Screening and Assessment
Development of a Practice Framework and Guidelines
Screening and assessment is an important component of the work in the Family Relationship Centres and the Family Relationship Advice Line. It assists to identify:
- The nature of a client’s enquiry
- The needs of the client
- Appropriate services for referral (including services provided by the Centres and Advice Line)
- Safety concerns
- Urgent matters
- Issues for joint dispute resolution
The Department contracted the services of Australian Catholic University (ACU) to develop a resource that would assist Centre and Advice Line staff when undertaking screening and assessments.
ACU’s approach to developing a framework was to initially research local and overseas screening/assessment practices, and then to work with practitioners with expertise in this area to develop a product relevant to the new services. Additional input was provided by key stakeholders, including:
Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, Family Law Council, National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council, Women's Legal Services Australia, National Association of Community Legal Centres, state and territory legal aid dispute resolution services, Centrelink, Child Support Agency, Family Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, Services represented by the Industry Representative Bodies (Catholic Social Services Australia, Relationships Australia and Family Services Australia), Lone Fathers Association, Council for Single Mothers and Their Children, Department of Human Services, and the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
In presenting the attached document to the Department, ACU passed on the wishes of the practitioners that the framework remain a work in progress until such time as it is reviewed in the light of the practical experience of the Centres and Advice Line. Planning for such a review is currently underway.
Some changes have already been made to the framework developed by ACU. These changes include:
- Additional information about international child abduction (Refer Risk Domain : Child Abduction)
- Draft Guidelines for Management of Cases Involving Violence in Family Relationship Centres (refer Attachment J)
- Additional information about professional obligations and duty of care to incorporate mandatory reporting and the disclosure of information provisions provided for under the Family Law Act 1975.
Further guidelines on referrals to legal advice and other services will be provided at a later stage.
Family Relationship Centres are required to apply the Screening and Assessment Practice Framework and Guidelines to their screening and assessment tools, processes and practices. If the Centres identify any ‘gaps’, they are expected to modify these to ensure the framework’s good practice principles underpin this important aspect of service delivery.