ACT Carer Roundtable Update

Welcome to the Carer Connection Carer Roundtable Special Edition!!!

The purpose of this Special Editionis to provide you with an outline of the themes raised at the ACT Carer Roundtable. It includes an initial response from OCYFS about what is already happening systematically to address these concerns, and what possible solutions could be in the future.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who attendedthe inaugural Carer Roundtable on 12 March 2013. The evening resulted in approximately sixty five foster carers, kinship carers, out of home agency representatives and OCYFS representativesin attendance. For those of you not in attendance, the evening ran as a world cafe style where attendees were able to choose which questions they wanted to provide feedback on. The topics included the following.

How could we make it easier for carers?
What are carers’ needs?
How do we get the best outcomes for children and young people?

The atmosphere during the event was positive with many engaging and proactive discussions being had around how OCYFS can improve outcomes for children and young people by supporting their carers. The response to the event was overwhelmingly positive with many people saying they felt they were able to raise their concerns. Certainly, there was a general consensus on the night that carers are looking forward to seeing some action from the event as a way of demonstrating that their concerns have been heard.

What Next...

At the end of the evening, foster carers and kinship carers were able to nominate themselves if they wished to be a part of a Carer Consultation Group. A number of carers have put their hands up to be involved and letters have gone to appoint members to the group which will be chaired by Bev Orr. Ms Orr has over thirtyyears experience as a kinship and foster carer, is the current President of the Australian Foster Care Association, is Deputy Chair on the board of Families Australia and is a member of the Children and Youth Services Council. The group will be actively involved in the consultation on the Out of Home Care Strategyin addition to OOHC service providers, the Foster Care Association, Grandparent and Kinship Carers ACT and other organisation that provide support to OOHC. This strategy aims to ensure the adequate supply and quality of out of home care placements for children and young people in the care of the Director-General. The Strategy will seek to meet the complex and diverse needs of children and young people in out of home care. The Out of Home Care Strategy and components of an Operational Framework will be made public in June 2014.

The group will also be consulted on some modules for the Integrated Management System (IMS) initiative currently underway. The IMS will provide a robust framework in which risk is actively managed and compliance achieved in alignment with legislative and administrations requirements.

This is achieved through a review of all policies and procedures, delivery of an integrated model that drives continual improvement, enhanced communication between Care and Protection Services and stakeholders, and enhanced consistency of service delivery from Care and Protection Services employees. If you wish to be involved in the Carer Consultation Group, please email me at .

I am pleased to say that action has already commencedon the concerns raised by carers at the roundtable. The Office has heard carer concerns that more counselling is needed for them and their families. Relationships Australia counselling is available at no charge to Foster and Kinship Carers though. Their contact number is 1300 364 277.

Secondly, we felt that it would be useful for a collaborative approach to take your concerns to the Care and Protection Services caseworkers, team leaders and managers. On 3 April 2013, myself, Out of Home CareStrategy Project Officer Sarah Kirk, Acting Placements Manager Roy Lepper and Senior Program Officer Alison Lawrencepresented your concerns in a workshop to the Care and Protection Services Town Hall meeting. Town Hall is a monthly meeting where all Care and Protection Services staff met to discuss what is happening within the organisation. The solutions-based workshop involved staff discussing the issues carers raised and coming up with possible solutions to the concerns.

The Office is committed to improving the relationship between Care and Protection Services and carers and looks forward to tackling these concerns as the year progresses. There will be a second ACT Carer Roundtable held in July 2013and again all carers are encouraged to attend. More information about this event will be sent out closer to the date.

Kinship Care Free Therapeutic Training

If you are a kinship carer and are interested in undertaking therapeutic training with the Australian Childhood Foundation, please contact me to register for a spot in one of the three sessions focusing on ‘trauma’ which are being held on 16, 21 and 29 May 2013 in Gungahlin and Tuggeranong. Contact me or the Kinship Care Support Team for more information.

Entertainment Book

In 2011 Minister Burch launched the initiative to provide all current foster carers and kinship carers in the ACT with an Entertainment Book. The Entertainment Book provides discounts on goods and services that assist with the everyday costs of caring for a child and/or young person. Please find included in this package your

2013-2014 Entertainment Book. The Entertainment Book provides discounts on goods and services that assist with the everyday costs of caring for a child and/or young person.

Contingency Guidelines

At the Carer Roundtable, carers requested a copy of the Contingency Guidelines. This document is attached for your convenience.

I hope you find this edition of the Carer Connection an informative and enjoyable read. If you need support or information, please call me on 6205 8357 or email me at or .

Warm regards,

Lauren Ellerton

Carer Liaison Officer

ACT Carer Roundtable Feedback

‘GKCA committee members felt that this approach to future planning was an excellent start in highlighting for CPS the main carer issues and would provide a base line of focus for the planning of the 5 year strategy which is being developed. We urge other carers to attend the next roundtable when it is announced.’

Marion Le, MA, President of the Grandparent and Kinship Carers ACT Inc

'As President of the Foster Care Association, I welcomed the opportunity for all carers to participate in the Carers' Roundtable. Given the importance of the serious systems issues we are trying to address, the children's lives we are trying to improve... I am heartened to see the Department take a collaborative approach to a way forward. I encourage carers to take this and/or any other opportunity to ensure that 'the best interests of the child' and of their foster carers are met. '

Pauline Dusink, President of the Foster Care Association

Summary of Themes and Initial Response for the

ACT Carers Roundtable

Outlined below are the themes and actions developed from the Roundtable. Within each theme is an Initial CPS response which outlines the work already being undertaken on the areas of concern, and which incorporates possible solutions from the CPS brainstorm workshop.

1. Voice of carer

The voice of the carer needs to be heard and carers need to feel more a part of a team in caring for and making decisions about a child or young person. Carers felt they need to debrief without feeling like there might be ramifications. Carers would like acknowledgement for the work they do and be treated as skilled professionals. Carers have requested more roundtables.

1.1 Initial CPS Response

Another Roundtable is scheduled for June/July 2013 with further details to be released in the next Carer Connection Newsletter.
A Carer Consultation Group has been developed whereby carers can provide feedback on developments with the Out of Home Care Strategy, for example.

2. Professional culture

The professionalisation of foster carers was considered as one way to change the way carers are perceived and to recognise the work carers do with children and young people in a professional context. The role of carers and how carers have a higher duty of care than other parental situations for very complex children and young people was discussed. This higher duty of care means carers have skills and expertise in caring for the child or young person and should be afforded a stronger voice in the child protection system.

2.1 Initial CPS Response

Professionalisation is one of many options that will be considered within the Out of Home Care Strategy. The Carer Consultation Group will be invited to provide feedback on the strategy.
The roles and responsibilities of carers, and how they can be supported into the future, will be considered as part of the development of the OOHC strategy.

3. Early intervention and prevention

Early intervention and prevention was seen as a way forward in terms of identifying support or training to assist carers early in the life of a problem or early in the placement. It was seen that often carers do not ask for support until the problem is significant and requires greater resourcing and attention.

Early holistic assessments of children and young people are really important to understand their needs early in the placement. Access to supports following any assessment needs to be prioritised for children and young people in out of home care.

3.1 Initial CPS Response

The Kinship Care Support Team (KCST) has been supporting kinship carers over the last twelve months as a direct response to earlier feedback from the carers. The team are developing a Kinship Care Workbook to work through with kinship carers upon a child being placed in their care.
In conjunction with the KCST, the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is providing kinship carers with therapeutic support services. The ACFis offering therapeutic training to all kinship carers with the first one focusing on trauma and, is being held in May 2013. Contact the Carer Liaison for more information.
Foster carers continue to be supported by their out of home care agencies and free counselling has been offered to all carers through Relationships Australia.
A review of the Foster Carers and Kinship Carers Guide is being undertaken to ensure all information is correct and relevant. The Foster Carers and Kinship Carers Guide has recently been reviewed and updated. The Guide will be relaunched and available to all current and future carers in the coming months.
As resources permit, OCYFS intends to expand therapeutic support for children in care, and their carers, over the coming years.

4. Information accessibility

The amount of information about a child or young person when they first come into care was raised as a challenge for carers. This also leads to the need for greater access to accurate information throughout the placement as it becomes available. The types of information carers asked for included information about the health, behaviour, social and emotional needs of the child or young person.

4.1 Initial CPS Response

Care and Protection have commenced a Health Passport projectwhereby a child’s health information is collated into one document which stays with the child throughout their time in care and provides important information to carers.

Achecklist for carers, children and young people and Care and Protection Services to show what has been provided and when they can expect further information onbirth certificates, for example. This is being completed within the Integrated Management System (IMS) initiative.

5. Decision making

Decision making needs to be more consistent, transparent, timely and carers need to be a part of the decision making process. All agreed the child or young person’s best interest needs to be at the centre of the decision making.

5.1 Initial CPS Response

Care and Protection Services have commenced training for all staff and some out of home care staff on effective decision making. This training will focus on making consistent decisions, appropriately documenting and communicating decisions, and developing tools and resources for staff to make effective decisions.
Having the IMS policy and procedures available online will provide greater guidance to staff on making key decisions.

6. Communication

Communication between all parties including carers, Care and Protection Services and out of home care agency staff was discussed at length. There were many elements of communication that were identified as needing attention. These included responses to requests and keeping all parties informed. Carers requested thatindividual circumstances are considered but thatconsistency is still required. Carers advise they wished to be informed when something changes, for example, when a caseworker goes on leave, the matter should be pursued with a manager.

Carers requested Care and Protection Services increase the case workers knowledge of Declared Care Teamswhen working with children and young people in out of home care. Carers requested Care and Protection Services and agencies include carers in all correspondence in relation to carers and that the Communication Protocol is put into practice. Carers advised they wished to have clear joint visitation guidelines for Care and Protection Services and agencies.

A clear roles and responsibilities document which articulates the roles of all parties including areas within Care and Protection Services and agencies should be developed. Carers requested an update on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

6.1 Initial CPS Response

The five year Out of Home Care Strategy through the operational framework will consider the rights, roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders including carers, and consider the most effective communication mechanism between all parties.
The Communications Protocol has been implemented.
Information pertaining to carers’ rights is outlined in the Foster Carer and Kinship Carer Guide.
The Integrated Management System (IMS) will review the role of Declared Care Teams.
In response to the Auditor-General’s review of Care and Protection Services, Care and Protection Services has committed to develop a visitation policy. Clear visitation guidelineswill be incorporated in the IMS.
There is a dedicated website for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) where carers can access information. The website is - will also cover the NDIS in a future Carer Connection newsletter as details become clearer.
Care and Protection Services workers proposed that they would like more access to carers and vice versa and advised that this would build relationships whilst keeping agency staff informed of the communication.
Care and Protection Services workers proposed a possible solution that all parties should be encouraged to add agenda items for a child or young person’s Review of Arrangements.
Care and Protection Services workers proposed case handovers to occur prior to the caseworker moving to allow for adequate hand over.

7. Stability

Stability was one of the most sort-after outcomes for children and young people. The best way to achieve stability was seen as undertaking permanency planning as soon as the child or young person entered care. Greater focus should be on Care and Protection Services recruitment and retention of staff.

7.1 InitialCPS Response

Care and Protection Services is part of a wider Community Services Directorate Recruitment Strategy. The strategy includes targeted actions to increase recruitment and retention of Care and Protection Services staff.
Care and Protection Services workers proposed that children, young people, carers and case workers should have access to a clinical psychologist or specialist social worker to provide expert advice on attachment issues. The five year Out of Home Care Strategy will consider the role of specialist support for children and young people. There are existing relationships with the following organisations which can provide specialist assistance:

Child at Risk Health Unit;
Australian Childhood Foundation;
Therapy ACT;
Relationships Australia; and
Care and Protection Services Assessment Unit.

Care and Protection Services has agreed in response to a recommendation of the Auditor-General’s report to strengthen data analysis and monitoring of placement stability.

8. Support for children and young people

A major theme was the role of education and how carers can be supported to access the educational requirements for the children and young people in their care. This included having up to date Individualised Learning Plans, receiving assistance with school processes such as enrolment and giving carers information so that children and young people can participate in school like any other student for example, photos or information about family trees. Carers expressed that the focus for planning or decision making needs to be in accordance to a child’s time frame as much as possible. Carers expressed that all parties should be trained on Life Story work for children and young people, and that contact arrangements are reviewed more frequently

8.1 InitialCPS Response

The Education and Training Directorate and the Community Services Directorate are meeting regularly to facilitate increased collaboration and information sharing about children in care (e.g. school reports, ILP’s).
The Kinship Care Support Team and out of home care agency workers are able to provide assistance to kinship carers and foster carers to engage with schools.
A life story work is currently being developed in the context of the IMS. More information about the project will be provided through the Carer Connection.
A project is currently underway in Care and Protection Services, alongside the Integrated Management System, to better understandhow decisions are made in relation to contact.

9. Training, counselling and respite

Training, counselling and respite were all seen as important support mechanisms for both kinship and foster carers. A request was made for young people who have been in out of home care and Care and Protection caseworkers to present at foster care training to help carers understand the needs of children and youngpeople in the child protection system. A range of training was requested including education about trauma related behaviours, attachmentand behaviour management. Foster and kinship carers asked to be afford opportunities to attend the same training. Different forms of respite need to be considered such as in home support and having consistent respite carers. Carers asked for counselling for both foster and kinship carers which could extend beyond the life of a placement if needed. More creative and accessible respite options,for example in home care.