STAT.0561.001.0137

MoH Policy Directive Implementation Plan

Health Northern Sydney Local Health District

Executive Sponsor:

Allocation Date:

Kim Field, Director Primary and Community Health

19 April 2013

Due Date: 19 May 2013

P02013 007 Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Policies and Procedures for NSW Health

Please review the attached policy directive issued by the Ministry of Health to assess the action required by this Local Health District to implement the policy. Please provide a response to the following questions and return to Julie Wright, Team Leader, Corporate Governance Unit by 19 May 2013.

Q1. Does this policy fall within your portfolio? 0 Yes

o No (suggest appropriate portfolio -----------------"

Q2. Is implementation required at Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD)? Iii Yes

o No (reason-------------------------'

Q3. Is support documentation required to implement the policy, eg procedure /nuldeline?

-~s D No

YQ4. Is an Implementation plan attached (for submission to the LHD Executive)? ~Yes o No (reason ________________________ ....J

QS. Expected timeframe for implementation is?

Q6. Is pre-implementation consultation required by at Health Services within NSLHD? Yes (if yes contact relevant General Manager to advise action required)

8}No

The implementation process will be monitored by (responsible officer)

Name: Carol Whitehead. __________ _

Position: NSLHD Manager Child Protection Services. __________ _

EXECUTIVE SPONSOR SIGNATURE: Ms Kim Field Date 19 /05/2013

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STAT.0561.001.0138

Implementation Plan for MoH Policy Directive

PD2013 007 Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Policies and Procedures for NSW Health

1. Policy Implementation This policy updates and brings together in one document a number of previously implemented Child Wellbeing and Child Protection policies. Some minor changes to policy have been noted but overall most of the policy requirements detailed are not new. A number of requirements pre-empt policy endorsement at Ministry of Health level and may require a specific implementation plan once approved or where a technological action is required once the technology solution is available. The principle action required to support Implementation of this policy is a comprehensive communication plan, which ensures that all health managers and staff are aware of the policy. Where variations from previous policy and practice occur some discussion with key stakeholders will be required to determine whether current procedures are adequate. The principle actions in relation to the identification of risk of harm to children and young people and the actions health workers are required to take in relation to reporting risk of harm/significant risk of harm, exchange of information and the prioritisation of children identified as at risk of harm in the health service system are unchanged.

2. Responsibilities Al} managers and their staff within the Northern Sydney Local Health District need to be aware of the individual and organisational responsibilities outlined in this policy. The NSLHD Executive Sponsor, the NSLHD Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Reference Group, the Director of Child and Family Health and designated child protection service staff specifically the Manager Child Protection Services, the ChHd Wellbeing Coordinator have key roles in supporting and facilitating the implementation, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of this oJic .

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Mandatory t;aining in relation to child protection policy and procedure responsibilities is currently provided to alf new staff during the NSLHD corporate orientation program. This program has been updated to reflect this new policy. The NSLHD Child Protection Educator and other child welfbeing and child protection staff

support this program and provide update training for other staff on request. A full day training program is also provided on a regular basis for those staff required to complete additional training. These sessions are advertised through the LHD Centre for Learning and Development calendar and on the Child Protection Intranet sit. A fact sheet has been developed by NSW Kids and Families which has been widely distributed across service delivery networks.

5. Policy/Procedure Dissemination/Communication The release of this policy has already been broadly communicated via group emails to all staff and through health service management, key service delivery network structures, child at risk meeting groups and those workers identified as playing a support role in their service in relation to child protection practice. The policy was posted on the Child Protection Intranet site and wilf be publicized in the Keep them Safe Newsletter which is scheduled for release later this month.

6. Performance Measures The percentage of new staff completing mandatory child protection training within one month of commencing employment with Northern Sydney Local Health Distn'ct.

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STAT.0561.001.0139

Percentage of staff in designated child related seNices completing full training within 6 months of commencing employment in the LHD. Percentage of exchange of information requests received and responded to within the agreed interagency time frames. Children/ young persons identified as at risk of harm are prioritised in NSLHD intake processes.

7. Risk Rating Risks of this policy not being implemented effectively relate to the legal and safety and security domains in the Health Risk matrix - risks in these domains are moderate if staff fail to adequately identify and report as per mandatory requirement a child or young person at risk of significant harm

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STAT.0561.001.0140

STAT.0561.001.0141

Child Wellbeing and Child Protection FACT SHEET for NSW Health Workers

Health Kids & Families

The role of all NSW Health workers is to promote the health, safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people in

collaboration with interagency partners in a shared system of child wellbeing and child protection in NSW. This role applies

when providing health care to children and young people and to parents I carers or pregnant women.

The continuum of NSW Health services across primary, secondary and tertiary care offers many opportunities to identify children

and young people at risk and assist vulnerable parents I carers to access appropriate support to provide safe and nurturing

environments for their children.

Working at the frontline of the public health system, health workers are uniquely placed to identify and respond to family risk

factors for child abuse and neglect early in a child's early life and as a young person in order to reduce these risks and improve

health outcomes. Health workers also have a key role to identify and report children and young people at risk of significant harm

and in ameliorating the effects of child abuse and neglect when it does occur. The many resources to assist health workers in

meeting their responsibilities are outlined in this Fact Sheet .

. -- - -- - - ~ - - -· ~---,= -;--=--;- __ . L. -· =- .- - -:.i.,.,7,1.~-r r:.:T--.:- l..--~:"'---- _-::- ... ·r:.-,?-• :; _. .- ·.- - · . ~

What- are the legal responsibilities of NSW 1Health: services:and ,workers? " I , ' ' I • j1 I • • ' 1

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 Collaborate with interagency partners and comply with information exchange provisions to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people, including taking reasonable steps to coordinate the provision of services with other agencies;

• Meet requirements for mandatory reporting of children and reporting of young people (or classes/groups of children or young people) at suspected risk of significant harm (ROSH);

• Report unborn children where it is suspected they may be at ROSH after their birth; Respond to the needs of children and young people after making a report to Community Services or to the NSW Health Child Wellbeing Unit;

• Respond to Community Services' and Children's Court requests to provide health services and or Community Services and Police Force requests to provide medical examinations and treatment;

• Assist in Children's Court proceedings when required.

Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998 I Child Protection (Working with Children} Act 2012 • Meet requirements for Working with Children Checks

Ombudsman Act 1974 Maintain systems to prevent 'reportable conduct' by health workers and for reporting and responding to alleged

reportable conduct involving NSW Health employees

• Recognise and respond appropriately to the vulnerabilities, risks and needs of families, children and young people when providing any health service;

• Collaborate across NSW Health services and with interagency partners to support and strengthen families and promote child health, safety, welfare and wellbeing;

• Use the Mandatory Reporter Guide and seek assistance from the NSW Health Child We ii being Unit to help identify children or young people at suspected risk of significant harm (ROSH);

• seek assistance from the NSW Health Child Weil being Unit and the Family Referral Services to help respond to vulnerable families, children and young people below the ROSH threshold;

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STAT.0561.001.0142

• Actively seek feedback from Community Services after making a child protection report and continue to support the child, young person or family consistent with the health worker's roles and responsibilities;

• Follow the Child Wellbeing and Child Protection - NSW lnteragency Guidelines and other agreed interagency procedures when working with children, young people and families, including in relation to information exchange, High Risk Birth Alerts, Prenatal Reporting, escalation of child protection concerns, assumption of care by Community Services and out of home care health assessments;

• Collaborate in joint investigation and response to matters involving alleged child sexual assault or serious child abuse or neglect leading to criminal proceedings; and

• Participate in mandatory and/ or other child protection training for NSW Health workers.

Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Policies and Procedures for NSW Health

Child Wellbeing and Child Protection - NSW lnteragency Guidelines

Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG} guides decision-making about the level of risk to a child young person or unborn child and what initial action to take. This includes whether or not a child protection report is required.

Community Services Child Protection Helpline call 133 627 (24 hours/7 days) to report a child or young person suspected to be at Risk of Significant Harm.

NSW Health Child Wellbeing Unit call 1300 480 420 for support and assistance in determining the level of risk of harm and responding to the needs of vulnerable children, young people, pregnant women and families. After hours leave a message or use After Hours Contact Form

Tertiary Child Protection Service in your Child Health Network- call for clinical advice (24 hours/7 days), if not available locally, for responding to any form of child maltreatment: • Greater Eastern and Southern Child Health Network - call the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Randwick Campus Child

Protection Unit on 02 9382 1412 or after hours on 02 9382 1111; • Western Child Health Network- call the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Children's Westmead Campus Child Protection

Unit on 02 9845 0000 and ask for the Intake Worker for Child Protection; • Northern Child Health Network- call the John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle on 02 4921 3000 and ask for the

paediatrician on call for child protection.

Local Health District (LHD} Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Staff- Child Wellbeing Coordinators, child protection and or violence prevention coordinators, child protection trainers, information exchange central contact points /consultants, out of home care health co-ordinators, Child Protection Counselling Services, Sexual Assault Services, New Street Services and Under 10s Sexualised Behaviour Program (See the LHD intranet site or call the NSW Health Child Wellbeing Unit).

Family Referral Services (FRS). To contact a FRS to refer vulnerable children, young people and families see Fact Sheet or ask the NSW Health CWU. FRS provide information, assessment and referral to a range of support services in their local area.

Education Centre Against Violence for state-wide mainstream and specialist training, consultation and resource development for NSW Health and interagency workers.

Keep Them Safe a whole of government website with resources to inform mandatory reporters and the general public about the system of child protection in NSW

Contact: NSW Kids & Families, NSW Health, 73 Miller Street North Sydney 2060 Ph: 1300 480 420

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