Page 2799 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 July 2008

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(3) Since the renaming of the Child at Risk Health Unit, the services that are now provided include an early intervention approach as well as the therapeutic work around children who have been abused. The services are as follows:

• A 24 hour forensic medical service for abused children & adolescents

• Medical clinics for abused and/or neglected children and adolescents

• Developmental Assessments for abused and neglected children.

• An Out of Home Care Clinic, which provides health screens for all children in the ACT coming into the care system

• A Health Needs Assessment Service for children and young people who are clients of Care and Protection Services and have unmet health needs.

• Consultation Services to professionals in the health and community sector regarding child abuse issues

• Medical consultation services to doctors within TCH or in the community

• Concerns interviews, for parents and carers to discuss concerns about child abuse and trauma

• A Sexualised Behaviours Therapy Program for children aged 10 and under displaying sexualised behaviours.

• A Sexual Abuse Therapy program for children and adolescents who have been sexually abused.

• A Trauma Therapy program for children and their families who have experienced neglect, domestic violence and physical abuse.

• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, an evidenced based program to improve maternal sensitivity and decrease externalising behaviours, in children who have experienced abuse related trauma.

(4) In 2005 CARHU was restructured. A new position of Clinical Coordinator (Social Worker/Psychologist) was appointed to the unit to oversee clinical programs, to evaluate and restructure services and to train and provide clinical supervision to staff. This position was in addition to the Unit Manager (Social Worker/Psychologist) who is responsible for operational matters.

Prior to the restructure, social workers and psychologists at the CARHU conducted psychosocial assessments of children and families for Care and Protection Services and the Family Court. These services are now provided by Care & Protection Services’ Assessor & Therapy Services Assessment Unit.

Since 2005 the CARHU ceased conducting these psycho-social assessments, and now focusses on a more comprehensive provision of health services inclusive of nursing, developmental assessments and an expansion of counseling services to children and families who have been affected by abuse and/or neglect. The name was changed to the Child at Risk Health Unit to reflect these changes.

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