Department for Families and Communities. 1. Housing employees
Department for Families and Communities. The provision of high quality, holistic and family focussed services and support that value and build families’ strengths will be provided by all Department for Families and Communities staff. • The Department for Families and Communities, through Children Youth and Family Services has the statutory responsibility for child protection in South Australia. • CYFS staff will receive, assess and when considered appropriate investigate notifications of suspected child abuse or neglect received from the Department of Health. This action will reflect strong partnership between departments and recognise that notifications made by Department of Health staff are considered, informed and reflect serious concern for a child’s safety and well being. Action will involve advice to Department of Health staff regarding the outcome of notifications and as appropriate follow up with staff involved in the care and support of the child/ren and their family. • CYFS staff will remain actively involved in and responsible for the evaluation and monitoring of child safety in cases where CYFS have identified children to have been harmed or to be at risk of harm. This responsibility is not diminished or altered by the involvement of health agencies in the care and provision of services to a child/ren and their family. CYFS will maintain lead responsibility for case management. • Staff employed by the Department for Families and Communities, will actively seek to convene (as required) and participate in case conferences for the planning and review of services and support for children and families. • CYFS staff are responsible for determining when children’s safety cannot be secured within the immediate family environment, and if required, to make application to the Youth Court for a Care and Protection Order.
