Casework practice manual

This provides an audit trail for changes to CPM entries and related resources. Attach a link to documents located in Objective or attach the documents to an email. If the document is located in S: drive, attach it to an email in the usual way. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server.

Please enable scripts and reload this page. Turn on more accessible mode. Turn off more accessible mode. Skip Ribbon Commands. Skip to main content. Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Sign In. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Manuals Casework Practice Currently selected. Overview This entry provides information about who to contact when requesting changes in Casework Practice Manual CPM entries, the different amendment categories, and their associated drafting and approval processes.

Requests for changes to CPM entries must be sent to the contact person listed in the entry under related resources or the CPM Custodian. CPM entries must focus on practice guidance and provide information, resources and procedures that support practice.

Authors must : adhere to the Casework Practice Manual Style Guide in related resources after updating or reviewing an entry, check and update all other entries impacted by the change, and before referring child protection workers to another entry for more information, check that entry to confirm the information is there.

Child protection workers should only have to open one other entry to access information they have been referred to. Authors must consult with all relevant stakeholders, including: the directors SPCU when changes relate to case practice, policy or standards Senior Consultatant Aboriginal Services, SCPU, to make sure that case practice meets the needs of Aboriginal children and families the practice director, Legal and Business Services has provided advice, and General Counsel where necessary to check that potential legal matters are addressed and that the amendments proposed are consistent with legislation and other legal requirements.

Complete the request form, attach required document using the 'Add Attachment' link, and select either 'Legal Mailbox' or 'Duty Lawyer' button. The contact person listed under related resources responds to queries about the entry, assesses content and recommends changes in the entry.

The director with portfolio responsibility for the subject matter chapter custodian quality assures the process and content of amendments to existing entries, and the development process and content for new entries and resource documents.

Reporting minor errors in CPM entries When reporting a typo, grammatical errors, or information that is not clear, click the contact link at the bottom of the entry to open an email addressed to the CPM custodian. Amendment categories The kind of changes that can be made to entries are categorised in the table below.

Director, chapter custodian must agree to the changes. Relevant Executive Directors and Director General. Procedures for amending existing entries and developing new entries Procedures for Amending Entries and Developing New Entries in related resources provides step-by-step guidance for amending and developing CPM entries. The quarterly chapter review process All CPM chapters and entries are reviewed on a rotating three year cycle, scheduled quarterly January, April, July and October.

A month before a pending chapter review, the CPM custodian alerts the chapter custodian by email and asks them to: Review the content of relevant entries, and revise and update if required Review the content of all related forms, flow charts and related resources and update or re-develop where required Consult with Aboriginal Engagement and Coordination to make sure case practice meets the needs of Aboriginal children and families, and Inform the CPM custodian by email if an entry does not need to be updated.

Chapter reviews focus on: streamlining processes embedding Signs of Safety where appropriate identifying gaps in policy and practice developing new policy, case practice or standards, processes and related resource material to address those gaps clarifying current case practice, policy and related resource material re-writing existing text to improve clarity and conciseness, and where appropriate, consider the use of flow-charts to clarify processes and replace text.

Writing for the Casework Practice Manual Policy officers write many different types of documents in their day to day work, for example: carefully negotiated Memoranda of Understanding MOUs or bilateral agreements with other departments and agencies policy and other frameworks practice guidance for Communities' officers, and resources that provide information to staff, clients and others.

Written procedures are necessary when a process: is lengthy example: health care assessments is complex example: assessment and investigation processes is routine, but essential that everyone strictly follows rules example: recording obligations is potentially contentious example: working with the Family Court demands consistency example: initiating subsidy payments involves significant change example: taking a child into protection and care , or has serious consequences if done wrong example: safety plans, the use of alerts in case practice.

Guidelines for writing procedures The primary aim of the CPM is to provide clear, concise and accurate practice guidance and procedural information for staff. Best practice for writing procedures include: Write directly to your reader. Use active voice. Active voice is precise, direct and provides instruction — it tells people exactly what they should do. Active writing engages the reader so they can easily understand and absorb information.

Avoid using passive voice in writing - it is indirect, imprecise and wordy. Passive voice uses weak verbs that reduce clarity, and it is tedious to read. This makes writing difficult to focus on and absorb, and readers often skim the information or avoid reading it.

Do not use bureaucratic, quasi-legal terms, or descriptive writing. Refine down to what must be done, who must do it, and how.

Use present tense when possible. People read procedures to find out what to do right now. One topic per paragraph, and keep paragraphs short — three or four sentences. Write the most important information first, and choose your words precisely. Active Example: Completing an insurance claim form Insurance claim forms must be processed within 30 days of the incident. Child protection workers must: Email Client Support Services to request a current claim form Complete all sections of the form in full and attach: full details of the incident the primary foster carer's full name, address and date of birth, and the child's full name, ID, date of birth and date of placement with the foster carer, and all quotes and receipts Sign the claim form and forward with all attachments to the coordinator, Client Support Services.

Formatting Make generous use of empty space. Often, the goals focus on enhancing caregiver protective capacity, which can help maximize children's safety and minimize their risk of harm. Parents may be reluctant or resistant to engage during a child protection investigation, which is why it is imperative to establish rapport, build relationships, and partner with families to achieve the goals identified and ensure the safety and well-being of the children and the family unit.

Child protection professionals should also be aware of racial disproportionality within the child welfare system. Families of color, as well as those living in poverty, are more likely to be investigated by child protective services, and children of color are more likely to be placed in out-of-home care.

It is essential that child welfare professionals work to identify their own biases or stereotypes that may affect decision-making when engaging with families, especially racially and culturally diverse families. It is important to understand how issues of socioeconomic status and race influence child protection decisions.

Understanding causes of disproportionality, including racial bias and systemic factors, can help child protection staff address and promote equity. If you want to learn more about best practices to connect and engage with families while effectively addressing key processes in child protection casework practice, use the following resources. It describes the purposes, key decisions, and issues of each stage of the CPS process and strategies for casework supervision, training, and support.

This guide provides information for child protection workers on topics such as engaging families in searches, working with incarcerated parents, teaming, and more.