Child wellbeing and child protection

On this page

1. Responding to disclosures
2. Child Wellbeing Unit support for the wellbeing nurse and school principal
3. Child related allegations

Responding to disclosures

As NSW Health employees, wellbeing nurses have a responsibility to promote the health, safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people. As a mandatory reporter, the wellbeing nurse must identify and appropriately respond to child wellbeing and child protection concerns.

In accordance with the Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Policies and Procedures for NSW Health (PD2013_007), the wellbeing nurse:

• identifies:
  • signs of possible child abuse, neglect, family violence and prenatal harm and/or relevant parent/carer health issues that may affect parenting capacity
  • any contextual information that may inform the concern.
• responds by:
  • recording the time and date of the conversation and, to the best ability, exact work used by the child or young person
  • reassuring the child or young person that they have a right to disclose their abuse and/or neglect so that steps can be taken to help them keep them safe
  • applying the online NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide and following instructions
  • consulting other professionals working with the child/young person/family if required to gather further information about the family and explore strategies to support them, in accordance with Chapter 16A information sharing provisions detailed in Section 6 of the Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Policies and Procedures for NSW Health (PD2013_007)
  • if an outcome of suspected risk of significant harm (ROSH) is reached, reporting the suspected ROSH to the Child Protection Helpline on 13 21 11 or the NSW Health Child Wellbeing Unit (CWU) on 1300 480 420
  • documenting the report of suspected ROSH in the eMR
  • contacting the NSW Health CWU or Local Health District Child Wellbeing Coordinator if required, for advice and assistance with child protection practice, processes, interventions, referral options, including whether a ROSH report is needed
  • informing and providing the reference number of the ROSH report to the school principal (or delegate) using the exchange provision of Chapter 16A of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
  • keeping the school principal (or delegate) updated on response progress consistent with Chapter 16A information sharing provisions detailed in Section 6 of the Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Policies and Procedures for NSW Health (PD2013_007)
  • working collaboratively with school staff as appropriate to plan any actions to address child safety, welfare or wellbeing concerns
  • continuing to provide support to the child/young person/family and referring them to relevant services.

When a suspected ROSH report is indicated and both the wellbeing nurse and the school principal are aware of the same information, they both report the suspected ROSH.

The wellbeing nurse and school principal can contact their respective CWU to confirm whether a ROSH has been made about a student, or to receive assistance in planning a response after a ROSH report has been made.

Child Wellbeing Unit support for the wellbeing nurse and school principal

The NSW Health CWU supports NSW Health staff and the NSW Department of Education CWU supports NSW Department of Education staff. The CWUs help them to fulfil their child protection and wellbeing responsibilities. This includes assistance in deciding when concerns need to be reported to the Child Protection Helpline. The NSW Health CWU can make a report on behalf the wellbeing nurse based on who has the most relevant, direct information and is best placed to have the reporting conversation with the Child Protection Helpline.

When a child protection concern is identified, the wellbeing nurse can contact the NSW Health CWU if required:

• to consult with a NSW Health child protection professional for practice or procedural advice about any safety, welfare or wellbeing concern for a child, young person or unborn child
• to seek background health, child protection or wellbeing information about a child, young person or vulnerable family
• for advice about where to gain further information regarding services and supports available for children, young people and families
• if unsure whether a report to the Child Protection Helpline is warranted.

Child related allegations

The wellbeing nurse follows the NSW Health Policy Directive, Managing Child Related Allegations, Charges and Convictions Against NSW Health Staff (PD2020_044) if they have concerns about child related allegations, charges or convictions. This includes advice on what to do if it is known that the alleged perpetrator works in a non-NSW Health organisation.

If there are concerns about a Department of Education staff member (paid or unpaid), they immediately inform the school principal.