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This factsheet will answer your questions about the Social Assessment Report. Print version: |
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What is a report writer?
A report writer is a professional person (usually an accredited social worker or psychologist) who has been asked by a separate representative for a child or young person to prepare a report for the Children's Court or the Children's Services Tribunal. This person is considered by the Court or Tribunal to be an independent expert in child protection matters.
What does the report writer do?
The report writer is asked by the separate representative to help them represent the child or young person's best interests. In order to assess the child's best interests the report writer will need to collect information about:
- the child or young person's relationship with significant people (eg, parents, brothers and sisters, extended family and friends);
- the child or young person's views and wishes, if they want to tell the report writer this;
- the child or young person's personal history and emotional attachments;
- the child or young person's family history, including any significant issues which have impacted on the child;
- the child or young person's needs;
- what is currently happening in the child or young person's life; and
- if the report is required for the Children's Services Tribunal, what matters were taken into consideration when the Department of Child Safety made the decision about the child or young person.
The report writer has a limited amount of time to collect this information and prepare the report. The report writer will not include all of the information they collect in the report. They will decide what is the most important information to be included in it.
Interviews - who, where, when and how?
The report writer will conduct a series of interviews. This may include the report writer interviewing the following people:
- the child or young person alone;
- the child or young person with a parent, Department of Child Safety officer, foster carer or another significant person;
- the child or young person's parents, and their current partners, separately and together;
- the Department of Child Safety officer for the child; and
- other relevant professionals such as teachers, counsellors or doctors.
The interviews may occur at a Legal Aid Queensland office or at the offices of other professional people involved. Some interviews may occur over the telephone. A home visit may be necessary. You will be contacted to arrange suitable dates and times for interviews. Sometimes the report writer may also want to observe you and the child or young person on your usual contact together.
How will they write the report?
The report writer will take notes and may tape interviews. This information is then used as a record for the report writer and may be used in a hearing. All information obtained by the report writer is reportable to the Court or Tribunal. The report writer may be required to give evidence in the Court or Tribunal at a hearing.
In assessing the best interests of the child or young person, a detailed report will be prepared which may contain recommendations to the Court about whether or not a child protection order should be made and other matters.
Once the report is completed the writer will give a copy to the child or young person's separate representative who will file it in the Court or Tribunal. If you are a party to the proceedings, you or the solicitor acting for you if you are legally represented, will also be given a copy of the report. A copy will also be given to the Department of Child Safety and other parties to the proceedings. If you are not a party to the proceedings you will not be given a copy because of the confidentiality provisions of the legislation.
Important points to remember
- Legal Aid Queensland will arrange and pay for an interpreter if you request this;
- this is NOT a confidential process - all information obtained by the report writer is reportable to the Court or the Tribunal;
- the purpose of the report is to provide an INDEPENDENT assessment of the child or young person's best interests;
- the report is only ONE of the documents the Court or Tribunal will take into consideration in making decisions about the child or young person's best interests;
- if you have any concerns or complaints about the process, including the report writer, please contact Legal Aid Queensland; and
- if you disagree with the report, discuss this with your solicitor so they can advise you how you may be able to raise this in the Court or Tribunal.
How to prepare for the report
If you have any safety or security concerns, or you have a Domestic Violence Order, advise your solicitor prior to the interviews in order for special arrangements to be made to ensure everybody's safety. If you do not have a solicitor, advise the separate representative or the report writer prior to the interviews commencing, or as soon as possible.
The interview process is often quite long and you may need to bring refreshments and quiet toys for the children.
Child-minding is not available at Legal Aid Queensland and you may need to bring a friend or relative to assist you with the children while you are being interviewed.
Speak with the report writer or your solicitor before the interviews OR speak with the report writer when you first meet them if you have any questions about the process, including questions about how to prepare the child or young person for the interviews.