Page 1162 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 May 2020
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(7) Has there been any disruption to the provision of these professional counselling services as a consequence of COVID-19; if so, what is the Government doing to make sure that kinship carers are receiving the counselling supports during this time.
(8) What is the Government doing to make sure that kinship carers have the support they need during a time of high stress and more time spent at home.
Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. On 4 April 2020, Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) had a total number of 386 kinship carers across 268 households.
2. For the period 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2020, it is recorded that a total of 42 kinship carers engaged with professional counselling services.
a. Of these, five kinship carers have completed a professional counselling intervention service.
b. 37 kinship carers are receiving professional counselling services
3. All kinship carers are offered support to assist them in providing care to children and young people. The carer handbook has a specific section titled, Caring for Carers, which acknowledges the emotional demands of being a carer, normalises help seeking and provides information about support, advice and services available.
There are multiple points of contact for kinship carers to seek support, advice and information, including:
• CYPS or ACT Together Case manager;
• ACT Together Carer Support Team – provides emotional and practical support, as well as advice and advocacy for all foster carers, as well as kinship carers caring for children on long-term orders;
• CYPS Carer Liaison Officer and CYPS Kinship Assessment and Support Team – supports kinship carers caring for children on short-term or interim orders;
• Carers ACT, Kinship and Foster Carers Advocacy Service; and
• Australian Red Cross Birth Family Advocacy Support Service (kinship carers).
For a comprehensive list of supports available see https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/ocyfs/families-and-carers/carer-handbook/supports-and-services
a. The specific data that is requested would require a review of all individual records of children in kinship care and would mean the unnecessary diversion of resources from the provision of direct supports to children, families and their carers.
b. As above.
4. When discussing with a family member if they can become a potential kinship carer for a child, there is a discussion about the needs of the child and the support requirements of the potential kinship carer to meet the child’s needs. The individual needs of the child and their needs of the kinship carer to support them are then further assessed through the therapeutic assessment process.
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