Family Violence Information Sharing, Child Information Sharing, and the Redevelopment of the Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework 19 APRIL 2018
Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework: key components Within the Framework there are supports and resources for departments, organisations and practitioners. The infographic below sets out the key components and outputs of the redeveloped Framework including the identification/screening and risk tools. REDEVELOPED FRAMEWORK Vision and principles OUTPUTS The redeveloped framework will include the following outputs: Workforce categories All client-facing workforces Workforces who will take first steps in risk and risk management Workforces with specialist expertise who will undertake comprehensive risk s and risk management Categories to direct workers to the appropriate aspects of the Framework and the relevant tools. Roles and responsibilities To identify potential signs of family violence, and will contribute to coordinated multiagency action and information sharing To establish if family violence has occurred and take first steps in risk and risk management Corresponding minimum standards for practice Corresponding skills and competencies Where family violence has been established and worker has specialist expertise to undertake comprehensive s and risk management Advice and guidance for workers on their roles and responsibilities for risk and risk management. Minimum standards and skills and competencies to support the performance of these roles and responsibilities in practice. Assessment tools and Practice Guidance Identification/Screening tool Brief risk tool Preliminary risk tool Corresponding operational and management practice guidance Embedded in online tool and available in hard copy Framework resources Implementation activities and training Comprehensive risk tool Operational practice guidance to support workers in their use of each approach to risk. Integrated risk and management practice guidance tailored to different workforces roles and responsibilities. Training for workers in the use of the new tools and working in an online environment. 2
Family Violence Information Sharing 3
Child Information Sharing Who can share Only prescribed entities can exchange information with each other under the scheme, and are likely to include: government agencies and government funded or regulated services, including Victoria Police, courts, schools, child protection, child and family services, hospitals, health services, early childhood and maternal and child health services Why they can share Information can be requested or shared to promote children s wellbeing or safety, if the entity providing the information has a reasonable belief that the information may assist the recipient to: make a decision, or plan, initiate or conduct any investigation, provide any service, and manage any risks. When can they share Prescribed organisations can share proactively with other prescribed organisations, or make a request to another prescribed organisation to promote a child s safety or wellbeing. Prescribed organisations must respond to legitimate information requests unless an exemption applies. What cannot be shared Excluded information cannot be shared, for example where information sharing might prejudice an ongoing legal investigation or coronial inquiry, contravene legal privilege or a court order, or where it would endanger a person s life or physical safety. Prescribed entities may share information with the child, parent, or a person the child is living with if it is necessary to manage a risk to the child s safety. No consent required No consent is required in order to share information about any person to promote children s safety or wellbeing, consistent with the best interests framework. Legislative principles and guidelines will promote children s agency, including taking into account the views of children and families, and will require consideration of adult victim safety in a family violence context. Penalties apply for deliberate misuse of information, or for impersonating a prescribed entity A good faith defence protects workers if they share in good faith and with reasonable care The regime will be reviewed within 2 years, and again within 5 years 4 Privacy breach complaints can be made to Information & Health Complaints Commissioners
A phased roll out February 2018 phase (FV info sharing) From 26 February 2018 - Child Protection practitioners in RAMPs - Child Protection practitioners in Support and Safety Hubs - Child FIRST - Sexual assault services - Specialist men s and women s family violence services - Victoria Police officers - Selected Magistrates and Children s Court officers - Victims Support Agency and Victims Assistance Program - Corrections staff (including Adult Parole Board) - Support and Safety Hubs - RAMPs September 2018 phase (FV info sharing group 2; child info sharing group 1; revised FV risk framework group 1) From September 2018 : - all initial tranche - Full Child Protection workforce - Integrated Family Services - Delegates from Out of Home Care (e.g. managers) - Department housing officers and managers and delegates from selected homelessness services - Delegates in mental health and drug and alcohol services - Maternal and Child Health nurses - Youth Justice - Legal Services (MARAM only) - Other Justice services (e.g. Youth Parole Board, financial counsellors, tenancy assistance) 2020 phase (all remaining services across all reforms) *Indicative list subject to future consultation and refinement From January 2020: - Disability services - Aged care services - Hospitals and Ambulance Victoria - Midwives - Community health services - Community housing associations - General practitioners - Allied health services - Psychologists and psychiatrists - Schools - Early childhood services - Local councils - Other justice services (e.g. Sheriffs) 5
Victoria Police Workforce detail Phase 1 Workforces 1 September Health and Human Services Justice and Regulation (Still subject to confirmation from DJR) Family Safety Victoria People (CCYP) # Marriages # offending) # Victoria Legal Aid @ Community Legal Centres @ Sexual assault services* Community-based CP (Hubs)* ChildFIRST* Child Protection* Integrated Family Services* Out of Home Care* Homelessness* DHHS Housing* Mental Health* Alcohol and other drugs (AOD)* Commission for Children and Young Victims Support Agency* Victims Assistance Program* Youth Parole Board* Youth Justice* Justice Health** Justice Health (youth)* Registry of Births, Deaths and Multi-Agency Panels (youth Corrections VIC and Corrections Contracted Service Providers** Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Program** State Funded Financial Counsellors** Magistrates Court* Childrens Court* Hubs* Men's FV (inc. beh. change)* Women's FV (inc. refuge) * RAMPs* Maternal Child Health* Victoria Police* Courts Education and Training FV info sharing partial workforce for FVIS & CIS (roles to be defined) *Prescribed for CIS, FVISS & Framework **Prescribed for FVIS & Framework # Prescribed for CIS Only @ Prescribed for Framework Only 6
Key dates Consultation A series of general consultation sessions are being held on the suite of tools sitting under the Framework, and the associated practice guidance for risk and management. These are being held at the KPMG offices in Docklands and are open to practitioners from all relevant workforces (noting that each tool will be used by different services). Further specific consultation meetings are proposed to be held with diverse communities during May 2018. 2 March Identification and screening 23 March Comprehensive 3 May Brief 4 May Preliminary 23 May Comprehensive review Key milestones June 2018 products for the redeveloped Framework completed June-July 2018 formal public consultation period on Regulations to prescribe services to align with the Framework, and on the overarching Framework document (which will also be a legislative instrument) August 2018 integrated workforce training commences for the Framework, Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme and Child Wellbeing and Safety Information Sharing Scheme September 2018 Regulations prescribing services commence 7