2023, yes that is correct we are in 2023!

Our QPS Police Referrals team have started the year with excitement after a long wait time, we have been appointed a permanent Inspector overseeing the Police Referrals team amongst other portfolios within our Domestic and Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command.

Inspector Quinlan comes to our command with a substantial background engaging with vulnerable persons, most recently the Officer in Charge of the South Brisbane Vulnerable Persons Unit. Inspector Quinlan has been extremely proactive since his commencement in late January by meeting with several service providers within our Police Referrals network.

Should any of you wish to meet with Inspector Quinlan in relation to Police Referrals or Vulnerable Persons policing, please reach out to my team in QPS to make the necessary arrangements.

Referral Volumes

You are not alone in thinking referral volumes are increasing. Referrals are increasing across the whole Police Referral program, and I continue to work with service providers and QPS to enhance the quality of the Police Referrals to ensure the at risk and vulnerable persons are connected with relevant support services and the referrals contain appropriate and relevant information to enable you to conduct your engagement with the referred person.

If you notice any patterns in relation to specific officers, specific stations etc please reach out to RMCS or the QPS police referrals team via email so targeted education can be conducted to enhance the quality of Police Referrals.

Developments

Coming in early March 2023, we are providing you the ability to remove a client from a referral within the Police Referral database. There have been a few cases where referrals have been accidently associated with the incorrect client by the receiving service provider, resulting in significant time, effort, and investment by our teams to remove the referral from the incorrect client. You can now unlink the referral from the client.

Good News stories

I know, you see me ask this every bulletin, but we need Good News Police Referrals stories. Early next year the QPS Police Referrals team will be highlighting Good News Police Referrals stories from 2022.

I’d really like to highlight to QPS members the incredible difference you make to our most vulnerable Queenslanders. De-identified Good News stories, help us to showcase Police Referrals externally during stakeholder engagement sessions, in our Year in Review documentation, and in many other events throughout the year.

To do this, I need your help!  Please take a moment or two to submit some Good News stories (de-identified of course) via email to the QPS Police Referrals team at Police.Referrals@police.qld.gov.au.

Good News stories provide an opportunity for our team to showcase the effectiveness of Police Referrals. By sharing this information on our internal QPS communication platform Workplace (a platform very similar to Facebook) I can:

• share stories about the referred client’s Police Referral journey
• share the outcome of Police connecting vulnerable persons with a support service
• highlight the value of connecting with supports
• enhance the quality of future referrals
• showcase providers who have joined our Police Referrals network
• update officers about providers who are no longer within our network
• remind officers about matters you raise with the Police Referrals team, including:
  • referring against the most appropriate category
  • appropriate information within a referral
  • confirming contact details and recording safe to contact methods correctly
  • parent/guardian information in referrals for youth under 16 years.

As always, I welcome the opportunity to strengthen our relationships, to understand the support you provide to our referred clients, and to identify opportunities for improvement. Should you wish to arrange a meeting, please contact the team at Redbourne via rmcs@redbourne.com.au or the QPS Police Referrals team via Police.Referrals@police.qld.gov.au.

Until next time, thank you for all your work in helping to build safe, caring, and connected communities, but most importantly, stay safe and well.

Project Coordinator Amanda Hagaman