Child Safety Practice Manual

• Introduction
  • Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
  • Relevant legislation
  • Other key documents
  • Child safety service centres: staff roles and responsibilities
  • Framework for the participation of children and young people in decision-making
  • Respecting diversity
  • Delegations
  • Accountability for children in Queensland
  • Resources
• Framework for practice and maps
  • Practice maps
    • Child protection phases
    • Intake phase
    • Investigation and assessment phase
    • Ongoing intervention - Support service case
    • Ongoing intervention - Child in need of protection
    • Standards of care reviews and harm reports
• Chapters
  • 1. Intake
    • Key steps
      • 1. Gather information about the child and family
      • 2. Assess the information and decide the response
      • 3. Record the outcome and provide to the relevant CSSC or RIS
      • 4. Provide relevant intake information to external agencies
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 2. Investigation and assessment
    • Key steps
      • 1. Plan the investigation and assessment
      • 2. Engage the family and gather information
      • 3. Assess the notified concerns and the child's need for protection
      • 4. Finalise the investigation and assessment
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 3. Ongoing intervention
    • Key steps
      • 1. Decide the type of ongoing intervention
      • 2. Consult with OCFOS and make a referral to DCPL
      • 3. Undertake ongoing intervention activities
      • 4. Close an ongoing intervention case
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 4. Case planning
    • Key steps
      • 1. Assess and prepare to develop a case plan
      • 2. Plan for a family group meeting
      • 3. Develop the case plan
      • 4. Implement the case plan
      • 5. Review and revise the case plan
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 5. Children in care
    • Key steps
      • 1. Place a child in care
      • 2. Support a child in care
      • 3. Decision-making for the child
      • 4. Conclude a care placement
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 6. Intervention with parental agreement
    • Key steps
      • 1. Provide intervention with parental agreement
      • 2. Review an intervention with parental agreement case
      • 3. Place a child using a child protection care agreement
      • 4. Close an intervention with parental agreement case
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 7. Support service cases
    • Key steps
      • 1. Provide intervention through a support service case
      • 2. Review a support service case
      • 3. Close a support service case
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 8. Regulation of care
    • Key steps
      • 1. Pre-application
      • 2. Assessment
      • 3. Approval
      • 4. Renewal
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 9. Standards of care
    • Key steps
      • 1. Provide support to carers
      • 2. Monitor the standards of care
      • 3. Decide the appropriate response when concerns are identified
      • 4. Continue monitoring the standards of care
      • 5. Conduct a standards of care review - carers
      • 6. Conduct a standards of care review - care services
      • 7. Investigate and assess a harm report
      • 8. Action plans
    • What ifs
    • Resources
  • 10. General
    • 10.1 Decision-making about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
      • Key steps
        • 1. Enable meaningful participation in decision-making
        • 2. Arrange for an independent person to facilitate the child's and family's participation
        • 3. Refer the family for family-led decision-making
      • Resources
    • 10.2 Statutory obligation to notify the Queensland Police Service of possible criminal offences
      • Key steps
        • 1. Decide if a matter must be reported to the QPS
        • 2. Report the matter to the QPS
      • Resources
    • 10.3 Information sharing for service delivery coordination
      • Key steps
        • 1. Key principles for information sharing
        • 2. Decide when information may be shared
        • 3. Decide if stated information is needed
      • What ifs - responding to specific information sharing matters
      • Resources
    • 10.4 Providing adoption services
      • Key steps
        • 1. Provide adoption services
        • 2. Determine the primary case worker
        • 3. Supervise services delivered by the primary case worker
        • 4. Provide pre-consent counselling to parents
        • 5. Facilitate an adoption care agreement for a child whose parents are receiving pre-consent counselling
        • 6. Witness consents to an adoption
        • 7. Provide information and counselling to a child and consider the child's views
        • 8. Pursue adoption for a child subject to a child protection order
        • 9. Respect Aboriginal tradition and Island custom
        • 10. Respond to a request to provide one-off post adoption services
        • 11. Record information
      • Resources
    • 10.5 Recording sensitivity
      • Key steps
        • 1. Determine whether a person or event is sensitive
        • 2. Classify a person or event as sensitive
        • 3. Manage a sensitive person or event
        • 4. Review the sensitivity plan
        • 5. Manage sensitive records
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.6 Downgrading or deleting an approved notification
      • Key steps
        • 1. Consider whether to downgrade or delete an approved notification
        • 2. Obtain approval to downgrade or delete an approved notification
        • 3. Downgrade a notification
        • 4. Delete a notification
    • 10.7 Undertake the substance testing of parents
      • Key steps
        • 1. Overview of substance testing
        • 2. The substance test and test results
        • 3. Implement substance testing
        • 4. Implement concurrent assessment, monitoring and intervention strategies
      • Resources
    • 10.8 Responding to self-harming behaviour
      • Key steps
        • 1. Identify that a child is at risk of self-harm
        • 2. Respond to the child with a self-harm alert
        • 3. Review the self-harm risk management plan
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.9 Responding to suicide risk behaviour
      • Key steps
        • 1. Identify that a child is at risk of suicide
        • 2. Respond to the child with a suicide risk alert
        • 3. Review the suicide risk management plan
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.10 Warrant for the apprehension of a child
      • Key Steps
        • 1. Apply for a warrant
        • 2. Enact a warrant
      • Resources
    • 10.11 Staff safety and well-being
      • Key steps
        • 1. Implement strategies to promote staff safety and well-being
        • 2. Implement strategies to avoid client aggression
        • 3. Manage aggressive behaviour by clients
        • 4. Respond to an incident of aggressive behaviour
        • 5. Implement strategies to manage stress, vicarious trauma and critical incident stress
      • Resources
    • 10.12 Professional supervision
      • Key steps
        • 1. Implement supervision requirements
        • 2. Fulfil roles and responsibilities
        • 3. Develop a supervision agreement
        • 4. Implement the supervision agreement
        • 5. Record supervision
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.13 The video taping or recording of departmental staff
      • Key steps
        • 1. Implement actions when staff are video taped or audio recorded while performing work duties
        • 2. Implement actions when the personal details or footage of a staff member are inappropriately published
        • 3. Consider preventative strategies for enhancing personal privacy and safety
      • Resources
    • 10.14 Referring to Family and Child Connect or intensive family support services for early intervention
      • Key steps
        • 1. Roles and functions of Family and Child Connect
        • 2. Roles and functions of intensive family support services
        • 3. Referrals to Family and Child Connect or an intensive family support services
        • 4. Making a referral to Family and Child Connect or an intensive family support service
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.15 The role of the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre
      • Key steps
        • 1. Interface between the CSAHSC and CSSCs or RISs
        • 2. Make an after hours referral
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.16 Referral to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family support service
      • Key steps
        • 1. Determine eligibility for an ATSIFSS referral
        • 2. Make a referral to an ATSIFSS
        • 3. Action following a referral to an ATSIFSS
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.17 Complaints management
      • Key steps
        • 1. Intake
        • 2. Complaint management process
        • 3. Alternative response
        • 4. Investigation
        • 5. Internal review
        • 6. Privacy complaints
        • 7. Public Interest Disclosure
        • 8. Conduct and Performance Excellence
      • Resources
    • 10.18 Interstate and New Zealand matters
      • Key steps
        • 1. Overview of interstate and New Zealand matters
        • 2. Make a request to another jurisdiction
        • 3. Respond to a request from another jurisdiction
        • 4. Enacting a warrant
      • Resources
    • 10.19 Systems and Practice Reviews following the serious physical injury or death of a child
      • Key steps
        • 1. Actions following the serious physical injury or death of a child
        • 2. Participate in the review
        • 3. Actions arising from review processes
    • 10.20 Victims of crime and the role of Victim Assist Queensland
      • Key steps
        • 1. Respond to victims of crime
        • 2. Provide information to a victim of crime
        • 3. Make an application to Victim Assist Queensland
      • Resources
    • 10.21 Family courts
      • Key steps
        • 1. The family courts and child protection interface
        • 2. Exchange of information
        • 3. Assess information received about harm or risk of harm
        • 4. Respond to an order requesting intervention by the department - section 91B orders
        • 5. Undertake an investigation and assessment
        • 6. Respond to a child in need of protection
      • What ifs
      • Resources
    • 10.22 International child protection matters and the Hague Child Abduction Convention
      • Key steps
        • 1. Manage international child protection matters
        • 2. Manage intervention under the Hague Child Abduction Convention
      • Resources
    • What ifs
    • Resources
• Practice papers
• Resources
  • Forms and templates
  • Departmental Resources
  • External
• Structured Decision Making
  • What is Structured Decision Making?
  • Background to implementation
  • How do SDM assessments fit with professional judgement?
  • SDM assessments
  • Case reading
  • SDM resources
• Quicklinks
  • Acronyms
  • Glossary of terms
  • How to use the Child Safety Practice Manual
  • Previous versions
  • Printable version
  • Updates
    • CSPM July 2013 updates
    • CSPM February 2013 updates
    • CSPM June 2012 updates
    • CSPM August 2011 updates
    • CSPM November 2010 updates
    • CSPM July 2010 updates
    • CSPM February 2010 updates
    • CSPM July 2009 updates
    • CSPM June 2009 updates
    • CSPM May 2009 updates
    • CSPM April 2009 updates
    • CSPM December 2008 updates
    • CSPM November 2008 updates
    • CSPM September 2008 updates
    • Stage 9 updates
    • Stage 8 updates
    • Stage 7 updates
    • Stage 6 updates
    • Stage 5 updates (31 May 2006)
    • Stage 4 updates (20 February 2006)
    • Stage 3 updates (16 September 2005) (Note - SDM operational 30 October 2005)
    • Stage 2 updates (1 May 2005)
    • Stage 1 updates (7 March 2005)

You are here:

1. Home
2. Resources
   • Chapters
   • Framework for practice and maps
   • Introduction
   • Practice papers
   • Quicklinks
   • Structured Decision Making
3. Forms and templates

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recognised Entity (Form 17)
• Achievement and Capability plan
• Admission agreement - Ellen Barron Family Centre
• Advice to regional director
• Affidavit (Form 25) (PDF)
• Affidavit of Service (Form 22)
• Application for approval - Form 3 APA - Guide to completion (PDF)
• Approved carer payment form - Care agreement
• Approved carer placement - Addition and deletion advice
• Assessment for the purpose of family contact/holiday
• Assessment of risk of emotional, behavioural and attachment problems and placement instability
• Assessment report - long-term guardianship to a suitable person
• Australian Passport Child Application Form
• Authority to care
• Authority to care - section 82(2)
• Authority to liaise with an authorised person
• Care agreement - Form (PDF, 56 KB)
• Case summary for transfer
• Casework audit tool
• Centrelink request form
• Change in carer circumstances form (PDF)
• Checklist for investigating and assessing a harm report
• Checklist for placement of a child in emergent accommodation
• Child information form
• Child related costs approval form
• Child Safety After Hours Service Centre: After hours referral form
• Child Safety consent form for high risk or very high risk activities
• Child strengths and needs notes
• Conclude a placement checklist 
• Conclusion of placement (DOC, 578 KB)
• Confirmation of identity (PDF)
• Conflict of interest declaration
• Consent form - Initial screening test  
• Consent form - Ongoing testing schedule
• Consent form - Operations and treatment
• Consent form - Psychotropic medication
• Consent to discuss information (PDF)
• Court assessment order (Form 7)
• Critical incident report
• CSA request form
• CSSC file creation request
• CSSC response 91B letter
• Decision-making checklist - long-term guardianship to a suitable person
• DFAT Form B-10 (PDF)
• Evolve Behaviour Support Services Specialist Disability Assessment Referral Form
• Evolve Referral
• Family referral (CSIS)
• FGM invitation letter
• FGM referral
• Form 27 Approval to access to a corrective services facility and visit a prisoner (personal visitor) (DOC)
• Form 27 - Application for warrant for apprehension of child
• Form 28 - Warrant for apprehension of a child
• Form 4 Response letter to court
• Foster and Kinship Care Support Line Referral Form
• Foster carer enquiry and application checklist
• Foster Carer Agreement (DOCX)
• Foster carer assessment and approval checklist
• Foster carer renewal of approval checklist
• Guardian consent form for high risk and very high risk activities
• Health appraisal letter
• Health summary letter
• HRA Form 1: Unborn child high risk alert: Request for immediate notification when pregnant woman presents for delivery
• HRA Form 2: Unborn child high risk alert: Notification that pregnant woman has presented for delivery
• HRA Form 3: Cessation of unborn child high risk alert
• ICM and SCAN team form 1 - Request for multi-agency meeting
• Intake template - electronic
• Intake template - handwritten
• IPA closure checklist
• Joint Action Plan - Departments of Housing Child Safety
• Kinship carer assessment and approval checklist
• Kinship carer enquiry and application checklist
• Kinship carer initial assessment report (DOCX)
• Kinship carer renewal assessment report (DOC, 1 MB) Kinship carer renewal assessment report (PDF, 571 KB)
• Kinship carer renewal of approval checklist
• Letter advising parent/s of placement information
• Letter advising parent/s of withholding placement information
• Letter advising parents of a long-term guardianship order
• Letter advising suitable persons of long-term guardianship order
• Letter re: Authority to medically examine or treat a child (section 97)
• Letter re: Custody (Medical)
• Letter re: Custody (Schools)
• Letter re: Custody and guardianship (Medical)
• Letter re: Custody and guardianship (Schools)
• Letter re: Decision not to review the case plan
• Letter re: Refusal or restriction of family contact
• Letter re: Refusal or restriction of family contact s99MA
• Letter to aggressive client
• Letter to care service - standard of care review outcome
• Letter to carer - outcome of harm report
• Letter to carer - removal of a child (section 89)
• Letter to carer - standard of care review outcome
• Letter to parent – IA outcome (substantiated child in need of protection)
• Letter to parent – IA outcome (substantiated child not in need of protection)
• Letter to parent – IA outcome (unsubstantiated child not in need of protection)
• Letter to staff member – outcome of harm report 
• Letter to Centrelink confirming approved carer status
• Letter to Medicare - change of address
• Letter to Medicare - lost card
• Letter to parent regarding a supervision order (section 78)
• Letter to school - education support plan
• Letter to school - education support plan (change to eligibility)
• Letter to staff member – outcome of harm report
• Letter to young person at 15 years
• Letter to young person at 18 years
• Link an applicant/cardholder to this organisation for a carer, or adult member (PDF)
• Medicare enrolment form
• Medicare request form
• Missing child checklist (DOC, 930 KB)
• New adult household member
• New adult household member checklist
• Parental strength and needs notes
• Personal safety planning tool
• Personal safety risk assessment tool
• Placement commencement checklist
• PSU referral 
• Police referral fax
• Practice panel referral form
• Pre-placement checklist
• Provisional approval assessment
• Provisional approval for kinship carer applicant checklist
• QPS - Non-urgent criminal and domestic violence history check request (spreadsheet)
• QPS - Urgent request (After Hours)
• QPS - Urgent request (Business Hours)
• Recommendation/consent request for a child or young person to participate in high or very high risk activity
• Referral to the Department of Housing
• Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 
• Request for Birth Certificate
• Request for information S159
• Request for interstate alert
• Request for Interstate Assessment - Holiday Placement/Respite care
• Request for interstate notification
• Request for interstate/overseas child protection history
• Request to consider alternative identification (PDF)
• Safety and Support Plan (DOCX, 22 KB)
• Standard of care review checklist
• Standard of care review report (DOC, 915 KB)
• Statement of position letter
• Supervision agreement
• Supervision record sheet
• Support plan (DOC, 42 KB)
• Temporary Assessment Order (Form 3)
• Temporary Custody Order (Form 40)
• Transition plan
• Unborn child checklist
• Volunteer foster/kinship carer or adult member blue/exemption card application (PDF)
• WIRF investigation form
• Young Adults with Disabilities Leaving the Care of the State (Referral to Disability Services Queensland)