Additional and development tools are The department is developing a privacy training developed and implemented which are specific to strategy to deliver: the Child Protection program. These are to include: a refreshed eLearning module that provides general training for all on their privacy and an eLearning module for protection confidentiality obligations - currently being practitioners, students and administrative finalised ahead of the roll out in September staff within the Child Protection program. 2016; This module should be no more than 30 minutes. The focus of this module should new specific training modules for a range of be on the basic do’s and don’ts of workers over 2016-17, starting with modules for privacy/information sharing, with most child protection staff and leaders, to be released content being program specific. by December 2016. this module should be included as mandatory training with associated monitoring of completion. It should also be The modules will refer to the planned followed by discussions with a supervisor enhancements to information systems (see to maximise the opportunity for learning to response to Recommendation 4). be embedded in practice. an eLearning module for leadership staff, especially senior practitioners and team managers within the Child Protection program. The focus of this module the additional privacy and information sharing responsibilities associated with their roles and the broader policy context of information sharing. Addressing the of carers Response Recommendation 2 Changes are made to both the Child Protection The department will immediately review and revise and Out-of-Home Care Manuals to document relevant practice advice in both the Protection procedures and appropriate advice regarding: manual and Out-of-Home Care policies and guidelines. This will ensure assessments the need to have discussions with carers regarding the need to withhold placement details immediately prior to or at the are timely and appropriate and where necessary commencement of a placement about the the process to withhold such information accords legislative requirement of DHHS to provide with legislation and delegated decision making. information to the parents about the child, including the provision of personal information; and that this requirement is subject to several qualifications including New practice guidance will be available by the end consideration that it is not in the child’s of October 2016 best interests to provide the information. These discussions need to be held in the context of the assessment processes that precede a placement;
Additional and development tools are developed and implemented which are specific to the Child Protection program. These are to include: an eLearning module for protection practitioners, students and administrative staff within the Child Protection program. This module should be no more than 30 minutes. The focus of this module should be on the basic do’s and don’ts of privacy/information sharing, with most content being program specific. this module should be included as mandatory training with associated monitoring of completion. It should also be followed by discussions with a supervisor to maximise the opportunity for learning to be embedded in practice. an eLearning module for leadership staff, especially senior practitioners and team managers within the Child Protection program. The focus of this module the additional privacy and information sharing responsibilities associated with their roles and the broader policy context of information sharing. The department is developing a privacy training strategy to deliver: a refreshed eLearning module that provides general training for all on their privacy and confidentiality obligations - currently being finalised ahead of the roll out in September 2016; new specific training modules for a range of workers over 2016-17, starting with modules for child protection staff and leaders, to be released by December 2016. The modules will refer to the planned enhancements to information systems (see response to Recommendation 4). Addressing the of carers Recommendation 2 Response Changes are made to both the Child Protection and Out-of-Home Care Manuals to document procedures and appropriate advice regarding: the need to have discussions with carers immediately prior to or at the commencement of a placement about the legislative requirement of DHHS to provide information to the parents about the child, including the provision of personal information; and that this requirement is subject to several qualifications including consideration that it is not in the child’s best interests to provide the information. These discussions need to be held in the context of the assessment processes that precede a placement; The department will immediately review and revise relevant practice advice in both the Protection manual and Out-of-Home Care policies and guidelines. This will ensure assessments regarding the need to withhold placement details are timely and appropriate and where necessary the process to withhold such information accords with legislation and delegated decision making. New practice guidance will be available by the end of October 2016
Independent-review-privacy-incidents-child-protection-departmental-response-sept2016.docx