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Gateway Tasmania: Reforming Child Protection Intake and Family Support Services. Reform Agenda. Gateway is a key platform in the Tasmanian Governments' state-wide reform of the Family and Disability Sectors July 2009 - Family Services Gateway and Integrated Family Services system in July 2009.
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Gateway Tasmania:Reforming Child Protection Intake and Family Support Services
Reform Agenda Gateway is a key platform in the Tasmanian Governments' state-wide reform of the Family and Disability Sectors July 2009 - Family Services Gateway and Integrated Family Services system in July 2009. July 2010 – Integration of Disability Services Gateway Gateway is provided in partnership with Mission Australia and family service Alliance partners
Gateway Model • Each Area Catchment has a Gateway to provide a consolidated intake on behalf of all Family and Disability Services in the local area. • Supported by co-located DHHS Community Based Child Protection Team Leader (CBCPTL) and a co-located DHHS Disability Consultant. • Located in Gateway 5 days per week • Facilitates referral pathways and information sharing • Professional consultation • Works in partnership with Gateway / IFSS • Gateway supports the development of much stronger pathways with other universal, secondary and tertiary services.
Information Sharing Provisions Amendments to The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 (the CYPTF Act) included provisions to allow information to be shared about clients between organisations working in collaboration with Gateway Services and Child Protection Services; to allow for a high quality assessment of risk and cumulative harm
Mandated Reporters Amendments to the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997 allow for mandatory reporters to report to either Child Protection or Gateway. Gateway does not replace the statutory role of Child Protection, but rather compliments and support the work of Child Protection. Amendments to the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997 allow for Unborn Reports to report to either Child Protection or Gateway.
Impact of Reform The intended outcomes are being achieved - children have been diverted from the statutory system. Three reviews have provided evidence: • Auditor General (No 2. of 2011-12, September 2011) • Review of 247 children referred for family support from the Child Protection Service (CPS) in a 6 mthperiod. • Gateway and Family Support Services Midterm Review Report (February 2012) Impact on other parts of system - better planning into voluntary foster care system, less crisis/statutory.
Referrals to Glenhaven Temcare by SourceNorthern Tasmania This graph shows the redirection of referral pathways to Gateway post-reform.
Key Outcomes - Gateway & IFSS Relationship between Child Protection and Family Services is more collaborative and child focused More robust decision making and improvement in shared understandings of risk and cumulative harm Partnerships and sharing of information that is relevant to families and children is resulting in better assessment, better referral pathways and more targeted work, less duplication in system. Better case co-ordination and collaborative practice with other agencies/sectors involved with families and children
Key Outcomes - Gateway & IFSS Good partnerships have been developed which provide strong support for practitioners, managers and organisations Improved data collection to assist with planning and identify service gaps Enhanced accountability and reporting of work to government and other stakeholders Improved pathways and referrals across traditional silos of Disability services and Family Services Gateway - Creation of the NDIS front end