Page 3726 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 2010
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c. The development of further brochures/factsheets which kinship carers have recommended is being discussed with the department.
At this stage no substantive policy reform has been proposed by kinship carers from the meetings for a decision by me, although general out of home care issues have been discussed with the kinship carers.
The Kinship Carer Program is currently subject to a procurement process.
Children—care and protection
(Question No 994)
Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Children and Young People, upon notice, on 30 June 2010:
(1) In relation to children in out of home care, what decision-making is allowed to be made by (a) foster and (b) grandparent and kinship carers in relation to (i) education, (ii) health, medical and hospital, (iii) legal matters, (iv) respite care, (v) recreation, (vi) excursions and holidays outside the ACT, (vii) clothing and other personal requirements and (viii) other matters.
(2) Is there any difference in the decision-making powers of foster carers vis-à-vis grandparent and kinship carers; if so, why.
(3) What consultation is undertaken with the carer in relation to decisions made by the Chief Executive.
(4) What is the process by which these matters are decided.
Ms Burch: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. Decision making responsibilities of a foster carer or kinship carer will vary dependent on the type of Parental Responsibility the Chief Executive has been granted by the ACT Children’s Court. Parental Responsibility can be granted in a number of ways including the transfer of day to day care responsibility and long-term care responsibility to the Chief Executive; parental responsibility or parts of parental responsibility may also be shared between a number of people (either day to day and/or long-term care responsibility) including the Chief Executive and a parent(s) or a kinship or foster carer/s.
Where the Chief Executive holds parental responsibility for a child or young person, the Chief Executive may authorise a foster or kinship carer to exercise all or part of this on the Chief Executive’s behalf. There are no differences in policy about what parts of parental responsibility the Chief Executive will authorise a carer to exercise.
(a/b) (i-viii) A person who has been authorised to exercise daily care responsibilities may make the decisions about health and medical assessments including dental check-ups, school excursions, day to day education decisions; however, not including choosing the child’s school. A person who has been authorised to exercise long–term care responsibility on behalf of the Chief Executive may make decisions about education, health, medical and hospital, respite care, recreation, excursions and holidays outside of the ACT, legal matters, and other personal requirements.
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