Develop an action plan

Develop an action plan

An action plan is required following a standards or care review or a harm report assessment in the following circumstances.

Develop an action plan for a carer

Work in partnership with the family based care service to develop an action plan for a carer in a timely manner that:

• addresses the issues identified during the harm report assessment
  and
• includes actions to ensure the child is safe from harm and the care provided to the child  meets the standards of care.

The CSSC responsible for the carer will ensure a meeting is arranged to collaboratively develop the action plan with the relevant parties, unless an exception applies. (Refer to Circumstances when an action plan for a carer is not required.) Relevant parties include:

• the carer
• the family based care service
• the child (if age and developmentally appropriate)
• the CSO for the child
• the child’s support person, if the child wishes
• a member of the PSU, if relevant.

The action plan will focus on what is required to ensure that the child’s safety and the care provided meets the required standards of care and is maintained. The parties will identify the specific actions required and agree who is responsible for the actions.

Specific actions may include the need to:

• review the ongoing appropriateness of the care arrangement to meet the child’s needs
• review the placement agreement and the case plan to ensure there is a shared understanding of the child’s needs and agreement on how they should be met
• develop a positive behaviour support plan (Refer to Procedure 5 Develop a positive behaviour support plan.)
• review the foster carer agreement
• review the carer’s suitability
• amend the carer’s certificate of approval
• address systemic issues that have contributed to the concerns
• arrange for additional contact with the carer by the CSO or the family based care service.

Document the harm report action plan in Unify and provide a copy to each party (including the child, if age and developmentally appropriate). 

Circumstances when an action plan for a carer is not required

The exceptions to the requirement to develop an action plan for a carer are:

• a decision is made to cancel an approved carer’s certificate of approval
• the child is removed from the kinship carer and there are no other children placed with the carer
• the carer surrenders their certificate of approval, or their certificate of approval expires during the harm report assessment.

If a carer’s certificate of approval is cancelled and the decision is later overturned by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, an action plan will be required. (Refer to  Procedure 7 Take action to suspend a carer's certificate of approval and Cancel a carer's certificate of approval.)

 If a carer’s certificate of approval is cancelled, surrendered or expires, the CSSC will consider preparing an action plan and attach it to the carers entity in Unify, to enable previous concerns to be taken into account in the future, if the carer re-applies.

Implement the action plan for a carer

All parties involved in the development of the action plan are responsible for working in partnership to undertake the agreed actions within the agreed timeframe, and for monitoring and supporting the implementation of the action plan.

The CSSC responsible for the carer will assist in this process by:

• ensuring the placement agreement is current and includes up to date information about the child’s care and support needs and the agreed supports to be provided to the carer
• having regular contact with the child, the carer and the family based care service, to assist with actions required to meet the child’s needs and support the carer in providing the required standards of care.

Record information about the implementation of the action plan and related activities in the relevant care arrangement case in Unify. (Refer to Review a carer's action plan.)

If an issue or action requires further follow up, and was not identified in the original harm report action plan, record the details of the additional requirement in the care arrangement support case note in the relevant care arrangement case in Unify.

Ensure an action plan is developed by the non-family based care service

The non-family based care service is responsible for developing an action plan, in partnership with Child Safety to address issues identified during the assessment and include actions to ensure the child is safe from harm and that the care provided meets the standards of care. 

The non-family based care service will take the lead and arrange for relevant parties to meet and determine specific actions required to address the concerns, the timeframes to be met and the review process. Relevant parties include:

• staff members of the care service identified by the non-family-based care service
• the CSO with case responsibility for the subject child
• the child (if age and developmentally appropriate)
• the child’s support person, if the child wishes
• the senior team leader or senior practitioner, if required
• a member of the regional team responsible for investment and partnerships, if required
• a member of the PSU, where relevant.

The senior team leader or CSSC manager will ensure that the action plan addresses the identified concerns regarding the child’s safety and the standards of care being provided. Specific actions may include:

• reviewing the ongoing appropriateness of the care arrangement to meet the child’s needs
• reviewing the placement agreement and the case plan to ensure there is a shared understanding of the child’s needs and agreement on how they should be met
• developing a positive behaviour support plan (Refer to Procedure 5 Develop a positive behaviour support plan.)
• providing non-family based care service staff with additional training, supervision and support
• the non-family based care service changing their policies, procedures or protocols if they are not clear or not aligned with legislation or relevant Child Safety policies
• strategies to address systemic issues that have contributed to the concerns
• arranging more frequent contact between Child Safety, the child, and the non-family based care service
• introducing a process to monitor the implementation of the action plan, the placement agreement and the child’s case plan.

After the action plan is developed:

• seek approval from the senior team leader or CSSC manager for the action plan
• attach a copy of the action plan to the harm report – assessment case in Unify or the standards of care case in Unify
• ensure a copy of the approved action plan is provided to each party, including the child if age and developmentally appropriate. 

Monitor the action plan

All participants involved in the development of the action plan are responsible for working in partnership to undertake the agreed actions within the timeframe and for monitoring and supporting the implementation of the action plan.

Assist in this process by:

• ensuring the placement agreement is current and includes up to date information about the child’s care and support needs to assist the care service’s ability to meet the child’s care and support needs
• having regular contact with the child and the non-family based care service to support actions required to meet the child’s needs and ensure the care the child receives is consistent with required standards of care
• recording the details of actions and follow-up information in a care arrangement support case note created in the care service’s record in Unify.

Review the action plan

An action plan will be reviewed within 3 months at an action plan review meeting by the people responsible for implementing the plan. Child Safety will determine whether or not the issues of concern have been adequately addressed to ensure the care provided meets the  standards of care.

Review a carer's action plan

The CSSC responsible for the carer is responsible for reviewing the action plan. Attach a copy of the minutes of the action plan review to a care arrangement support case note in the relevant care arrangement case and add any relevant subject children to the record.

If the concern remains unresolved after 3 months, or new concerns have been recorded during the 3 months of the action plan, the CSSC manager will consult the PSU director and the foster and kinship care service, where applicable, to determine the most suitable action to be taken.

Review an action plan for a non-family based care service

The non-family based care service will review the action plan within 3 months and provide the CSSC who led the harm report assessment with a copy of the minutes of the review. Attach the minutes to a care arrangement support case note in the care service record and include all relevant subject children.

If the concerns remain unresolved after 3 months, or new concerns have been recorded during the 3 months of the action plan, the CSSC manager will consult with the PSU director, the Investment and Partnerships team and the non-family based care service, to decide the most suitable action to be taken.