Use this procedure to support a child in care and ensure their ongoing safety, belonging and wellbeing needs are met.
The principles of the Child Protection Act 1999 emphasise respect for the rights of children, genuine consideration of their views, and their right to participate in planning and decision-making processes affecting their lives.
A child is placed in care when it is assessed that they are unable to remain safely with their family. Child Safety will provide a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment for a child. At the same time, it will work towards either family reunification or an alternative permanency option. A care arrangement may be provided during the investigation and assessment or ongoing intervention phases of child protection intervention.
If a child is placed in care, Child Safety will work with the child, their family, carers, licensed care service staff, staff from another entity and other relevant agencies, to:
- make active efforts to uphold an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child's right, under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, to maintain connection with family, community, culture and country
- support the child through important transitions, such as moving from home to care, changing placements and leaving care
- ensure the protection and care needs of the child are met, including their developmental needs
- assist the child to gain the skills and sense of wellbeing that will allow them to realise their potential and positively participate in the wider community.
Child Safety is responsible for monitoring care arrangements:
- to ensure the care provided is consistent with the statement of standards (Child Protection Act 1999, section 122)
- so action can be taken to resolve identified concerns before they escalate into a standards of care review or a harm report.
Child Safety has a legislative obligation to ensure a child subject to ongoing intervention who is placed in a care arrangement under the authority of:
- a care agreement
or - a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive
has an allocated CSO who, in line with case management requirements:
- implements effective, ongoing assessment, planning, implementation and collaborative review processes
- participates in joint planning processes with relevant people and agencies to negotiate responsibility for case work tasks, based on the case plan goal and anticipated outcomes.
Note
Throughout this procedure, the term carer refers to approved carers, licensed care service staff and staff from another entity, unless otherwise specified.
Further reading
Practice kit Care arrangements
Assessing and responding to self-harm and suicide risk (605)
Child related costs – Placement funding (628)
Child related costs – Placement support funding (629)
Children and young people with gender and sexual orientation diversity (648)
Complex support needs allowance (612)
Decisions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (641)
Decision making about end-of-life medical treatment for a child in care (420)
Dual payment of carer allowances (289)
Early childhood education and care participation minimum gap payment (640)
Expenses – Fortnightly caring allowance and inter-state foster payments (365)
Foster care matching: a partnership approach (639)
High support needs allowance (296)
Immunisation of children in care (638)
Information sharing for service delivery coordination (403)
Managing access to My Health records using the Children in Care portal (642)
Obligations, actions and responsibilities upon the death of a child (421)
Participation of children and young people in decision-making (639)
Placement of children in care (578)
Placement of children with Child Safety employees (36)
Positive behaviour support (604)
Regional and remote loading for carers (379)
Response to children who are sexually abused while in care (627)
Support for children in the care of long-term and permanent guardians (607)
Supporting children with disability (644).
- Child Protection Act 1999, sections 5, 6, 7, 74, 97, 122
- Coroners Act 2003
- Corrective services Act 2006
- Information Privacy Act 2009
- National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (Supports for Participants) Rules 2013
- Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012
- Public Guardian Act 2014
- Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009
- Right to Information Act 2009
- Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009
- Case management
- Case planning
- Decision making for a child
- Enable participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in decision making
- Respond to a child's specific needs
- Meet a child’s health and wellbeing needs
- Long-term guardianship to a suitable person
- Permanent care order
- Provide adoption services
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