Child Protection is an area of Civil Law focused on protecting children and young people who Child Safety has assessed as having been harmed or being at risk of harm. Child Safety refers to the Department of Child Safety (Child Safety or the Department) in Queensland, the government agency responsible for determining if children are in need protection and providing ongoing support to children and their families to keep children out of the Child Protection System.
Child Safety has offices called Service Centres spread throughout Queensland; each office deals with a specific geographic area. When Child Safety receives concerns about children and families that meets the threshold for investigation, it is called a Notification. When Child Safety receives a Notification about a family or household, Child Safety Officers (CSO’s) may visit with the children and family to talk about the concerns. This process of talking about the concerns is called an Investigation and Assessment (I&A). When Child Safety is conducting an I&A they are trying to work out what the children and family needs are and what if any support is required to address these needs.
To complete the assessment the CSO’s must talk with the child/ren (if age appropriate), you and the other parent and gather relevant information. They must then consider this information and decide if the child/ren are considered in need of protection, they do this by determining whether:
- The child/ren have been harmed or are at unacceptable risk of suffering significant harm; and
- If the child/ren have a parent who is both willing and able to protect the child from harm.
At the conclusion of their assessment, Child Safety must decide if your child/children are in need of protection. Broadly, there are two possible outcomes:
- Child in need of protection (CINOP).
- Child not in need of protection (CNINOP).
If Child Safety determines your child/ren are NOT in need of protection (CNINOP), then they may close their assessment and/or offer you referrals to support services.
If Child Safety determines that your child/children are in need of protection (CINOP), then they must do something to address the concerns. This will usually involve some type of ongoing intervention or support. Sometimes these supports are voluntary, other times they are not, and sometimes Child Safety will apply to the local Children’s Court for an order to remove your child/children from your care. If this is happening or you are worried about this happening, it is essential you seek legal advice as soon as possible, call us on 07 5211 4040 or [email protected]. If the matter is urgent and you need legal advice now, you should call us and tell us this is urgent or call our mobile number 0485 881 896.
Receiving advice early may assist you in avoiding Child Safety becoming more intrusively involved by removing your children or by helping you to understand the process and address the worries earlier. If you or your family have Child Safety talking with you about an Investigation & Assessment, contact us to discuss your options by calling 07 5211 4040 or email [email protected].
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