Provide Support to Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care

1. Outline terms of placement with children and young people in care.

1.1. Clearly explain what the child or young person can expect from their placement, including the opportunities the placement presents and strategies for maximising benefits of the placement.

1.2. Explain rules and consequences for behaviour and negotiate with the child or young person in ways that are age and culturally appropriate.

1.3. Clarify boundaries of confidentiality with child or young person.

1.4. Use communication processes to resolve issues, review placement progress and explain external and internal grievance procedures.

1.5. Explore and clarify child or young person’s understanding of their rights and expectations about direct care.

1.6. Complete and maintain all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

2. Provide domestic support.

2.1. Address and negotiate ways to provide for child or young person’s daily needs.

2.2. Implement procedures to ensure the environment is clean, healthy and safe.

2.3. Negotiate strategies for continued use, maintenance and disposal of child or young person’s personal possessions and consumables.

3. Provide for child or young person’s education, support and development.

3.1. Establish relationship with child or young person to maximise access to development opportunities and participation in services.

3.2. Assist child or young person to identify and implement goals, strategies and activities to enhance their move to autonomy and self-empowerment.

3.3. Implement life-skills training, including provision of positive role models to ensure child or young person’s specific needs are addressed.

3.4. Support children and young people in care to attend school and to undertake vocational training and employment.

3.5. Negotiate processes for provision of health care education with referral organisation.

3.6. Agree on processes with child or young person and other professionals to ensure child or young person’s access to emotional, trauma, social and physical support mechanisms.

4. Contribute to reintegration of child or young person.

4.1. Negotiate required resources, services and ongoing support with child or young person and others identified by the child or young person to ensure settlement needs are assessed and addressed.

4.2. Arrange with relevant parties for child or young person to access employment, counselling, education and accommodation services.

4.3. Perform activities designed to assist a successful transition from care.

4.4. Negotiate with all parties to identify levels of contact with person once out of care.