Practice Cycle Basics
Tools and Assessments
Applying Practice
Decision Making
REAL LIFE SCENARIOS
100

This is the first step in the practice cycle where we gather information about risk and strengths.

an assessment

100

This tool determines immediate safety in the home.

Safety Assessment

100

 If a family is engaging well and showing improvement, this step ensures we don’t assume safety too early.

 Reassessment

100

 This is always the top priority in child protection decisions.

child safety

100

 A parent is attending counselling and improving. What step ensures progress is maintained?

 Reassessment

200

This step involves creating goals and strategies with the family to address concerns.

Family Plan

200

 This assessment looks at strengths and needs across the family system

FCSNA

200

 If a plan isn’t working, this is what we must do next.

adjust/update the plan (return to planning stage)

200

 This principle means using the least intrusive intervention possible.

least intrusive measures

200

A child returns home after care. What stage of the cycle are you entering?

Intervention (and ongoing monitoring)

300

After initiating Ongoing Protection service phase, how long do we have to complete the Family Plan?

30 days

300

This process helps determine if vulnerability has increased, decreased, or stayed the same.

 Reassessing Vulnerability

300

What is a foundational part of our child protection work with families and youth?

collaboration

300

This type of decision-making involves families and supports in planning

collaborative decision-making

300

 A parent relapses after progress. What step do you return to immediately?

 Assessment (and reassessment)

400

This step ensures we review whether risk has changed and if the plan is working.

Reassessment

400

This assessment is used when considering returning a child home.

Reunification Assessment

400

How many types of Collaborative Practice and Decision Making (CPDM) do we typically offer?

5

400

When risk remains moderate, cases are typically not closed but instead this happens.

ongoing monitoring/services

400

 A family is not following the plan. What must you do?

 reassess and adjust the plan

500

The practice cycle is best described as this type of process.

ongoing/continuous (or cyclical) ♻️

500

These tools help guide consistent decision-making across child protection cases.

SDM tools

500

Skipping reassessment can lead to closing a case too early or this major risk

missing new or ongoing safety concerns

500

This must be balanced with safety when deciding interventions.

family rights/autonomy (or least intrusion)

500

A worker assumes things are fine and closes the case without reviewing risk. What step did they skip?

Reassessment

M
e
n
u