How we use Signs of Safety questions for child protection reports

We use 'Signs of Safety' questions to gather information when you report an issue to us. It helps us ask the right questions, assess risks more clearly and respond in proportion to your report.

Signs of Safety focuses on three guiding questions:

• What are we worried about? (past harm, current risks, possible future danger)
• What’s working well? (protective adults, safe actions, family strengths and community support)
• What needs to happen? (steps to ensure safety and wellbeing).

We ask these questions to keep a focus on both:

• the risks
• the strengths and safety factors that may already exist in the child’s life.

Scaling questions

To understand the level of risk or safety, we use scaling questions.For example:

’On a scale of 0 to 10, how safe do you think the child is right now?’

You will hear from us that:

• a score of 10 means the child is safe and well
• a score of 0 means the child is not safe and needs immediate action.

The safety scale makes it easier for us to understand your concerns and worries. We can then ask more questions to understand and assess the situation.

How we build a picture of a situation

Signs of Safety helps us:

• ask more purposeful and meaningful questions
• understand the impact, risks and the strengths in a child’s situation
• build good working relationships with families, support networks and professionals.

No one person has all the information about a child and their family. You don’t need the full picture to make a report. But the more information you can provide, the better we can assess risk and respond effectively.

When you make a report

The way you report has not changed. When you make a report to us we need a clear picture of the situation. Whether you report online or by phone, the Signs of Safety questions help us work out:

• whether a child is at risk of significant harm or has already been harmed
• if the child or family may be eligible for services
• the level and urgency of our response.

When you make a report, we may ask you questions like:

• what have you seen or heard that makes you worried about the child?
• how often does it happen and how serious is it?
• how does this affect the child?
• what is going well in the child’s life? (things or people that keep them safe)
• is there anyone already helping the child or family?
• if nothing changes, what are you most worried about that will happen to the child?

Culture and background

We’ll also ask about cultural background and identity. We recognise that parenting styles, family dynamics and supports are influenced by culture, values and community.

Understanding a family’s cultural background helps us:

• better engage families
• understand what is important to them
• link them to culturally appropriate community-based services if that is what they need.

What you need to do

Your obligations to report have not changed and the threshold for reporting remains the same. Our signs of safety approach does not affect when you report. Signs of Safety is about howwe gather the information from you when you do report.

By using Signs of Safety questions when you first report to us, we can:

• gather clearer, more purposeful information
• recognise existing strengths and supports
• make better decisions for children’s safety and wellbeing.

To make a report

• Make an online report at Report risk of significant harm to a child
• Call Children, Youth and Families on 1300 556 729