Western Australia Gathering 2011
The Western Australian Signs of Safety Gathering held May 2–4 2011 was a fantastic success, far exceeding the best hopes of all of us who organised the event. Terry Murphy, the Director General of the Department for Child Protection stated 'This was the best conference I have been to in my professional career'.
Every Western Australian district and various specialised work units presented, giving a comprehensive overview of the current state of play of the statewide Signs of Safety implementation in the Department for Child Protection. This was complimented by international presentations from the Ktunaxa Kinbasket, Carver County and Gateshead teams. As always the fact that practitioners were presenting their everyday work, successes and struggles was energising and transformative. The Gathering concluded with a compelling reflective presentation from Steve Edwards. We are currently in discussions with the West Australian department regarding how much material can be made public. Some material and videos are already available bellow and we will add more as we are given permission.
Presentations
We are making as many presentations available as possible. Presentations are only available here with the express permission of the presenters and if the content they discuss has been cleared for wider viewing. More videos may be available soon so check back.
DAY ONE | Monday 2 May
9.00–9.25 Welcome to Country
Dr Richard Walley, Middar Dancers
Dr Richard Walley OAM is a Nyoongar man, one of Australia’s leading Aboriginal performers, musicians, and writers who has been a tireless worker for the Indigenous cause. In 1978 he founded the Middar Aboriginal Theatre group and is a renowned didgeridoo player.
9.25–9.30 Welcome to Western Australia
Hon Robyn McSweeney MLC
Minister for Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering; Women’s Interests; Youth.
9.30–9.40 Welcome from the Department for Child Protection
Terry Murphy
Director General, Department for Child Protection
9.40–9.55 What is this Gathering About?
Andrew Turnell
9.55–10.40 International Keynote
Signs of Safety: Growing the Practice in Intake
Gateshead Children’s Services, Gateshead, England
Presenters:
- Viv Hogg
- Marjorie James
- Julia Alison
Presentation Description:
The team from Gateshead, England has been using the Signs of Safety approach for around nine years. Today we plan to talk about how we have ‘grown’ the practice at the frontline and will focus specifically on our use of the tools for working with children and how we have brought Signs of Safety meetings into our processes. We will conclude with some ‘highs and lows’ as well as lessons along the way and if all goes according to plan we aim to introduce you to our ‘Geordie’ culture along the way.
11.10–11.30 The Organisational Journey
Signs of Safety Implementation Project
Presenter:
- Clara Kirika, Project Director, Signs of Safety Implementation
Clara Kirika is the lead Director in the Department for Child Protection with responsibility for the implementation of the Signs of Safety framework across the Department.
Clara graduated in Social Work from the University of Western Australia and has over 25 years experience in the child protection field as a front end practitioner, trainer, policy maker, manager and director - all acquired in the Department for Child Protection. She is one of the inaugural Signs of Safety Practice Leader Facilitators and her current work is focused on growing and supporting practice depth across the organisation. Clara is passionate about working in collaboration with service recipients and stakeholder agencies. She enjoys reading, cooking, travelling and watching the Dockers.
Presentation Description:
System approach to the implementation of the framework into every day work across all aspects of the Department’s business. The Framework was introduced in 2008 as part of wide ranging reforms following the Ford Review of the Department. The framework along with its disciplines, principles, and tools have been adopted to various levels across the organisation.. This presentation will look at the organisational journey. It will identify what has been successful in the integration of the framework across the Department as well as identify areas of tension and what is being done to address them. The presentation will raise a number of issues that are being addressed to ensure the sustained integration of the framework.
11.30–12.00 Frenetic, Friday, Five PM: Using the Signs of Safety Framework in an After Hours Setting
Crisis Care
Presenters:
- Tracy White, Social Worker
- Rebecca Good, Team Leader
- Tessa Cheong, Child Protection Worker
- Laura North, Child Protection Worker
- Gail Galbraith, Senior Practice Development Officer
Tracy White is a Social Worker. She has worked at Crisis Care for five years and has been a Team Leader for the past three. Prior to this, Tracy worked for the Department’s Cannington office and also with Wanslea Family Services. As well as being a respected practitioner and manager Tracy consistently leads Crisis Care’s “Best Dressed List”.
Rebecca Good is a Social Worker with ten years experience. She has been a Team Leader at Crisis Care for four years. Prior to this Rebecca worked with DCP Midland and as a social worker in primary schools. Rebecca’s clarity of vision, humour and family focus are highly valued in Crisis Care. She is an excellent cook and spends her “spare time” remodelling her home.
Tessa Cheong has a background in Psychology and is currently completing her Master’s Degree. She has been a child protection worker at Crisis Care for two years. Tessa is particularly skilled with information technology and is the “go to person” on shift for assistance in this area. In her spare time Tessa enjoys martial arts.
Laura North trained in Psychology in the UK with an emphasis in mental health in children and families. She moved to Australia in 2009 and worked in Crisis Care until April 2011. Laura has recently taken up a post in the Child Assessment and Interviewing Team and will be sorely missed at Crisis Care.
Gail Galbraith is a Social Worker who started her career in the Goldfields in 1989 and then worked in Crisis Care. In 2000 Gail relocated to the UK and worked for Bedfordshire County Council in Child Care and the Emergency Duty Team. Gail returned to Crisis Care in 2009 and is currently working in the role of Senior Practice Development Officer. Gail has a particular interest in after hours social work.
Presentation Description:
Demonstration of how Crisis Care (DCP 24-hour service) has used the Three Column Signs of Safety framework to talk to a 13-year old boy who had been assaulted by his mother and working with the family secured the safety of the child over the weekend.
12.00–12.30 Being Up Front at the Front End
Cannington
Presenters:
- Carol Jacobs, Acting Assistant Director
- Jacinta Maxton, Team Leader
- Rebecca Millen, Senior Child Protection Worker
- Wendy Krieves, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Zanele Chikanya, Senior Field Officer
Carol Jacobs is the Acting Assistant District Director in the Cannington District and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Jacinta Maxton is a Team Leader in the Cannington District and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Rebecca Millen is a Senior Child Protection Worker in the Cannington District and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Wendy Krievs is the Senior Practice Development Officer in the Cannington District and is also a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Zanele Chikanya is a Senior Field Officer at Cannington District Office. She has worked at DCP since October 2007 after completing a Bachelor of Social Work Honours in 2002 from the University of Zimbabwe. Zanele is also a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Presentation Description:
Vignettes—Assessment and Intake; Investigation; Safety Planning, and Working with Children in Teams.
Morning Multimedia Feedback
1.45–2.15 Signs of Safety Pre-birth Project
Head Office, Pre-birth
Presenters:
- Dr Lucy Davies, Director Case Practice Metro Services
- Melanie Samuels, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Julie Jackson, Solicitor in Charge, Western Australia Legal Aid
- Celine Harrison, Head of Social Work Department, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women & Children
Dr Lucy Davies is a Social Worker with over 35 years experience in the sector, across both government and non government child protection. Her current position as Director Case Practice Metropolitan Services has allowed her to further embed her belief that respectful ethical practice is the corner stone of child protection work, and she welcomes the opportunity to remain linked with the field around complex controversial cases whilst overseeing a number of projects about cutting edge practice.
Melanie Samuels is a Senior Practice Development Officer currently working in the Case Practice Unit in DCP. She is also the Project Executive Officer for Signs of Safety and is part of the Project Team for the Signs of Safety Pre-birth Project. Melanie has worked in DCP for the last 12 years and has held various case management positions during that time. Now as a Practice Leader Facilitator, she enjoys working with staff and families in building practice depth and especially conducting Appreciative Inquiries.
Celine Harrison has been working at King Edward Memorial Hospital since 1993 and has been Head of the Social Work Department since 2007. Prior to this she worked for 6 years at Princess Margaret Hospital and has also worked in Geraldton for DCP in the 1980’s. Celine has worked in child, family health and welfare matters since 1973 and has contributed to the development of the Pre-birth Memorandum of Understanding.
Julie Jackson is the Solicitor in Charge, of Legal Aid WA (LAWA) Family Court Services and Children’s Court Protection Services and since 2007 the LAWA Signs of Safety Child Protection Mediation Pilot project. She is an experienced children’s lawyer, accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, a Convenor of Signs of Safety Pre Hearing Conferences and completed the Graduate Certificate in Child Protection Practice (UWA) in 2009.
Presentation Description:
How the Signs of Safety approach is used in the pre-birth conference process. The journey of the Memorandum of Understanding and its current use and feedback from parents. The process of mapping cases with families in early intervention and planning around unborn babies.
2.15–2.45 Signs of Safety in Pre-hearing Conferences
Head Office, Pre-hearing
Presenters:
- Kylie Noakes, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Jill Howieson, Associate Dean, University of Western Australia Law School
- Bill Currie, Senior Lawyer
- Julie Jackson, Solicitor in Charge, Western Australia Legal Aid
Kylie Noakes has worked for the Department for Child Protection for eight years having been a caseworker, Team Leader of the Investigations Team and now a Senior Practice Development Officer in the Case Practice Unit. She is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader Facilitator and a court appointed convenor for Signs of Safety Pre-Hearing Conferences.
Jill Howieson is the Associate Dean at the University of Western Australia’s Law School and is the unit coordinator in ADR, Negotiation and Mediation. Jill is the evaluator of the Signs of Safety lawyer-assisted pre-hearing conferences and pre-birth meetings Pilot.
Bill Currie is a Senior Lawyer with the Department for Child Protection; he also has 20 years experience as a social worker and manager in child protection and mental health in WA, Northern Territory and the UK. Bill was involved in the initial pilot Signs of Safety in 1996 and now represents the Department in pre-birth and pre hearing Signs of Safety conferences.
Presentation Description:
Presenting a constructive inquiry of the implementation of Pre-Hearing Conferences.
2.45–3.15 Before and After: a Mother’s Journey with DCP Before and After the Implementation of Signs of Safety
Peel
Presenters:
- Kathryn Allen, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Vicki Harrod, Senior Field Worker
- Katie Coleman, Team Leader
- Beth Allbeury, Team Leader
- Joanne Van Bilsen, Team Leader
Kathryn Allen is a Senior Practice Development Officer at Peel District Office and works across the Intake, Assessment & Intervention, & Child Centred Family Support Teams.
Vicki Harrod is a Senior Field Worker at Peel District Office on the Assessment and Intervention Team. Vicki is currently completing her Masters in Social Work.
Katie Coleman is a Team Leader at Peel District Office. Katie works across the Intake Team and enjoys using an Appreciate Inquiry style approach in supervision.
Beth Allbeury is a Team Leader at Peel District Office and works in the Children in Care teams. Beth is passionate about reunification and using the Signs of Safety to develop sustainable reunification plans with families.
Joanne Van Bilsen is a Team Leader at Peel District Office on the Child Centred Family Support Team. Joanne enjoys developing creative safety plans with families.
Presentation Description:
Highlights a shared journey with a young mother who was involved with the Department before and after the introduction and implementation of the Signs of Safety.
3.45–4.15 Three Vignettes Demonstrating the Use of the Signs of Safety Framework
Wheatbelt
Presenters:
- Dawn Lamperd, Assistant District Director
- Alison Braid, Team Leader
- Kim Reader, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Deb Chadwick, Team Leader
- Jan McDonagh, Senior Child Protection Worker
Dawn Lamperd is the Assistant District Director in the Wheatbelt District and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader Facilitator.
Alison Braid is a Team Leader in the Narrogin Office and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Kim Reader is the Senior Practice Development in the Wheatbelt District and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Deb Chadwick is a Team Leader in the Northam Office and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Jan McDonagh is a Senior child protection worker specialising in Family Domestic Violence in the Wheatbelt District. She is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Presentation Description:
De-briefing Staff: Use of Signs of Safety mapping to debrief staff after the welfare response to the Toodyay fires. Process of case decision making: using the Signs of Safety mapping to make a decision about applying for and Enduring Parental Responsibility. Children’s Voice: Incorporating the children’s voices into District planning at the 2009 Wheatbelt Conference through use of Signs of Safety questioning
4.15–4.45 Why Do I Have to Keep Doing Piss Tests? I’m Telling You What I’m Using!
Fremantle
Presenters:
- Emma Beck, Senior Child Protection Worker
- Sue de Souza, Team Leader
Emma Beck is a Senior Child Protection Worker in a Children in Care Team. While studying for her social work degree Emma worked as a Project officer to increase Aboriginal access to primary health care, as well as advocating for rental housing for humanitarian refugees. Emma did a placement at the DCP Fremantle office in 2007 where she continued working and gained permanency following completion of her degree in 2008.
Sue de Souza is a Team Leader in a Children in Care Team. Sue has had experience in training and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Presentation Description:
An Appreciative Inquiry between child protection worker and Team Leader on the use of Signs of Safety with an Aboriginal family who had intergenerational involvement with the Department. The AI looks at the usefulness of urinalysis in assessing child safety to a focus on the impact of using on children.
4.45–5.00 Multimedia Recap
DAY 2 | TUESDAY 3 MAY
9.00–9.45 International Keynote
Making It Relevant: Bringing Signs of Safety to Aboriginal Communities of British Columbia
Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Services
British Columbia, Canada
Presenters:
- Joelene Mellor
- Caara Goddard
- Heidi Hebditch
- Jackie Brown
Presentation Description:
Since 2008 Ktunaxa Kinbasket has been utilizing Signs of Safety in the Aboriginal communities of British Columbia. Beginning first with implementing the practice model within our own agency we started using the mappings, Three Houses, Words and Pictures and appreciative inquiry; soon other agencies around the Province began to hear stories about the work we were doing and became interested.
Wanting to know about this practice that was changing the face of Child Protection work, agencies requested some training. Since then Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child & Family Services has been travelling throughout the Southern Interior Region of the Province training and educating other child protection workers and agencies about Signs of Safety. Even more recently we have ventured out into the great white North of the Province, training nine very isolated Aboriginal communities about the practice model that we have become so passionate about.
It has been met with overwhelming acceptance and gratitude within these communities. Staff and community members alike are proclaiming it to be “a gift from God,” an answered prayer that they have waited many, many years for. It is, they say, as traditional as it gets!
9.45–10.15 Successes and Struggles of Using the Signs of Safety Framework in the West Kimberley
West Kimberley
- Michelle Tynan, Team Leader
- Kristen Orazi, Senior Child Protection Worker
- Andrea D’Antoine, Team Leader
Michelle Tynan is a Team Leader in the Broome Office and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Kristen Orazi is a Senior Child Protection Worker in the Broome Office and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Andre D’Antoine is a Team Leader in the Derby Office and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Presentation Description:
Presentation will centre around a collection of photos and DVD footage which will illustrate how Signs of Safety framework is being used in West Kimberley.
10.15–10.45 Using the Signs of Safety framework with a Traditional Aboriginal Family: Working Together
Pilbara
Presenters:
- Adam Toombs, Team Leader
- Lily Hiew, Child Protection Worker
Adam Tombs is a Team Leader in the Newman Office. He is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader. Lily Hiew is a Child Protection worker in the Newman Office.
Presentation Description:
Working with an Aboriginal family around abuse of alcohol, neglect removal of children, safety planning and reunification.
11.10–11.40 Collaborative Practices Between DCP and Uniting Care West, Intensive Family Services
Mirrabooka
Presenters:
- Rinjke Boothman, Team Leader
- Diana Ritchie, Case Manger
- Linda Nolan, Senior Case Worker, Uniting Care West
- Joanne Baldam, Uniting Care West
- Elizabeth Smith, Family Care Worker, Uniting Care West
Rinkje Boothman is a Team Leader for Children in Care at the Mirrabooka District Office where she has been for the last 2 years. Prior to that Rinkje was the Manager Special Projects Mandatory Reporting which she came to after working in Canberra for 7 years. Rinkje was the Regional Manager for Centralised Intake and After Hours Crisis Service in the ACT. Rinkje has completed a Masters in Social Work and presented her Masters Project on Reducing Re-notifications reports in child protection at the (ISPCAN) International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in York UK 2006.
Diana Ritchie is a case manager at the Department for Child Protection Mirrabooka District Office. Diana was placed with the Department for her final fieldwork placement, and after completing her degree in Social Work in 2010 joined the Department as a case manager in a Children in Care team.
Linda Nolan is a senior case worker for Uniting Care West, Intensive Family Services programme where she has worked for over one year. Linda has completed a Masters in Social Work and has worked in areas such as family support, child protection, immigrant support, women’s and children’s services and homelessness in the USA, Ireland and Australia.
Jo Baldam has worked for Mofflyn/ UnitingCare West for 13 years, with the majority of that time in the Intensive Family Services team. Jo has also worked in a range of other positions at UCW including centre coordinator at Mofflyn House (Merriwa), Project work and as a Child Development Consultant at Perth Family Relationship Centre (Partnership between UCW and Relationships Australia). Jo’s previous history in working with children has ranged from working in child care, to working with children in care in Secure Unit settings in Scotland.
Beth Smith moved to Perth last year after working in the UK as a Child Care Provider for 11 years. Following on from this Beth worked in UK child protection system as a contact supervisor for over 2 years. Beth has worked as a Family care worker for Uniting Care West for almost a year.
Presentation Description:
How two agencies worked together in a collaborative manner to achieve the reunification of a child with his family.
11.40–12.30 From Despair to Hope: A Reflection of a Mother’s Journey Through Signs of Safety
Rockingham
Presenters:
- Vania Da Paz, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Debbie Bastian, Child Protection Worker
Vania Da Paz is a Senior Practice Development Officer in the Rockingham Office of the Department for Child Protection. Her first exposure to Signs of Safety was back in 1995 when Andrew Turnell and Steve Edwards were working with child protection workers as a way of exploring how this framework would fit with child protection, statutory work. Since then Vania has continued to use aspects of Signs of Safety within her practice, and is responsible for the development of the Fairies and Wizards Tool as a way of communicating with children and bringing their voices into assessments and planning.
Debbie Bastian has been working in the Rockingham Office for the past 4 years as a child protection worker in the Central Team. She has been involved in many Signs of Safety meetings since its inception into DCP practice. She has found Signs of Safety to be an open, clear, two way information sharing process between workers, agencies and most importantly for families involved with the Department.
Presentation Description:
Appreciative Inquiry with a mother who was involved in family domestic violence relationships and how using the Signs of Safety approach enabled the mother to develop a safety network and build safety for her child.
Morning Multimedia Feedback
1.45–2.15 Getting in the Door
Midland
Presenters:
- Suzanne Thompson, Child Protection Worker
- Sylvia Mollasi, Senior Child Protection Worker
Suzanne Thompson is a child protection worker in the Midland Office and works in the Intake, Assessment and Intervention Team. Suzanne has been with DCP for about 12 months and worked for the Shire of Bassendean for the 7 years prior as a Family Counsellor in the Swan Region.
Sylvia Mollasi works at Midland DCP as Senior child protection worker in the Intake, Assessment and Intervention Team. Sylvia has worked for DCP for 2 years and has had 17 years experience in working in the non-government sector including Salvation Army [Crossroads West] and Mission Australia.
Presentation Description:
Demonstrates the versatility of the Signs of Safety framework to work differently with a family identified with chronic neglect problems. The family has had long involvement with DCP and using the Signs of Safety approach they have engaged in the process and acknowledged the concerns of the Department and are now looking as to what should happen in the future to keep the children safe.
2.15–2.45 Signs of Safety in District Strategy Meetings
ChildFIRST/ Child Assessment & Interview Team
Presenters:
- Glenn Mace, Director, ChildFIRST
- Carla Priest, Team Leader
Glenn Mace is the Director of the ChildFirst Unit and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader. Carla Priest is a Team Leader in the ChildFirst Unit and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Presentation Description:
Demonstration on how ChildFIRST/CAIT has implemented Signs of Safety into Strategy Meetings with Districts. ChildFIRST/CAIT is a joint Unit with staff from the WA Police Department and the Department of Child Protection.
2.45–3.15 Flipping the Argument: From Pathology to What Needs to Happen
Great Southern
Presenters:
- Piers Yates Round, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Sue Trent, Child Protection Worker
Piers Yates Round is a Senior Practice Development Officer in the Great Southern District and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Sue Trent is a Child Protection Worker in the Manjimup Office.
Presentation Description:
Demonstrates that through using the Signs of Safety approach it is possible to overcome resistance and successfully reunite six children with their parents and manage the risk.
3.45–4.15 Fitting a Carer into Three Columns: Signs of Safety and Foster Carer Reviews
Joondalup
Presenter:
- Kate Sweet, Team Leader and Members of Placement Team
Kate Sweet is a Team Leader in the Joondalup Office and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader.
Presentation Description:
Implementing a three column approach to the Carer Review format. The struggles and use of tools to do this.
4.15–4.45 The Tyranny of Distance and How to Work Effectively Despite This
South West
Presenters:
- Brendan Mooney, District Director
- Pamela Adams, Team Leader
- Jill Conroy-Welby, Child Protection Worker
Brendan Mooney is District Director for South West District. Brendan has actively encouraged the implementation of Signs of Safety across the District.
Pamela Adams is Team Leader at Busselton DCP office and has a strong passion to enable staff to be trained and develop their use of the Signs of Safety framework.
Jill Conroy-Welby is a child protection worker at Busselton DCP. Signs of Safety suits her personal practice model and her values of inclusiveness, collaboration, respect and relationship building.
Presentation Description
Workers will demonstrate the use of the Signs of Safety framework when undertaking assessment (after hours) to secure immediate safety of a child but concurrently working towards long term safety of the child in the care of the parents.
4.45–5.00 Multimedia Recap
DAY 3 | WEDNESDAY 3 MAY
9.00–9.45 International Keynote
Implementation Lessons: Long-term High Risk Case Work
Carver County Community Social Services
Minnesota, USA
Presenters:
- Dan Koziolek, Manager
- Cindy Finch, Social Worker
Presentation Description:
Dan and Cindy will describe some of the things they are learning through the implementation of Signs of Safety in Olmsted and Carver counties and from implementations in other Minnesota counties, other States and some Canadian provinces. They will describe many of the things they believe have made the biggest difference in successful casework and ongoing implementation. Dan will describe his latest thoughts about struggling to get people on board with a new approach. Cindy will describe the things she has learned to do to successfully close cases with enough lasting safety that the cases don’t come back into the agency.
9.45–10.00 Picture This: Building Safety Creatively Through Collaborative Signs of Safety Mappings and Words and Pictures
Perth
Presenters:
- Leah Jennings, Team Leader
- Jenny Biancotti, A/Senior Child Protection Worker
- Yoge Munisamy , Clinical Social Worker
- Jo Willox, A/Manager Children in Care, Policy & Learning Directorate
Leah Jennings has worked for the Department for 7 years. Leah is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader and valued within Perth District for her strength in developing new workers and growing depth of practice within the generic ‘East Team’.
Jenny Biancotti commenced at Perth District in mid 2010. Jenny has a sound child protection background of six years as acquired over four years in the United Kingdom and two years with the Department.
Yoge Munisamy is a Singapore and United States trained Clinical Social Worker/Family Therapy Practitioner who works in the Therapeutic Intervention Transition Support Services of the District. Yoge brings a unique and exceptional set of skills to her practice. Recognising the value of this skill set, Perth District workers engage Yoge to support children through periods of transition, such as entering care, transitioning between placements and grief/loss.
Jo Willox has seventeen years of child protection experience as acquired in a number of Districts and in a number of roles. Jo is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader Facilitator.
Presentation Description:
Building safety creatively through collaborative Signs of Safety mappings and words and picture with a mother with an intellectual disability, and a father who is a sexual offender. Demonstration of critical decision making process using the Signs of Safety processes and other agencies and development of a words and pictures.
10.15–10.45 From Little Things Big Things Grow
Murchison
Presenters:
- Caroleanne Leeson-Crane, Assist Mentor
- Vicki Tyler, Senior Practice Development Officer
- Lou Tatasciore, District Director
Caroleanne Leeson-Crane qualified as a Social worker in 1995 with first class honours. From 1995–2007 she worked in Doncaster, UK with Children and Families (Child Protection). Before emigrating she managed a Duty and Assessment team and an Emergency Social Services team (Crisis Care) who dealt with children, families, older people, disability and mental health. She now works for DCP at the Geraldton Office.
Vicki Tyler qualified as a social worker in 1980. She has worked for the department for about 17 years, 4 years in Meekatharra and the last 13 years in the Geraldton Office. In 2008 she completed the Graduate Certificate in Child Protection at UWA and in 2009 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Lou Tatasciore is the District Director for Murchison District. He has been a proactive leader in the implementation of the Signs of Safety across the district.
Presentation Description:
The presentation focuses on the practice growth in the use of the Signs of Safety since initial implementation in the Murchison. Demonstrates through an example how the framework was initially used—only through the three columns—through to a more in depth process of using scaling questions to develop safety plans. Workers provide insight into their experiences.
11.30–12.00 Back to Basics: What Do You Mean, “Doing Signs of Safety?”
Armadale
Presenter:
- Katrina Etherington, Team Leader
Katrina Etherington is Team Leader of a Child-Centred Family Support Team in the Armadale District of the Department for Child Protection and an enthusiastic practitioner of the Signs of Safety Approach to Child Protection Casework. Katrina started applying the approach upon graduating from Social Work at Curtin University and after hearing Andrew Turnell deliver a presentation on the topic. Katrina is a Practice Leader Facilitator who contributes to the implementation of Signs of Safety in DCP.
Presentation Description:
This presentation will look at how talking about ‘doing’ Signs of Safety can be counter-productive. The presentation will revisit the basics of what it means to use the Signs of Safety approach to child protection practice, offering a perhaps different way of conceptualising the ‘solution and safety orientated approach to child protection casework’. Examples of how this is working in practice in the Child-Centred Family Support team in the Armadale District.
12.00–12.30 Reflective Look at the Learning Journey Using the Three Column Approach
Learning & Development Centre
Presenter:
- Jane Wilson, Project Manager Learning & Development Centre
Jane Wilson has a Bachelor of Social Work (UWA). She has worked in the Department since 1992 at Northam, Cannington, Crisis Care, Kununurra and Midland. She then went to the Training Development Office at Community Skills Training Centre—now Learning and Development. She is currently at Learning and Development Centre and is a Signs of Safety Practice Leader Facilitator and also a Program Leader. “I love thinking my way into and through the process.”
Presentation Description:
Signs of Safety as the Child Protection framework and its Integration into Learning Programs at the Learning & Development Centre. What worked well? What are we worried about? What needs to happen to ensure sustainability of the Signs of Safety framework into learning and embedding in practice?
12.30–12.45 Reflections, What's Impressed, How Far We've Come
Steve Edwards
12.45–12.50 Reflections, Learning, Way Forward, Thank-you
Terry Murphy
Director General, Department for Child Protection
12.50–1.00 Multimedia Recap
Andrew Turnell
