Healthcare that counts: A framework for improving care for vulnerable children in Victorian health services

This framework supports Victorian health services to deliver care that reduces inequity and improve outcomes for vulnerable children, their families and/or carers by driving quality improvement.

The framework guides health services to create and embed consistent strategies, processes and procedures across five action areas to strengthen the identification and response to children who experience vulnerability due to the risk of child abuse and neglect:

High-quality governance for vulnerable children and families – leadership and systems in place to protect and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children and families.
Access for vulnerable children and families – health services are accessible, flexible, inclusive, safe and responsive to the needs of vulnerable families.
Family-sensitive and inclusive practice – uphold rights of the child; consider the needs and interests of children when working with adults and promote family safe practice.
Working together – health services and health professionals must work together and with others to ensure care is effective, comprehensive and coordinated.
Effective communication and information sharing – communication is open, transparent and information is shared between professionals and services in the best interests of the child.

Services required to implement the Healthcare that Counts

Under the Policy and Funding guidelines, all health and community services funded to provide health services and programs by the Department of Health must implement the framework.

Other health providers can use the framework to support practice improvement, such as general practitioners and private hospitals.

Supporting implementation and continuous improvement

Health services should undertake annual self-assessments to measure their progress against the framework, identify gaps in practice and opportunities for improvement.