What is the role of Child Wellbeing Units?
The role of Child Wellbeing Units (CWUs) is to help mandatory reporters within their agency identify whether a child meets the new risk of significant harm threshold, and ensure these matters are reported to the Child Protection Helpline. Where the threshold is not met, CWUs assist mandatory reporters to identify potential responses by the agency or advise on referral to appropriate services. Over time, CWUs will drive better alignment and coordination of agency service systems, to enable better responses to children and families in need of assistance. These arrangements are formalised under amendments to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (Wood Inquiry Recommendations) to follow alternative reporting arrangements which commenced on 24 January 2010 for these four government agencies. This requires assessment officers employed in CWUs to facilitate making a referral or taking action as necessary to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of the child or youn
