If a child concern report is made about your child

Your family may become involved with Child and Youth Protection Services if someone makes a Child Concern Report.

This is usually someone from the community who contacts us because they are worried your child may be neglected or abused.

If the report about your child meets the criteria for a Child Concern Report, we must find out more about your child and family.

What parents and families can expect

The Charter for parents and families involved with ACT child protection services explains:

• the responsibilities of families and child protection workers
• what everyone can expect when working together.

Contacting you

Most of the time we will call you first. When we call, we will identify ourselves and explain what we are calling about.

We may ask to visit your home to talk to you about your child. If this happens, you can choose a time and place for the meeting.

We will always:

• explain the allegations made about your child and family
• work with you to understand the situation.

The law says we cannot tell you who made the allegations.

If a report is made about your unborn baby

If you agree to work with us during your pregnancy, this will be voluntary until your baby is born.

We will ask to work with and share your information with other services.

We may also ask to work with your partner and other members of your family during the process.

You do not have to work with us during your pregnancy. If you do not, we may be more likely to investigate your baby’s safety and wellbeing after it is born.

When you talk or meet with us

You can have a support person with you. This could be a friend, family member or lawyer.

You can also ask us for the names of services who may be able to support you.

Remember

• Ask to see our identification cards when we meet with you.
• Be aware that we may use everything you tell us in court in the future.
• Ask for a phone number so you can contact us if you have questions or need to give us more information.
• Ask for a copy of any main documents. Keep these and remember to take them with you when you speak to a legal or advocacy service.

When you answer our questions

• Think about the question and take your time to answer.
• If you don’t understand something, ask us to explain.
• If you feel overwhelmed or confused, ask for a break.
• You can take notes. This can be helpful for you.
• If you are feeling uncomfortable, ask us if it’s possible for us to come back at another time.

Respecting your culture

When we work with your family, we want to do this in a way that is culturally appropriate.

You have a right to expect us to understand and recognise:

• the importance of culture in a child’s life, now and always
• the importance of acknowledging cultural difference
• the damage caused by making cultural assumptions.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

You can also get support from the Cultural Services team. They are a team of Aboriginal people who work with families and case managers to keep children safe within family and community.

If you agree, the team can:

• be at meetings with you
• know what is happening with CYPS
• help you have your say.

Contact the team:

• call 6207 2228
• email CST@act.gov.au

We act in ways that:

• maintain the traditions and cultural values identified by the child’s family, kinship relationships and community with which they have the strongest connection
• maintain a child’s connection with the lifestyle, culture and traditions of their community, as defined by them
• consider submissions made by or for any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person or organisation providing ongoing support services to the child and their family.

Other people we will talk to

We will look at any involvement your family has had with us in the past.

We will call other professionals and ask them about their views. This can include:

• your child’s class teacher
• childcare staff
• family support workers
• professionals who know you or your child and family.

We don’t need your permission to speak with these people.

After we learn about your child and family

We will decide whether:

• no further action is needed because your child is not at risk of abuse or neglect
• your family needs support or referrals to support services
• we need to assess the child's situation more, called an appraisal, because we believe your child may need care and protection.

Offering support

We usually start with a meeting where we talk to you and your family about how we can help.

At the meeting we will also make a support plan.

If we believe your child is not at risk of abuse or neglect, we still may offer to help you and your family.

Referrals to support services

We can also refer you to support services. This means we will:

• talk to you and the support services about what you need
• put you in touch with those services.

If we believe your child may need care and protection

We will upgrade a Child Concern Report to a Child Protection Report and gather more information about your child’s situation. This is called an appraisal. We do this to help us decide if your child needs care and protection.

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