Assessing wellbeing, safety and risk
Children and families need to be provided with timely and effective assessment to determine the factors affecting the safety and wellbeing of their children.
The NSW Structured Decision Making Framework
Structured Decision Making ® (SDM) tools were developed by Evident Change (formerly Children’s Research Centre), an American based non-profit social research organisation, which implements SDM systems in a variety of human service fields, both in USA and in Australia.
SDM tools are used by mandatory reporters, DCJ and CWU practitioners to guide critical decision-making points in the cycle of a child wellbeing and protection matter. They improve the structure and consistency of the decisions made.
This evidence and research-based system identifies the key points in the life of a person and uses structured assessments to improve the consistency and validity of each decision. The model consists of several assessments that help agencies to reduce subsequent harm to children and to expedite permanency.
Included in the suite of NSW SDM tools are:
- Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG)
- Screening and Response Priority Tool (SCRPT)
- Safety Assessment, Risk Assessment and Risk Re-assessment tools (SARA)
- Restoration Assessment.
A text alternative to the NSW Structured Decision Making diagram is available.