Collection Of Child - Parent Heavily Intoxicated

[dulciean]

This is a bit of a technical question, but am hoping someone with industry knowledge can help point me in the right direction?
Where in the Regulations would I find reference to our response when a parent repeatedly arrives at the service heavily intoxicated ( alcohol) but accompanied by a friend who is an authorised person to collect their child. I am familiar with our new mandatory reporting guidelines, and our duty of care to the child. But I believe there is specific mention in the Regs about this scenario. This is for work/ professional reason and reference.

[Lorina]

Hi Dulciean,

I've checked the Regulations and I've also checked the National Laws however I couldn't find this scenario you were referring too. It just mentions that if an authorized/parent comes to collect a child and an educator deems this person unfit to care for the child then they will need to contact another person from the authorization collection list to pick up the child instead.

Is this what you are after?

Sorry couldn't help more,

,
L.A

[dulciean]

Hi LA
Thankyou for that
I also understood that to be part of the Regulations- it seems to me this parent thinks they are clever by knowing this and bringing a sober/ authorised friend with them to collect the child. It just doesn't sit well with me as this is a pattern of behaviour ... I feel the child is at risk and the parent is exploiting the situation. Frustrating to say the least!!

[strathjack]

Whilst they are bringing someone else to do the 'driving' you are well within your rights to document the days that this happens and to ring up the child protection office. I myself have run the child protection about similar instances and often when you ring you will discover that the family is well known to them and they send someone around to check on the welfare of the child and they will investigate it.

Your duty of care doesn't end when they walk out the door. If you believe that the person is intoxicated and having someone come to collect the child with them and then they are taking the child home you have a duty of care to report that... there is mandatory reporting on all suspicions of abuse (neglect, drugs in the home, intoxicated parents etc).

Let's not forget that the 'friend' isn't going to hang around all afternoon after they drop the child off, you want to make sure that the child is being looked after and that their needs are being met.

[neveo]

what happens if you can't contact anyone from the authorisation contact list? do you go to the Department of Child Protection?

[linsaa fdc]

Hi,
I agree with Strathjack... we have a duty to the child, the parent thinks they are being clever. You are best to let your director know and take it from there.

Linsaa fdc