An induction resource for staff working in schools and children’s services sites

1. An induction resource for staff working in schools and children’s services sites

2. This induction explains • what the ISG are • why have they been developed • how they work • your role in using the ISG

3. What resources you need with you for this induction - • A copy of the ISG & DECS Appendix* • the two-sided chart titled ‘decision making steps for information sharing.’ Download both from • http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/speced2/pages/childprotection/ > information sharing • * Available as one document on the above website

4. What are the ISG? They are guidelines about how agencies and organisations can share information when there are concerns about the safety or wellbeing of children, young people and their families. Cabinet approved the ISG for implementation across all SA Government and relevant non government agencies in October 2008.

5. Who developed the ISG? An interagency group chaired by DECS withrepresentatives from: Health Families & Communities Police Attorney-Generals Department Crown Solicitors Office Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Association of Major Community Organisations

6. Why have they been developed? To help remove confusion for people about how they can share information with others when they want to prevent problems from getting worse for vulnerable children, young people and their families.

7. What confusions do the ISG remove? The next few slides involve you referring to the ISG document.

8. Q. Can information be shared with staff in other organisations or agencies? Answer: Read the paragraph on p.7 of the guidelines headed, ‘Who are the guidelines for?’ Information can be shared between all the groups identified whether they are working with parents or with children.

9. Q. What should be given more weight when an issue of safety and an issue of privacy are in conflict? Answer: Read the main principles underpinning the ISG listed in dot points on p.8

10. Q. Is information sharing only legitimate when it aims to protect individuals - or is the protection of groups of people a legitimate purpose? Answer: Read the dot points on p 9 of the ISG ‘What are legitimate purposes for information sharing?’

11. Q. Does a person have to face an immediate seriousthreat to their safety or wellbeing before information can be shared without consent – or can the threat be anticipated? Answer: Read the first paragraph under ‘what are the grounds for information sharing’ on p.8 of the ISG.

12. Information sharing is straightforward when people have given informed consent for it to occur. Gaining an individual’s informed consent is the ideal and recommended practice under the ISG. Q. When is there sufficient reason to share information without consent? Answer: Read the short paragraph ‘Is there sufficient reason to share without consent?’ on p.16 of the ISG.

13. Read scenario 3 on p.16/17 of the ISG as an example of how these principles are applied.

14. How should information be shared? Under the ISG, information sharing should be Secure Timely Accurate & Relevant (STAR) In the previous case scenario this means information sharing should be …

15. Secure – information is shared verbally between the CAMHS professional and school leader and is recorded by both. Timely - information is shared as soon as the professional recognises the risk to the client (and in this case others) Accurate – the information shared is based on current professional observations & assessments Relevant - only information relevant to protecting against risks is shared and only with those staff members who are responsible for managing those risks.

16. What role will you play with the ISG? Refer now to the DECS appendix. Read the ‘background’ section on p. 1 and then find your current work position on p. 3. Who is your line manager and do you need their approval for information sharing without consent?

17. Why are some DECS positions not listed? The only positions listed are those that are likely to be directly involved, through their line managers, in interagency information sharing and the formal record keeping associated with it.

18. Why are some DECS positions not listed ? (cont..) However all DECS staff, through their day to day raising of concerns about children and young people, contribute to the timeliness and quality of the information that is shared to support vulnerable children, young people and their families.

19. What are the formalways you share and document concerns about children and young people on your current site? If you’re not sure, ask your line manager.

20. Q. How should you formally record information sharing at your site? Answer: Read the section titled ‘record keeping’ on p.8 of the Appendix. Ask your line manager if you aren’t sure where records should be kept on your site.

21. If you use EDSAS, a new set of screens for recording information sharing are now available in Students -Personal Notes -Part 2. A fact sheet on their use is available under the ‘Information Sharing Resources’ section of the DECS website. http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/speced2/pages/childprotection/ > information sharing

22. Remember - records of information sharing are essential • when information is shared without consent • when information sharing requests are refused by you, or to you.

23. Q. How can information be shared in ways that are culturally respectful? Answer: Read the paragraph on cultural guidance on p.9 of the appendix.

24. Are mandatory reporting responsibilities affected by the ISG? No, they are not affected in any way. However, because the ISG is designed to support early interventions it is hoped that the need for mandatory reports will be reduced over time and that fewer children and young people will need to enter the child protection or juvenile justice systems.

25. Do parent and student communities need to know about the ISG? Yes. It is essential that parents and students, of an appropriate maturity, understand the site’s commitment to seeking consent for information sharing but also the limit of the confidentiality the site can guarantee. Read p. 2 of the appendix.

26. Want help in amending your site’s information pamphlets or enrolment forms to reflect the ISG? See the below website for the DECS student enrolment form with amended information for parents. A student pamphlet template that describes consent and limited confidentiality for students accessing school counselling services will be available for adaptation by the end of 2009. http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/speced2/pages/childprotection/ > information sharing > information sharing resources

27. How can you easily remember the steps and principles involved in the ISG? Refer now to the double-sided “decision making steps for information sharing” chart. This summarises the core advice of the ISG.

28. Test yourself Using the flow chart, what step is missed in the following scenario?

29. A pre-school director and an OSHC director are colleagues. They agree that, despite a parent’s non-consent, there is sufficient reason for the pre-school director to share information about the parent’s pattern of mental illness in order to protect against risks to the wellbeing of the parent’s child. They agree it is not a mandatory notification matter and approval is gained from their line managers. Their conversations are conducted respectfully and in private. They liaise regularly.

30. Missed Step Both staff needed to make a record of the fact that information was shared without consent. (Step 9) Record keeping is essential.

31. Main messages of the ISG • Children and young people’s safety and wellbeing are the primary considerations when making information sharing decisions. • Seek consent in all situations where it is considered safe to do so. • Always work through your line manager • Use the ‘decision making steps for information sharing’ summary chart as your guide.

32. Read pp 13 to 20 of the ISG if you’re interested in understanding more about • informed consent and working with children and young people • the role of parents • judging when if it is safe to seek consent • managing disputes Interested in reading more scenarios? • go to the end of the appendix, p.10.

33. Want more information? Current information on the implementation of the ISG across SA is available on the Guardian’s website www.gcyp.sa.gov.au and current information on the ISG’s implementation in DECS is available at http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/speced2/pages/childprotection/ > information sharing