Complete a standards of care review—family based care

The focus of this response is on reviewing if a child in a family-based care arrangement is receiving care that has met or is meeting each of the legislated standards of care. (Refer to the Child Protection Act 1999, section 122.)

Plan the standards of care review

Before commencing a standards of care review the CSSC responsible for leading the response will develop a plan in partnership with: 

• the family based care service
• the CSSC responsible for another subject child, if relevant.

Develop the plan as part of the SOC consultation meeting, when possible. (Refer to Consult relevant staff and services.)

Address the following key actions in the plan :

• provide immediate support to the child and the carer to address the issue impacting the child’s quality of care
• tell the carer of the standards of care review and explain they can arrange to have a support person attend the discussion
• provide and discuss the Information sheet for carers and staff members
• plan who will lead the discussion about the concerns (Refer to Discuss the standards of care concerns.)
• enable both carers to participate (if a joint certificate of approval is held)
• check the placement agreement to see if it is up to date, and whether the documented supports are being actioned
• talk to the subject child
• gather additional information, if required
• develop contingency plans for responding to issues and difficulties that may impede the timely completion of the standards of care review.

Obtain verbal approval for the plan from the senior team leader and record it in the standards of care review report in Unify.

Discuss the standards of care concerns with the carer

Arrange for the concerns to be discussed with the carer by either:

• the support worker from the family based care service (or another nominated staff member)
• the CSO or another Child Safety nominated staff member
  or
• jointly by the CSO and the support worker.

When discussing the concerns, explore:

• the carer's or staff member's understanding of the specific standards of care being reviewed and how the standards are applied to their daily care of the child
• their account of the circumstances surrounding the issue or concern
• aspects of their care role they feel are working well for them, and those presenting challenges at this time.

Use the information provided to consider whether there may be additional or different supports that could assist the carer in their caring role. 

Speak with the child

The CSO will have a face-to-face discussion with the child about their experience of the care arrangement and the identified concerns. Before discussing the concerns with the child:

• talk to the child about the process and explain what is involved, if age and developmentally appropriate
• let the child know they can have a support person present
• consider the child’s communication needs and arrange any supports if required
• provide and explain the Information sheet for children and young people
• explain to  the child how the information they provide will be used and who it might be shared with
• arrange a location where the child is more likely to feel safe and comfortable.

For an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, offer the child an independent person to help them participate in decision making. If they agree, arrange an independent person in consultation with the child. (Refer to Procedure 5 Make arrangements for an independent person.)

Give the child the opportunity and support they need to express their views and wishes, and to raise matters about the quality of care they are experiencing, including how their rights under the Child Protection Act 1999, schedule 1, are being met. Genuinely listen to and attempt to understand their view so that they can be considered in the standards of care review. Ensure their views are recorded.

Identify contributing factors

Consider how the actions or inactions of Child Safety and the family based care service may have contributed to the concerns, including:

• the frequency, adequacy and nature of contact by the CSO with the child and the care arrangement
• the frequency, adequacy and nature of support provided by the family based care service to the carer, given the carer’s level of experience and needs and the complexity of the child’s needs
• the nature and recency of the training provided to the carer relevant to the concerns
• whether the key activities in the child’s case plan are being actioned in a timely and responsive way by members of the child’s safety and support network
• the progress of actions following the outcomes of previous standards of care reviews or harm reports, where relevant
• the presence of additional stressors in the care arrangement such as changes in the household, personal stress, or issues with the management of the child’s challenging behaviours.

Decide the outcome of the standards of care review

To decide the outcome of the standards of care review :

• analyse the information obtained from all sources
• consult the senior team leader and senior practitioner
• seek the views of the family based care service
• take into account the contributing factors that have impacted on the child’s care
• propose an outcome and provide a rationale for this assessment.

The outcome of the standards of care review will be either:

• standards met—this outcome is appropriate when
  • the care provided to the child is in line with the required standards of care
    and
  • there is no indication that the child has experienced harm.
• standards not met—this outcome is appropriate when
  • the care provided to the child has not met the required standards of care
    and
  • there is no indication that the child has experienced harm. 

Advise parties of the standards of care review outcome

When the outcome has been approved by the senior team leader, provide verbal advice of the outcome to:

• the carer and the manager or coordinator of the family based care service supporting the carer
• the subject child, if age and developmentally appropriate
• each CSO responsible for a child placed with the carer.

Provide written advice of the outcome when requested, using the Letter to carer―standards of care review outcome.

Tell the carer they may raise a complaint or seek a review of the process if they are not happy with the process or the outcome. If the carer would like to make a complaint or seek a review, refer them to the Compliments and complaints website for information about Child Safety’s complaint management process.

If a child is not happy with  the assessment process:

• listen to their concerns and take them seriously
• ask them what would help to make things better
• work with the child to try and resolve their concerns
• assist the child to make a complaint or arrange for an adult they trust to help them make a complaint. (Refer to Making a complaint on the Child safety website for child-friendly information about making a complaint.)

Respond when the standards of care are not met

The CSSC responsible for the standards of care review will take appropriate action when the outcome is ‘standards not met’,  which will be either: 

• review the child’s placement agreement to identify any additional supports that will assist the carer to provide care consistent with the standards of care (Refer to Procedure 7 Review the placement agreement.)
• recommend additional processes, where relevant, such as
  • review the foster carer agreement (Refer to Procedure 7 Consider an additional, early review of the foster carer agreement.)
  • review carer suitability. (Refer to Review of carer suitability.)

Record the standards of care review

After the placement agreement is reviewed:

• complete the standards of care review report in Unify
• identify the specific standards of care that have not been met (Child Protection Act 1999, section 122) when the outcome is standards not met
• seek senior team leader approval for the standards of care review report.

When the senior team leader approves the standards of care review report, the standards of care case will be closed in Unify.