Social work assessments and assistance for at risk young people 003-12030000

Services Australia has a zero tolerance approach to child abuse.

A staff member must act when they see or hear behaviour which raises concern about a child or young person’s safety. Follow the agency's Risk Identification and Reporting model when identifying and responding to child safety concerns. See Risk identification and management of threats to the safety or welfare of a child.

Assessments and assistance for young people at risk may include:

• assessing supports available and any risk to an unsupported child or young person
• referring the young person to Reconnect or other services
• engaging the young person in short term, more intensive social casework
• conducting an unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) assessment
• conducting an assessment of care on an informal basis where a child may be at risk of harm
• conducting a Child Support non-parent carer assessment

If there are reasonable grounds to believe that a young person under 18 years has been subjected to or is at risk of abuse, serious harm or violence, or they are under 15 years and homeless or unsupported the Services Australia social worker will make a Youth Protective Assessment referral to the relevant State or Territory Welfare Authority. The State or Territory Welfare Authority will then provide advice to the referring social worker on the outcome of that assessment and recommend and support any follow-up action.

Social workers should ensure that they obtain the customer's consent prior to referring them to a community agency or government service. The purpose of the referral and the information to be provided to the agency should be discussed with the customer and their agreement documented.

If the customer does not give their consent but there is a threat to the life, health or welfare of a person, a Services Australia's delegate can release information to police or a child protection agency. Officers delegated to release information include APS6 social workers and above. Special consideration needs to be taken if the young person is under 16 years of age.