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Recording unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) assessments for customers under 18 years of age - social work 003-12130080

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If a child is in immediate danger or risk of harm you must act, and a delegate must call 000.

For Services Australia social workers only.

This document outlines the different categories and fields used by Services Australia social workers to record unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) assessments in the Social Work Recording Application (SWRA) in Process Direct and the Social Work Information System (SWIS) in Customer First.

Child safe framework

In line with a zero tolerance approach to harm of children, if a staff member in the course of their duties observes behaviour that raises concerns about a child's safety, Services Australia sets out specific steps that must be taken. 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 for more information regarding this model and the agency's commitment to child safety.

Under 18 assessments

Under 18 years UTLAH assessments are often complex. The assessment procedures include:

  • interviewing the customer
  • contact with one or both of the parents, except in limited circumstances. These include if contact with the parent would present a severe risk to the young person or others, such as siblings
  • contact with an independent third party, and
  • writing a professional report

The assessing social worker will also assess any risk of harm to the young person, their support needs and make referrals to appropriate internal and external support services.

Customer over 18

Service Officers in the Over 18 UTLAH Assessment Team do the UTLAH assessment when the customer is 18 years or older. They do not use the SWRA or SWIS. See Assessing unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) for customers claiming or receiving Youth Allowance (YA), Disability Support Pension (DSP), Special Benefit (SpB) or Tertiary Access Payment (TAP).

Social workers conduct UTLAH assessments for customer aged 18 years and over by exception, see Conducting a social worker unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) assessment. If a social worker does conduct an assessment for a customer 18 years or older they should record the assessment in SWIS.

Unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) initial contact for Youth Allowance (YA), Disability Support Pension (DSP), Special Benefit (SpB) or Tertiary Access Payment (TAP)

Conducting a social worker unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) assessment

Risk identification and management of threats to the safety or welfare of a child