About the Unit
The Chief Practitioner for Child Protection was appointed in September 2022 to lead the Unit to support and enable child protection staff and other stakeholders to deliver consistent, high quality practice across the child protection system.
All staff in the Unit collaborate with internal and external partners to strengthen systems, processes and practices while supporting child protection staff to work effectively with families and communities to keep children safe at home, get them home faster, or find them a stable home in care.
The Unit consists of the following teams and functions.
Advocate for Children in Care
The Advocate for Children in Care (Advocate) helps children in care when there are concerns that are difficult to communicate directly with an assigned case worker. The Advocate provides information and advice about what children and young people are entitled to and will support children and young people if they want to have a decision reviewed or submit a complaint. Communities wants to protect and promote the interests of children and young people in care, and the Advocate position has been created specifically to focus on them, their views and their concerns.
Child Protection Practice Team
The Child Protection Practice Team build relationships, processes, and evidence to keep children safe at home, return them home or find them a safe and stable home. The team review and improve child protection practice to elevate the best interests of children and young people and promote their wellbeing.
Aboriginal Cultural Team
The Aboriginal Cultural Team is responsible for developing and supporting practice that is culturally responsive and trauma informed, through partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. The team’s work is underpinned by the five elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles (Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation and Connection).
Duty of Care Team
The Duty of Care Team manage and coordinate notifications when Communities becomes aware of an allegation of abuse or when an incident or event has occurred that may have resulted in harm, injury or loss to a child in the care of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Notifications are required so that children are protected from harm and their legal rights are protected under the Bennett Duty.
Central Review Team
The Central Review Team is responsible for providing a proactive and collaborative approach to working with oversight agencies that review Communities' administration of the Children and Community Services Act 2004. This includes conducting internal reviews of some critical incidents, investigable child deaths and family violence fatalities to proactively identify practice issues and initiate timely practice improvements; identify and track issues that are common between cases to address emerging or ongoing systemic barriers to child safety; and develop and oversee a strategic approach to the implementation of recommendations.
Care Plan Review Panel
The Care Plan Review Panel is an independent panel established to review care planning decisions made by Communities for children in the care of the CEO. The panel provides legal, cultural and child protection expertise to the review of care planning decisions.
Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making Pilot
The Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making (AFLDM) process provides the family with a culturally safe space in which meetings are facilitated by an Aboriginal convenor. The AFLDM team supports Aboriginal organisations and districts currently undertaking AFLDM. The AFLDM process provides Aboriginal families with the right to self-determination, to make decisions about how to keep their child or young person safe and connected to their family, culture, Country and community. AFLDM is currently provided in Mirrabooka and the Mid-West Gascoyne region.
Health Navigator Pilot
The Health Navigator Pilot is currently provided in Mirrabooka and the South West region and is a partnership with the Department of Health. Health Navigators increase collaboration and coordination between services to improve health outcomes for children and young people in the CEO's care.
Contact information
For immediate concerns: If you have a life-threatening concern about a child, contact the police on 000.
Concern for a child's wellbeing: If you are concerned about a child's wellbeing, please contact the Central Intake Team on 1800 273 889.
Crisis Care: Crisis Care provides Western Australia’s after-hours response to reported concerns for a child’s safety and wellbeing and information and referrals for people experiencing crisis.
Professional referrals: If you are a professional and want to report a concern about a child, please complete and submit the Professional Referral online form on the Concerns for the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person page.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse: In Western Australia it is mandatory for certain professionals to report a belief of child sexual abuse. For further details, refer to the Mandatory Reporting page.
