❓ Hon. Stephen Dawson asks about pre-birth safety plans for unborn babies at risk of harm, including policy, approval levels, review triggers, and the role of child-centred family support teams. The Minister provides relevant documentation and clarifies processes.
AnsweredQoN 43Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PRE-BIRTH
SAFETY PLANS
43. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the pre-birth safety
plans prepared in cases where an unborn baby is at risk of being harmed by its
parents after birth.
(1) What is
the policy and casework guidelines on pre-birth safety plans in cases when an
unborn baby is at risk of being harmed by its parents after birth and will the
minister table these; and, if not, why not?
(2) What level
of officer signs off on a pre-birth safety plan and what triggers a review of
the details of the plan?
(3) Does the
child-centred family support team have any role in developing pre-birth safety
plans; and, if so, what is that role?
SAFETY PLANS
43. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the pre-birth safety
plans prepared in cases where an unborn baby is at risk of being harmed by its
parents after birth.
(1) What is
the policy and casework guidelines on pre-birth safety plans in cases when an
unborn baby is at risk of being harmed by its parents after birth and will the
minister table these; and, if not, why not?
(2) What level
of officer signs off on a pre-birth safety plan and what triggers a review of
the details of the plan?
(3) Does the
child-centred family support team have any role in developing pre-birth safety
plans; and, if so, what is that role?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) Policy and
practice guidelines are set out in the department's ''Casework
Practice Manual''. I table the relevant sections—4.1 and 5.1—of
this manual. I also table the bilateral schedule between the Department for
Child Protection and Family Support and the Western Australian Department of
Health, which provides for the interagency collaborative processes when an
unborn or newborn baby is identified as at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
(2) In most
instances a team leader would be responsible for approving the plan; however,
if a child needed to be brought into care, this decision would be made at the
level of the district director. Safety plans are dynamic and reviewed regularly
as part of the case management process.
(3) Pre-birth
planning is an assessment and planning process and can be undertaken by any
district team. It can involve relevant family members, caseworkers, other
relevant department staff and professionals from other agencies. In addition,
people identified as part of the safety network would be included.
[See paper 1197.]
(1) Policy and
practice guidelines are set out in the department's ''Casework
Practice Manual''. I table the relevant sections—4.1 and 5.1—of
this manual. I also table the bilateral schedule between the Department for
Child Protection and Family Support and the Western Australian Department of
Health, which provides for the interagency collaborative processes when an
unborn or newborn baby is identified as at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
(2) In most
instances a team leader would be responsible for approving the plan; however,
if a child needed to be brought into care, this decision would be made at the
level of the district director. Safety plans are dynamic and reviewed regularly
as part of the case management process.
(3) Pre-birth
planning is an assessment and planning process and can be undertaken by any
district team. It can involve relevant family members, caseworkers, other
relevant department staff and professionals from other agencies. In addition,
people identified as part of the safety network would be included.
[See paper 1197.]
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