Improving social work s response to Acquired Brain Injury and Child Protection concerns

1. Improving social work�s response to Acquired Brain Injury and Child Protection concerns Dr Allison Rowlands Community Services Australia

2. Research on a possible association between child maltreatment and parental disability is virtually non-existent, resulting in continued relative ignorance with regard to the ways in which parental disability may contribute to child maltreatment Tomison, 1996, p 19.

3. Overview Context KTS Literature Assessing risk in ABI context ABI specific knowledge/skills or CP specific knowledge/skills � what do workers need? Interagency practice and common assessment framework? Focus groups Case study

4. Wood Commission ? Keep Them Safe Everyone�s business � genuine interagency collaboration and clarity re roles Raise threshold to risk of significant harm Enhanced exchange of information Enhanced quality review process Capacity building non-government sector; early intervention

5. Changes in practice and systems Mandated Reporter Guidance tool Reports below threshold to Child Wellbeing Units in key agencies Structured decision-making at Helpline Trials of intensive family intervention/support services incl frequently reported families Enhanced training and case discussion Enhanced understanding and skill development working with Indigenous families

6. Literature Parents with cognitive/intellectual disability or mental illness Parents with ABI Assessing parenting capacity and capacity to change Collaborative practice