establish regular channels of communication with you and provide you with important documentation, such as the instrument of authorisation and cultural plans give prompt advice to you about changes to contact arrangements provide all relevant available information to enable you to make an informed choice about caring for a child or young person respond to issues and complaints in a timely manner, and treat you fairly manage quality of care matters with sensitivity and understanding of the emotional impact on you and your family Charter for children in out-of-home care The Charter for children in out-of-home care has been prepared specifically for children and people who can’t live their parents and are in out-of-home care. It lists what they should expect from all those people who look after them and work with them while they are in care. A child and young person’s rights As a or young person in care, I need: to be safe and feel safe to stay healthy and well, and go to a doctor, dentist or other professional for help when I need to to be allowed to be a child and be treated with respect if I am an Aboriginal child, to feel proud and strong in my own culture to have a say and be heard to be provided with information to tell someone if I am unhappy to know information about me will only be shared in order to help people look after me to have a worker who is there for me to keep in contact with my family, friends and people and places that matter to me careful thought being given to where I will live, so I will have a home that feels like a home to have fun and do activities that I enjoy to be able to take part in family traditions, and be able to learn about and be involved with cultural and religious groups that are important to me to be provided with the best possible education and training to be able to develop life skills and grow up to become the best person I can help in preparing myself to leave care and support after I leave care. The child every chance reforms provide professionals working within the sector with more effective processes to: listen to what children and people want and need enable earlier intervention reduce abuse and neglect provide better support to Aboriginal children, young people and your families work together in cooperation with other providers of children, young people and family services. Useful resources Carers Recognition Act 2012, check the website.
their community has a cultural plan, care team, with input from an Aboriginal community controlled organisation weeks of starting the plan Essential Information Record (Looking Children framework) This holds important current and historical information, such as the child or young person’s Medicare number, health alerts and conditions, school details, family members’ names and details, important milestones and achievements. Agency (with drafting input from carers) It contains information gathered through documentation, discussion and care team meetings Yes To be completed within the first two weeks of a child or young person coming into care The record is updated as new information arises and reviewed every six months Care and Placement Plan (Looking After Children framework) The Care and Placement Plan records the detailed Agency arrangements for the care of the child or young person, and identifies show their long and short-term needs will be met. Agency (with drafting input from carers) Yes – care team meetings Yes To be completed within the first two weeks of a child or young person coming into care The plan is reviewed in the first year at one month, four months and 10 months after coming into care, and then every six months from then on Care and Transition Plan (Looking After Children framework This replaces the Care and Placement Plan once the young person turns 15 years. It covers their day-to-day care as they grow and mature through their adolescence. It also records how they are being helped to prepare for the future and make a successful transition to adulthood. Agency (with drafting input from carers) Yes – care team meetings Yes To be completed within the first two weeks of a child or young person coming into care The plan is reviewed in the year at one month, four months and 10 months after coming into care, and then every six months from then on home home
Assessment and Action Record (Looking After Children framework) This includes age-related records about the child or young person’s development and follow-up action covering the seven Looking After Children domains of health, emotional and behavioural development, education, family and social relationships, identity, social presentation and self-care skills. Agency (with drafting input from carers) Yes – care team meetings Yes Completed six months coming into care The plan is reviewed at 10 months after coming into out-of-home care, every six months (for a child under five years), and every 12 months (for a child or young person over five years) Useful resources [http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/580614/aboriginal-child-placement-principle-guide-2002.pdf] Information sharing – see the Child protection manual, check the website. Information 5: Case planning, case management, roles and responsibilities. Looking After Children framework, check the website
authorisation for the carer to take them for necessary Inform the agency of any emergencies or critical incidents as soon as possible Yes Investigate and assess reports of harm to the child or young person Yes Yes Yes Supporting carers Role Who is responsible : Foster carer Who is responsible : Agency case worker Who is responsible : protection case planner or child protection task only Who is responsible : Allocated case manager either child protection or agency Provide support, supervision, information and training to carers so they can carry out their roles and responsibilities Yes Review accreditation of carers annually Yes Continue to develop competencies as carers by participating in development and training opportunities Yes Yes * May not be the core role of the carer, however carers involvement in these activities is important for the child or young person. Information 6: The impact of caring and looking after yourself The demands of being a carer can be high. It is important that you manage your health and wellbeing, which may help in your role as a carer. You are the best person to know what makes you feel better emotionally, physically and mentally. This information sheet provides some practical tips and suggestions to look after yourself, things to expect or consider, and where to get support. The information is gathered from the insightful advice provided by kinship carers in their Kinship Carer’s Handbook, available on the Kinship Carers Victoria website.