Page 3727 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 2010
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As a matter of practice and current departmental policies (Chapter D15: Out of Home Care Case Management of Children on Long Term Orders Policy), where the Chief Executive holds long term care responsibility (and an Order of the Court is not made to others) this remains with the Chief Executive, authorisation of daily care responsibility will be given to a foster or kinship carer.
2. There is no difference in the decision making powers of foster carers vis-à-vis and kinship carers (including grandparents) where this is made by authorisation of the Chief Executive’s parental responsibility. However, it is to be noted that the Court may order that daily care responsibility and/or long term care responsibility is held between the Chief Executive and others. In these circumstances, decision-making power of a carer may vary.
3. Decisions made by the Chief Executive that are non-crisis driven are made in a Review of Arrangements meeting, at home visits and/or office visits, through case conferences and at times through discussions via telephone. When a Review of Arrangements meeting is held, which is usually every three months unless stated differently on a child or young person’s care plan, all important persons in the child and young person’s life are contacted and invited to attend the meeting, for example, parents, carers, counsellors, teachers, medical officers and health professionals. The meeting aims to obtain all the views from these people and to review the previous three months of the child or young person’s life and to discuss future planning for the child or young person. If age appropriate, children are consulted outside of this meeting and their views are brought to the meeting. Where appropriate, young people are invited to attend the meeting and express their views.
4. Parental Responsibility is decided by the Magistrate of the ACT Children’s Court and authorisation of parental responsibility is decided by the Chief Executive. See response to question three in regard to how the Chief Executive and those involved with the child or young person make decisions about the child or young person’s best interests.
Children—care and protection
(Question No 995)
Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Children and Young People, upon notice, on 30 June 2010:
(1) In relation to the Government budget commitment of an additional $5.7 million over four years being provided to support the increasing number of children who need to be provided with out-of-home care, Budget Speech 2010-11 page 11, what programs, activities or other support services will this new funding provide.
(2) How will those programs, activities or other support services referred to in part (1) be delivered and by whom.
Ms Burch: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
The member should note that the response covers the entire Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services
(1) The additional commitment to the Out of Home Care Budget will be expended on:
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