South Australian Consolidated Acts

CHILDREN'S PROTECTION ACT 1993 - SECT 32

32—Procedures

        (1)         The Care and Protection Co-ordinator must take reasonable steps to ascertain the views as to the care and protection of the child—

            (a)         from those persons invited to a family care meeting who are unable to attend; and

            (b)         from the child (so far as his or her views are ascertainable) if he or she has not been invited, or refuses, to attend; and

            (c)         from any guardian or other family member who has not been invited to attend the meeting, if the Co-ordinator thinks it appropriate to do so,

and must relay all those views to the meeting.

        (2)         The Co-ordinator must ensure that sufficient information as to the child's circumstances and the grounds for believing the child to be at risk is presented to the meeting.

        (3)         The Co-ordinator must allow the child's guardians and other family members present at the meeting, and the child if the Co-ordinator thinks it appropriate to do so, an opportunity to hold discussions in private for the purpose of formulating the family's recommendations as to the arrangements for securing the care and protection of the child.

        (4)         The Co-ordinator may adjourn the meeting to another date if he or she thinks it is necessary or desirable to do so.

        (5)         A family care meeting should if possible make decisions by the consensus of the child and the child's guardians and other family members.

        (6)         A decision made by a family care meeting will not however be regarded as validly made unless it is concurred in by the Care and Protection Co-ordinator as properly securing the care and protection of the child.

        (7)         The decisions made by a family care meeting as to the arrangements for securing the care and protection of the child must be recorded in writing by the Co-ordinator and acknowledged in writing by the Co-ordinator and such of the following persons who attend the meeting and concur in the decisions:

            (a)         the child (unless excused by the Co-ordinator from the obligation); and

            (b)         the child's guardians and other family members.

        (8)         A copy of that written record must be made available by the Co-ordinator to—

            (a)         the child; and

            (b)         each guardian of the child; and

            (c)         any other person involved in implementing the arrangements; and

            (d)         such other persons as the Co-ordinator thinks fit.