Child Protection Unit
Who we are
The PCH Child Protection Unit (CPU) is a specialised, hospital-based service providing medical, forensic, social work and therapeutic services for children and their families when there is a concern that a child has, or may have suffered from child abuse.
The PCH CPU is the only hospital-based service of this kind in WA.
Services we provide
Our staff coordinate assessment, planning and (when appropriate) intervention strategies and ongoing therapy for children and families where there are child protection concerns. This includes:
- inpatient services in conjunction with inpatient unit staff
- outpatient clinics, including after-hours services for acute sexual assault
- therapy outpatient clinics.
Key roles of the CPU include:
- medical and forensic examination, opinion formulation and report writing
- diagnosis and treatment of injuries and infections
- medical and forensic investigations, including blood tests and imaging
- assessment of a child’s current and ongoing safety risk
- psychosocial assessments
- crisis support for children and families
- a wide range of therapy services
- education and training in child protection
- consultation on child protection matters within hospital, external health services and the wider community
- court attendance for civil and criminal matters.
Referrals
Please send all CPU referrals to
cpuduty.pch@health.wa.gov.au
For inpatient and urgent outpatient referrals please contact the CPU Social Worker on
6456 4300 (within business hours), or the on-call CPU Doctor on
6456 2222 (after-hours). Referrers are to inform CPU if the parents/carers know about the referral.
For after-hours safety or welfare concerns, contact Crisis Care (external site) – the after-hours service for the Department for Child Protection and Family Support:
Phone: 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008 (free call for country residents)
Crisis Care translating and interpreting service: 13 14 50
Location
There are two locations for the Child Protection Unit:
Main office: Ground Level, near the Emergency Department.
This area has a reception, waiting room, consultation and interview rooms, a play room, staff offices and training facilities.
CPU Therapy Service outpatient clinic: Level 2.
This area has specialised age-appropriate therapy rooms, consulting rooms, a group therapy room and a play room.
View the PCH map for more information.
Contact us
Acute (Ground level): 6456 4300
Therapy (Clinic K, Level 2): 6456 3273