer to have input, where appropriate, into the plans developed with the family. Can the referrer to Child FIRST have their identity protected? Under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 all referrers to Child FIRST have their identity protected, unless their explicit verbal consent is given to Child FIRST to disclose their identity. Referrers are encouraged to share their concerns with the family in the majority of cases. Information-sharing In most cases Child FIRST will seek family permission before contacting other people to gather information. Where significant wellbeing concerns for a child exist, The Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 authorises Child FIRST to contact a range of professionals, for the purpose of making assessments and appropriate referrals, without the consent of the family. Professionals who share information about a family with Child FIRST are protected under the legislation and are not in breach of other professional privacy legislation. For more details go to Referrals to Child FIRST

6 Referrals received by Child FIRST and assessed as eligible for Family Services are taken to a weekly allocation meeting. This meeting is chaired by Child FIRST however, allocation decisions about which agency will accept the referral are made collectively by the partner agencies. Families referred to Child FIRST/Family Services are prioritised for response, so that those families where the risk levels to the child or adolescent may escalate if services do not intervene in a timely manner, are prioritised above lesser-needs families. After allocation, the Child FIRST worker contacts the family and the referrer to inform them of the outcome. After this point, Child FIRST transfers the family to the allocated agency to take on case responsibility. In cases where more than one Family Services agency will work with the family, case management will be assumed by one lead agency. Referrers with questions/concerns about a family who have been allocated to a Family Services agency should contact that agency directly. Referrals to Community Agencies/Programs Along with referring to Family Services agencies, Child FIRST also plays a key role in linking families to a range of services in the community. In cases where a family refers themselves to Child FIRST and are assessed as more suited to a non-family Services program, Child FIRST will facilitate a referral to that program on the family s behalf and provide follow-up to ensure that the referral has been accepted. Child FIRST can also provide information and advice to professionals seeking services on behalf of families. Allocations to Family Services