Page 423 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2012
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(6) Feedback from those who attended recent training and information sessions was very positive and participants stated their needs were met. As a result, only minor changes were made from the September to the November training session, minimising the structure of the session around a number of key issues. This was done in response to those who expressed a need to simply talk and share their experiences with others in a similar situation.
(7) Future sessions will be offered so as to maintain the provision of information and training that meets the needs of carers. These sessions will continue to be promoted through the ‘Carer Connection’ newsletter and through letters and phone calls to new carers.
(8) As the current strategy for Kinship Carer Support and Training is to respond to the particular needs of carers, training and information sessions will address the issue of the special nature of the relationship between children and young people and aged carers as required.
(9) The Directorate is currently reviewing policies and procedures and has arrangements to put alternative accommodation options in place under the direct auspices of the Directorate in the event such a placement is required.
(10) Appropriate delegations are in place and Care and Protection Services staff are expected to apply their expertise and training to make an appropriate judgement and decisions about placements of children and young people.
Where possible, children and young people are placed with foster carers, kinship carers or residential carers. As indicated in legal advice previously provided, when this is not possible, section 19 of the Children and Young People Act 2008 the Director-General or their delegate may make decisions about the child or young person’s daily care including “arrangements for temporary care of the child or young person by someone else”. If this occurs, appropriate steps are still put in place to ensure the placement is as safe and appropriate as possible.
(11) From December 2010 to December 2011 there have been 15 children from 5 families placed in different placement exclusively with NBSS in short term “last resort” placements. The days placed ranged from 2 days to 21 days. The last placement ended 9 August 2011.
(12) Appropriate delegations were in place and Care and Protection Services applied their expertise and training to make appropriate judgement and decisions about the placements of these children and young people.
Where possible, children and young people are placed with foster carers, kinship carers or residential carers. As indicated in legal advice previously provided, when this is not possible, section 19 of the Children and Young People Act 2008 the Director General or their delegate may make decisions about the child or young person’s daily care including “arrangements for temporary care of the child or young person by someone else”. When children were placed with NBSS, appropriate steps were put in place to ensure their placement was as safe and appropriate as possible.
(13) I refer you to the legal advice already provided in the Children and Young People Act 2008 and the Explanatory Statement in relation to clause 513.
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