Scope of Service – Statutory and Court Involvement

Scope of Service – Statutory and Court Involvement

1. Purpose

This policy outlines the scope of services provided by Insight Clinic Mental Health Services  in relation to matters involving statutory child protection services and court proceedings.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure clarity regarding the Clinic’s therapeutic role and to maintain ethical, sustainable, and clinically appropriate service delivery.

2. Nature of Services Provided

The Clinic provides outpatient psychological and therapeutic intervention services. Services are delivered by contracted and employed clinicians who operate on a sessional basis.

The primary focus of the Clinic is the provision of therapeutic intervention, including:

• Assessment (where appropriate and agreed)
• Individual therapy
• Psychoeducation
• Skills development
• Support for emotional regulation and wellbeing

The Clinic does not provide:

• Forensic assessments
• Court reports or expert witness services
• Family law reports
• Child protection investigative reports
• Ongoing case management in statutory matters

3. Statutory Child Protection and Court Involvement

Where a client (child, adolescent, or family) is currently involved in any of the following:

• Active Child Protection investigations
• Statutory supervision or protection orders
• Ongoing Children’s Court proceedings
• Family Court litigation involving parenting disputes
• Formal requests for court reports, affidavits, subpoenas, or extensive file preparation
• Complex multi-agency case management led by statutory authorities

The Clinic may determine that the matter falls outside the scope of its service capacity.

This determination may be made where the matter involves:

• Significant additional administrative or case coordination requirements
• Multidisciplinary case management led by statutory bodies
• Preparation of formal court documentation or medico-legal reports
• Substantial procedural, compliance, or forensic obligations

The Clinic operates under a sessional, therapeutic model that prioritises direct psychological intervention. It does not provide ongoing case management services, forensic assessments, or court-related reporting.

Where a matter is assessed as falling outside the Clinic’s scope, clients will be advised and supported to seek an alternative service more appropriately equipped to manage statutory or court-involved cases.

4. Operational Model and Service Capacity

The Clinic engages clinicians who provide therapy on a sessional basis. The majority of clinicians contracted with the Clinic provide therapeutic services and do not undertake:

• Ongoing statutory case management
• Court attendance
• Preparation of formal court documentation
• Multi-agency case coordination beyond standard clinical communication

Due to the additional administrative time and non-therapeutic obligations required in statutory matters, the Clinic may decline to commence or continue services where statutory involvement is active.

This ensures:

• Ethical service provision within clinician competence
• Appropriate allocation of clinical time
• Sustainability of service delivery
• Reduced risk of role conflict between therapist and court-related functions

5. Mandatory Reporting

Nothing in this policy limits or removes the Clinic’s legal obligation to comply with mandatory reporting requirements under applicable legislation.

All clinicians will continue to:

• Fulfil mandatory reporting duties where required by law
• Respond appropriately to risk disclosures
• Cooperate with lawful requests for information within professional and legal boundaries

6. Referrals and Alternative Pathways

Where a matter is identified as involving active statutory or court processes, the Clinic may:

Decline new referrals, or Provide limited transitional support while alternative services are arranged

Clients may be referred to:

• Community mental health services
• Public health services
• Statutory-aligned therapeutic providers
• Services equipped to manage court and child protection case coordination

7. Review of Policy

This policy may be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with legislation, professional standards, and the Clinic’s operational capacity.