❓ This WA parliamentary question seeks information regarding community sector foster care, specifically focusing on processes, monitoring, and funding of organisations providing these services in the South West region. The answer provides details on these aspects, highlighting the Department's oversight and the individualized nature of funding.
AnsweredQoN 2087Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to community sector foster care, and I ask,: (a) do community sector organisations use the same process and criteria for approving foster carers as the Department for Child Protection and Family Support (DCPaFS); (b) if no to (a), how do they differ; (c) what monitoring is undertaken by the DCPaFS of community sector organisations and their approvals of foster carers; (d) how many community sector organisations provide foster carers in the South West; (e) please list the organisations identified in (d); (f) how much funding does each of the organisations identified in (e) receive from the DCPaFS; and (g) how many cases with each organisation are reviewed by the department each year?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
3 December 2014
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
41 days
(a) Yes. Community sector organisations have the same criteria to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support (the Department) for approving foster carers. The decision to approve a foster carer must be based on evidence that the foster carer meets the competencies as specified in the
Children and Community Services Regulations 2006.
The process for approving foster carers can differ between the Department and community sector organisations, however the final outcome remains the same the foster carer must meet the carer competencies as specified in the Regulations.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) The Department's Standards Monitoring Unit monitors community sector organisations to ensure they have policies and procures in place to register and review foster carers and assess foster carers to determine their competencies prior to placement.
The Department maintains the Foster Carer Directory which records the details of foster carer applicants, the outcome of their assessment, categories of children for whom they are approved to care, notification of record screening requirements and annual carer reviews. All community sector organisations funded to provide foster care are required to provide the details of foster carers and applicants to be recorded on the Foster Carer Directory. When a community sector organisation revokes a foster carer's approval or a foster carer chooses to no longer provide care, this information must be recorded on the Foster Carer Directory.
(d) The Department funds three organisations that provide foster carers in the South West region.
The Department is currently in a process to procure General Foster Care services in the South West region. The estimated commencement date of this contract is 1 April 2015.
(e) The organisations providing foster care services in the South West region are:
· Agencies for South West Accommodation (trading as Accordwest);
· Life Without Barriers; and
· Key Assets.
(f) Accordwest, Life Without Barriers and Key Assets are funded through individualised contracts to provide Specialised or Disability fostering services. The costs associated with these contracts can vary depending on individual children's needs and are reviewed regularly to ensure appropriate placement and support costs are provided. There is no annual recurrent funding level to quote for these foster care services in the South West region as the funding amount changes frequently.
(g) All cases regardless of whether they are managed by the Department or community sector organisations have a Care Plan review at least once every 12 months.
Children and Community Services Regulations 2006.
The process for approving foster carers can differ between the Department and community sector organisations, however the final outcome remains the same the foster carer must meet the carer competencies as specified in the Regulations.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) The Department's Standards Monitoring Unit monitors community sector organisations to ensure they have policies and procures in place to register and review foster carers and assess foster carers to determine their competencies prior to placement.
The Department maintains the Foster Carer Directory which records the details of foster carer applicants, the outcome of their assessment, categories of children for whom they are approved to care, notification of record screening requirements and annual carer reviews. All community sector organisations funded to provide foster care are required to provide the details of foster carers and applicants to be recorded on the Foster Carer Directory. When a community sector organisation revokes a foster carer's approval or a foster carer chooses to no longer provide care, this information must be recorded on the Foster Carer Directory.
(d) The Department funds three organisations that provide foster carers in the South West region.
The Department is currently in a process to procure General Foster Care services in the South West region. The estimated commencement date of this contract is 1 April 2015.
(e) The organisations providing foster care services in the South West region are:
· Agencies for South West Accommodation (trading as Accordwest);
· Life Without Barriers; and
· Key Assets.
(f) Accordwest, Life Without Barriers and Key Assets are funded through individualised contracts to provide Specialised or Disability fostering services. The costs associated with these contracts can vary depending on individual children's needs and are reviewed regularly to ensure appropriate placement and support costs are provided. There is no annual recurrent funding level to quote for these foster care services in the South West region as the funding amount changes frequently.
(g) All cases regardless of whether they are managed by the Department or community sector organisations have a Care Plan review at least once every 12 months.
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