Respond to a child's specific needs

Information sharing

The Child Protection Act 1999, chapter 5A, provides the legal framework for information sharing and outlines who is authorised to share information in particular circumstances. The legislation:

• enables broad information sharing between entities involved in the child protection and family support systems
• provides important safeguards to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of personal information
• supports collaborative working arrangements to achieve the best outcomes for children and their families.

The purpose of the information sharing provisions is to:

• promote a child’s wellbeing
• effectively meet a child’s protection and care needs
• facilitate the coordination of services to relevant children and families.

Child Safety and other entities may share information if it:

• is relevant to the respective roles of each entity
• is relevant to the specific purpose for which it is disclosed
• ensures the child’s safety and promotes their best interests.

Obtain consent

If possible, determine whether it is safe, possible and practical to obtain the consent of the parent, child or other person before sharing their information. To inform this decision, consider and assess information, such as whether:

• there is a current threat that a family may go into hiding or abduct a child
• there are previous serious assaults or threats to assault others
• there is an attempted or threatened suicide
• there is concern that a child or another person could be coached or coerced
• a parent or a child cannot be located in a timely way and an urgent response is needed to ensure a child’s safety or wellbeing
• a child or adult needs urgent medical care
• there is a risk of domestic and family violence
• there is a need for urgent information to ensure a child’s safety or wellbeing.

To ensure individuals are able to provide informed consent:

• provide them with enough information to make the decision and understand what they are agreeing to
• ensure consent is given freely and voluntarily
• identify potential barriers to participation in decision making such as disability, mental illness, age, culture or language
• engage interpreters if needed
• use plain language and do not use technical words and jargon
• use developmentally appropriate approaches to ensure children are given the opportunity and supported to participate in decision making
• seek the views and consent of a person’s representative, if appropriate.

Share verbal or written information

Information can be shared verbally or in writing. In many circumstances information will be shared verbally between service providers, for example, to facilitate the assessment, planning, implementation and review of a case plan. However, some entities will only respond to written requests for information.

If a prescribed entity or service provider requires a written request for information, email the entity with:

• the details of the information needed
• the purpose for which the information is needed
• the relevant section of the information sharing provisions.

When sharing information advise the recipient:

• that the information is only being shared for the listed purpose
• why the information is being provided
• that the information is to be kept confidential
• that the information must not be used or disclosed―and that doing so may have harmful consequences for the child or another person.

Keep accurate records

When receiving or providing information:

• accurately and clearly record the request and response in the relevant event in ICMS, ensuring it is clearly titled so it can be easily located in the future
• record what information was shared, who it was shared with and the reason it was shared
• with the QPS, record the information in the ‘Info received from QPS’ case note type in ICMS so it is readily accessible―even if the information is also attached to ICMS or recorded in iDOCS
• record whether consent has been received (and from whom) or record reasons why
  • consent was not sought or obtained
  • it was unsafe, impossible or impractical to seek or obtain consent.

Make a Section 159N information request

Child Safety has a specific provision (Child Protection Act 1999, section 159N) to request stated information about a child, an unborn child or another person from the following entities:

• the public guardian
• a prescribed entity
• a licensee―an entity licensed to provide placement services to children in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive
• the person in charge of a student hostel.

When Child Safety seeks information from an entity under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 159N, the entity must comply with the request to the extent it relates to the information in its possession or control. Before seeking this information review relevant Unify and SCAN team records to check whether the information has previously been received.

It may be appropriate to request information under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 159N when:

• requesting specific information to inform an intake decision―refer to Procedure 1 Carry out a pre-notification check 
• specific information is required for an affidavit for a court proceeding
• an entity is reluctant to provide information due to the sensitivity of the information and a formal request is most appropriate to obtain the information
• the information is required for making a significant decision for a child subject to ongoing intervention. For example, if requesting information about a parent’s medical condition to inform decision-making about reunification.

The information can be shared verbally, via email with Child Safety or by the use of a Section 159N information request. The information request form provides a standard approach for requesting stated information.

Do not use section 159N requests for general information gathering. Make sure these requests are targeted and specific and the information is directly relevant to the performance of a function or exercise of a power under the Child Protection Act 1999.

To request information under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 159N:

• make sure the information request is lawful and authorised under the Child Protection Act 1999  
• confirm the entity is able to share information for this purpose
• make sure the request is targeted and specific, and the information is directly relevant to the intended purpose
• complete a Section 159N Information request, if required (refer to the Section 159N information request user guide for assistance) and
  • detail and define what information is requested
  • outline the purpose or function for which the information is needed
  • clarify whether the information needed is current or historical, including the specific date ranges where possible
  • explain the link between the information and concerns for the child
  • identify the person the information is about and their relationship to the relevant child or unborn child
  • identify the entity and holder of the information, if known 
• forward the completed form to the senior team leader for approval
• email the approved request to the relevant entity
• record the request and the response accurately and clearly in the relevant event in ICMS.

Respond to a declined request

An entity can only decline a request by Child Safety in limited circumstances (Child Protection Act 1999, section 159N(3)(a). This includes if giving the information could reasonably be expected to result in one of the following:

• prejudice the investigation of a contravention or possible contravention of a law in a particular case
• prejudice an investigation under the Coroners Act 2003
• enable the existence or identity of a confidential source of information, in relation to the enforcement or administration of a law, to be ascertained
• endanger a person's life or physical safety
• prejudice the effectiveness of a lawful method or procedure for preventing, detecting, investigating or dealing with a contravention or possible contravention of a law
• it would not be in the public interest to give the information.

A prescribed entity does not commit an offence by not complying with a request. If the request for information has been declined, record the response accurately and clearly in the relevant ICMS event. If the information has been requested for court purposes, inform the OCFOS lawyer and seek their advice about next steps.

Request for information from Queensland Corrective Services – application for a child to reside with a female prisoner

Data Management Services (DMS) is responsible for receiving, screening and responding to requests for information from Queensland Corrective Services that relate to an application made by a mother or a female prisoner to have a child reside with her in a correctional centre. 

If a RIS or CSSC is contacted directly by Queensland Corrective Services to initiate an information request to assess an application, advise Queensland Corrective Services to forward the completed form Chapter 5A information request – Queensland Corrective Services to QCS_CS@cyjma.qld.gov.au.

If an information request is received from Queensland Corrective Services and there is an open event in ICMS, DMS will: 

• contact the event owner to advise them of the information request and, if necessary, seek clarifying information to inform the response to Queensland Corrective Services
• include the CSO or senior team leader’s contact details in the response to Queensland Corrective Services to enable direct contact to occur where necessary. 

Respond to an application to accommodate a child in a correctional centre

The Corrective Services Act 2006, section 29, enables eligible female prisoners to apply to have their child accommodated with them in a correctional centre. Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) is responsible for the overall assessment and decision making of this application and will:

• request preliminary information from Data Management Service (DMS), through the information sharing process—refer to Request for information from Queensland Corrective Services – application for a child to reside with a female prisoner
• engage directly with the CSSC for the child, if the child is subject to a child protection order granting custody or short-term guardianship to the chief executive
• seek information from other sources.

Child Safety will only have a continued role in a mother’s application if she gave birth to the child whilst incarcerated, and the child then became subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive.

When advised of the nominated external carers contact details:

• provide the nominee with the information they need to make an informed decision about whether to become an approved carer for the child. (Refer to Provide the prospective applicant with relevant information.)
• advise the PSU if the nominee decides to proceed with a carer application, and if required, clarify
  • the documents required for a carer application (refer to Procedure 6 Carer application requirements)
  • the type of carer—that is, as a foster or kinship applicant, and whether a provisional carer approval should also be considered
  • if a foster and kinship care service provider or fee-for-service assessor has capacity to complete a carer assessment within the required timeframe.

The Corrective Services Act 2006, section 30(1)(e)), requires the Child Safety delegate (the regional director) to consent to the proposed accommodation of the child in a correctional centre. QCS will seek this consent from Child Safety when the mother’s application has progressed.  

The CSO will prepare a written report for the regional director to inform their decision making, which will include a summary of the following information:

• the primary case plan goal and how the proposed arrangement will facilitate this outcome
• a brief outline of the history of child protection concerns relating to the child or the child’s mother
• the nature of the mother’s charges or convictions including the length of her incarceration
• the quality of the child’s relationship with their mother, as well as information about their physical and emotional safety within the correctional centre
• the views and wishes of the child’s father and family members about the proposed arrangement
• information about the mother’s nominated external carers and internal care givers, as well as their proposed role with the child
• the impact on the child of any additional requirements of QCS
  and
• for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, how connection with their culture and with people of significance under Aboriginal tradition or Island custom will be maintained or impacted.

Immediately email the QCS assessing officer to advise of the Child Safety delegate’s decision to consent or not to consent to the proposed living arrangement for the child. If the delegate does not consent, QCS will not approve the application.

If the regional director or regional executive director provides consent, the application is then finally decided by QCS delegate. If approved:

• liaise with the QCS counsellor appointed to support the mother, to plan for the child’s transition to the correctional centre
• seek the CSSC managers decision (as the delegated officer) to place the child in the care of the mother at the correctional centre.

At any time, QCS can assess a mother to be illegible for the child to continue to be accommodated in the correctional centre, such as when:

• there are concerns about the mother’s care of the child
• it is no longer is the child’s best interests to remain there
• the mother no longer meets the eligibility criteria
• the mother is to be moved to another correctional centre.

In these circumstances, QCS will engage with the CSO and complete a separation plan for the child. The CSO will locate a care arrangement for the child. If appropriate, consider the person nominated by the mother to be the child’s external carer (if they are approved carers). If this is no longer an option, refer to Procedure 6 Complete a care arrangement referral.

Obtain a birth certificate for a child

If a child is subject to a child protection order and placed in care, obtain at least 2 original birth certificates for the child:

• Place and retain one original on the child’s file.
• Give one original (or more if appropriate) to the child during transition to adulthood planning, or as requested by the child.
• Give one certified copy to the carer.
• Upload a copy of the certificate to the ‘Important Documents’ section of the child’s kicbox.

To obtain one or more birth certificates:

• Complete the Request for a child birth certificate and email it to Data Management Services (DMS).
• Attach a copy of the original child protection order for all applications for interstate, overseas and late registration birth and death certificates.

Ensure a young person has a copy of their birthcertificate prior to exiting care. Refer to  Support a young person’s transition to adulthood.

When a child requires or has a bank account

There are different requirements and processes for opening and managing a bank account, depending on who has custody and guardianship responsibilities for the child.  

If the child is in the guardianship of the chief executive:

• The senior team leader is delegated to make decisions about opening and managing the child’s bank account.
• The account will be in the child’s name. If the bank policy requires a joint account, the senior team leader will be the other account holder.
• The senior team leader will accompany the child to the local branch to open the bank account. Bank staff may assist with decisions about the child’s capacity to open and manage an account in their own name.

If the child is in the custody of the chief executive (and therefore the parents retain guardianship):

• A parent is responsible for decisions (and providing consent) about opening and managing the child’s bank account.
• A parent will be the co-signatory if a joint account is needed due to the child’s age or developmental ability.

If the child has a long-term guardian, the long-term guardian is responsible for decisions about opening and managing the child’s bank account, taking into account the child’s views.

Discuss any concerns about how a child’s bank account is being managed with the senior team leader.

General age and proof of identity requirements

Generally, financial institutions will allow a child aged 12 years or over to open an account in their own name, if they are able to sign a consistent satisfactory signature and verify their details, such as their full name and date of birth.

When a child is under the age of 12 years, the financial institution may suggest either:

• the account is opened in joint names with a parent/guardian
• the account is opened by the parent/guardian ‘in trust’ for the child.

To open an account, a child will be required to provide proof of identity to 100 points as outlined on the Queensland Government website. This identification must include at least one of the following:

• Australian visa
• Birth certificate
• Certificate of Australian citizenship
• Drivers licence
• Passport.

Protect the child’s financial rights and interests

If a child has significantly impaired decision-making capacity, consult with the senior team leader and take steps to protect the child’s rights and interests in relation to managing their financial matters.

This may be particularly relevant for a child in receipt of a Disability Support Pension, or for those approaching 16 years of age who will become eligible to receive a Disability Support Pension.

It may also be relevant for a child who has received an inheritance.

When a child who may be eligible to receive a Disability Support Pension turns 16 years of age, contact Centrelink to advise that payment of the Disability Support Pension (if approved) can be made directly to the child’s bank account.

If a child’s decision-making ability is impaired, consider a referral to the Public Trustee for management of funds once the young person has turned 16. The CSSC manager is delegated to make this decision (refer to theChild Protection Act 1999,  section 93), and will use the Letter to Public Trustee - request to manage finances.

If the child is over 17 years of age and there are concerns that their financial interests may need to be protected after leaving care, apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for the appointment of an administrator.  Refer to Support a young person with impaired decision-making capacity.

Record relevant details and documentation

Record details and documentation about decisions relating to a child’s bank accounts in the child’s ongoing intervention event in ICMS, particularly decisions made and consents provided by the senior team leader as the delegated officer.

Respond when a child in care is the victim of a crime

Under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009, Child Safety staff are responsible for:

• upholding the Charter of Victims’ Rights when working with victims of crime
• proactively providing victims of crime with information about services and financial assistance they may be eligible to receive from the Queensland Government through Victim Assist Queensland
• organising an application on behalf of a child identified as a victim of crime who is subject to a finalised or interim child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive.

Refer to Our approach Obligations to victims of violent crime and the practice guide Victim Assist Queensland for information about responding to a child who has been a victim of crime. 

Custody to the chief executive

If a child subject to an interim or finalised child protection order granting custody to the chief executive has been injured through an act of violence, the parent or guardian is responsible for facilitating an application for assistance for the child from Victims Assist Queensland.

Child Safety may seek approval from Victim Assist Queensland to facilitate an application for assistance on behalf of a child who is subject to a child protection order granting custody to the chief executive. To do so, Child Safety needs to provide in writing the reasons the parent or guardian is not fit or is not in a position to lodge an application on the child’s behalf.

Examples of this would be if the child’s parent is unable to lodge the application due to a mental health condition, alcohol or drug dependence or other reason, where the condition, dependence or circumstance impedes their ability to prepare and lodge an application for the child.

Guardianship to the chief executive

When a child subject to a child protection order granting guardianship to the chief executive has been injured through an act of violence, arrange an application for assistance from Victim Assist Queensland on the child’s behalf.

Consider Victim Assist Queensland in case planning

As part of the case planning and review process:

• Determine if a child may be a victim of crime (a victim of an act (or multiple acts) of violence in the past) and whether an application for assistance has been made to Victim Assist Queensland, by seeking relevant information from the following sources
  • the child
  • the child’s parents
  • the child’s carer, if applicable.
  • case records and information recorded in Unify
  • an application for a child protection order, including supporting affidavit material 
  • critical incident reports
  • review processes involving a serious injury to a child or the child of a death
  • a standards of care harm report
  • criminal or civil court results received via an Integrated Justice Information System automated email
  • a domestic and family violence alert recorded on the child’s or family member’s person record in Unify.
• If it is determined that a child is a victim of crime, determine
  • if information about Victim Assist Queensland has been provided
  • the incident has been reported to the QPS.
• Provide the child, the child’s parent, guardian or carer (as relevant) information about Victim Assist Queensland, if this information has not been provided, and advise them that support and assistance may be available.
• Consider whether to make an application for assistance through Victim Assist Queensland, if there is information to indicate a child may be a victim of crime.

Make the decision about when to make an application to Victim Assist Queensland at the earliest possible time as part of the case planning process.

Make an application to Victim Assist Queensland

If it is decided to proceed with an application:

• Prepare the application to Victim Assist Queensland on the child’s behalf.
• Report the incident to the QPS in line with the Child Protection Act 1999, section 14(2), if it has not already been reported.
• Include information about the application (or proposed future application) to Victim Assist Queensland in the child’s case plan.
• Record information about the application in a Victim of crime case note in the relevant event in ICMS.

To help establish that the child has experienced an act of violence and has suffered an injury (as defined in the Victim of Crime Assistance Act 2009) the following information may need to be provided in support of the application

• the child’s birth certificate
• a copy of the child protection order
• the assessment and outcome from the investigation and assessment of a notification or harm report
• relevant case notes
• information about counselling, therapy and medical treatment the child is or has received as a result of the act of violence
• details of practitioners who are providing or have provided treatment.

Provide the supporting documents with the application when it is lodged with Victim Assist Queensland to enable it to be assessed in a timely manner.

Meet costs to assist the child’s recovery

An application for, or the payment of, financial benefits from Victim Assist Queensland does not remove Child Safety’s obligation to provide a child who subject to the custody or guardianship of the chief executive with goods and services needed to recover from physical, emotional or psychological injury resulting from an act of violence committed in Queensland.

While the child remains in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive, the cost of goods and services, including counselling and other relevant services, will be met through child related costs. This will ensure funds granted by Victim Assist Queensland are preserved to meet ongoing post-care support needs after the child turns 18.

Consider Victim Assist Queensland when a child in care experiences harm 

If a child experiences harm after being placed in care (including sexual abuse while placed in care) the child may be a victim of crime. Provide information about services and assistance available through Victim Assist Queensland to the child, taking into account their age and capacity to understand, and record that the information has been provided in a Victim of crime case note in the relevant event in ICMS.

If the child is subject to an interim or finalised child protection order granting custody to the chief executive, also provide information about Victim Assist Queensland to the parent or guardian. They will be responsible for facilitating an application for assistance for the child. (Refer to Custody to the chief executive.)

If a child is subject to a child protection order granting guardianship to the chief executive, refer to Guardianship to the chief executive.

Consider Victim Assist Queensland in transition to adulthood planning

Include information in a young person’s transition to adulthood plan  about any action (occurring or under consideration) in relation to them having been the victim of an act of violence.  

If the young person has been (or may have been) a victim of crime and an application to Victim Assist Queensland has not been made:

• Provide the young person with information about Victim Assist Queensland.
• Seek their views about making an application.

Manage a financial benefit from Victim Assist Queensland

If a young person’s application has been finalised, any resulting financial benefit is managed through the Public Trustee in line with the Child Protection Act 1999.

Assist the young person to identify how the financial benefit can be used to best meet their ongoing recovery needs after they turn 18. Support the young person in contacting Victim Assist Queensland for information to help them plan further use of the benefit.

Before the young person turns 18, arrange for funds from the Public Trustee to be released and if relevant, seek reimbursement for the young person of Public Trustee management fees from Victims Assist Queensland.

Support the rights of a child during criminal proceedings

Notify Legal Services if a child victim of crime is subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive, and the offender has been charged.

Legal Services will liaise with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to monitor court and sentencing processes and advise the CSO of the outcome of these matters.

In some circumstances, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will directly contact the CSSC regarding specific processes or requirements that need to be communicated to:

• the child
• the child’s carer
• a residential care service.

The information may relate to matters such as:

• court dates
• requirements to attend court for the pre-recording of evidence
• preparation of victim impact statements
• consent for a Protect All Children Today volunteer to provide support. (Refer to Arrange consent for support from Protect All Children Today.)

Liaise with Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure:

• Child Safety is aware of the sentencing processes.
• Child Safety is able to provide adequate support.
• The child’s private information is not given to a person or service who is no longer caring for the child.

Arrange consent for support from Protect All Children Today 

The QPS usually refers a child to Protect All Children Today for support at the time the alleged offender is arrested. However, Protect All Children Today can also provide support for a victim at earlier stages.

Child Safety is responsible for providing consent for a child in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive to receive support from Protect All Children Today. It is important that consent is provided in a timely manner to avoid delay in the child being provided with necessary support.

Respond to a child's education needs

A good education gives children the best start in life, leading to greater opportunities in adulthood. Children in care generally start with some disadvantage compared to their peers and have higher levels of school disciplinary absences (for example, suspensions) compared to the general population. Supporting positive educational experiences for children maximises their learning, wellbeing and participation in education. Young people who successfully complete school are more likely to experience employment, financial independence, positive self-esteem and positive relationships.

Child Safety and the Department of Education are responsible for providing children in care with opportunities to overcome adversity and help them achieve. Child Safety needs to work closely with the child’s education facility and share the right information at the right time.

Support early childhood education

Kindergarten lays the foundation for a child’s future learning and life outcomes. Effective learning involves ideas and concepts that build on each other. A child who does not develop crucial skills and knowledge and a positive attitude to learning early on, may find it difficult to learn as they get older.

Each child in care, who is at least 4 years old by 30 June of the year they participate in kindergarten, is entitled to 15 hours per week to approved kindergarten programs at no cost. The Kindy for All initiative encourages the participation of children in quality early childhood education. 

To establish the child’s eligibility for the Kindy for All initiative, ask the approved carer for the child to provide either the authority to care or a copy of the child protection order to the kindergarten at the time of enrolment.

Approved kindergarten programs are delivered in a range of settings, including by: 

• the Creche and Kindergarten Association (C&K)
• Independent Schools Queensland
• the Queensland Catholic Education Commission
• Queensland Lutheran Early Childhood Services
• Lady Gowrie
• ekindy
• approved long day care services.

Foster and kinship carers are assisted in meeting the costs associated with a child’s attendance at an approved kindergarten program operating in a long day care service when only 15 hours per week of their program is free.  Additional subsidies may be available through the Additional Child Care Subsidy Child Wellbeing through Services Australia, and the Child Safety. (Refer to the policy Early childhood education and care participation minimum gap.) Unlike child-related costs, this is not a discretionary payment requiring CSSC manager approval.  

Foster and kinship carers may also be eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses through child-related costs.

Enrol a child at school

Enrolment in a Queensland state school is catchment based, meaning the school of enrolment is based on the child’s address.  

Children in care may be enrolled in a school in a different catchment area from where they live in certain circumstances, such as:

• to support reunification to a parent
• to enable the child to receive services to meet the child’s disability needs or
• to participate in a program that supports children with a history of school disciplinary absences or other education support needs.

Prior to submitting an out-of-catchment enrolment application for a child in care, contact the principal education officer in the relevant Department of Education regional office to discuss the child’s needs and enrolment options. 

Make sure an education support plan is developed

An education support plan is developed for every child in care who meets the eligibility criteria, that is:

• the child is enrolled in a state or non-state school in Queensland
  and
• the child is subject to an interim or finalised child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive
  or
• the child is subject to an interstate child protection order receiving case work services from a CSSC.

The school the child attends is responsible for the development and review of the education support plan for the child.

Participate in the development and review of the education support plan for a child, which will focus on the following key areas:

• educational achievement
• wellbeing and engagement 
• cultural inclusion. 

At a minimum, a neweducation support plan must be developed on an annual basis. It may be reviewed more frequently, particularly if the child’s circumstances change significantly. 

The education support plan aims to improve educational experiences and outcomes for a child in care. It outlines the child’s educational goals and the strategies and resources needed to assist the child to achieve these goals. The education support plan then informs the application process for the child to be considered for education support funding program, if necessary.

If a child’s education and support needs cannot be met within the school’s existing resources or other available resources, a school may apply to the regional Department of Education office for education support funding. If approved, the school is responsible for using the funds in line with the goals in the child’s education support plan.

Child Safety is responsible for:

• advising the school when a child is eligible and no longer eligible for an education support plan
• providing the principal with
  • information about the child to enable the school to support and facilitate the child’s learning and participation
  • information about relevant members of the child’s safety and support network, including who should participate in the education support planning process
• attending meetings as required, including enrolment meetings and the education support plan planning meeting 
• including the child in identifying their goals and support needs to develop their education support plan
• endorsing, signing and returning the education support plan to the principal within 10 business days and;
• updating the education tab in Unify. 

Inform the principal of the child's eligibility

When it is identified that a child is eligible for an education support plan, notify the school principal by email of their eligibility:

• before, or when enrolling the child at the school
• within 1 month of commencement of a child protection order (interim or finalised) granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive—if the child has an existing enrolment at the school. 

If the school has not contacted the CSSC within 5 school days of being notified of the child's eligibility, contact the principal to arrange an education support plan planning meeting.

Prepare for the education support planning meeting

Before participating in the education support plan planning meeting:

• Talk to the child about the purpose and process for developing an education support plan and any support the child may need participate in the education support plan planning meeting, if appropriate (Refer to the practice kit Care arrangements.)
• Advise the child’s carer and parent, as appropriate of the meeting. 
• In collaboration with the principal, identify and engage with other stakeholders and / or agencies that may support the educational participation, retention and achievement of the child.
• Consult Queensland Transport to identify transport options for the child to travel to the nominated school, if applicable.
• Inform the child's carer of financial support available from Child Safety or the school to enable the child’s participation in learning opportunities (Refer to the procedure Child related costs—education and child care support.)

Financial support from Child Safety is subject to the CSSC manager’s approval. Make sure expenditure is recorded in the child's case plan and education support plan.

Attend the education support planning meeting

The carer and (if appropriate) the child and the child's parents should attend the education support planning meeting with the CSO.

The CSO with case responsibility will actively participate in the meeting to discuss the goals, strategies, and all accessibility of school-based services and programs that will help meet the child’s academic potential and provide individualised support. To support these discussions, share information about:

• the child’s strengths and needs
• previous trauma and abuse which may impact on the child’s ability to be an active learner
• safety concerns, for both the child if they are known to run away, or for staff and other students if the child may have trouble regulating their emotions
• therapeutic, health, or mental health needs, including whether the child is taking prescribed medications that may impact on their schooling
• if the child has a disability and is receiving supports from the NDIS
• the child’s case plan and cultural support plan
• educational services that may assist the child
• any planned changes to a child’s care arrangement, including short break care or reunification, that may affect school attendance, participation or enrolment
• any planned school transition (such as transition from primary to secondary school)
• strategies and goals to maximise the child's academic potential and school engagement.

If the child chooses not to attend the meeting, make sure the CSO or carer obtains their views and educational goals before the meeting and shares them at the meeting.

At the meeting, if the child is regularly absent from school or refusing to attend school, discuss the reasons and potential causal factors, and the risks this poses to the child and identify strategies to support their attendance. Make sure the school has current contact details so each time the child fails to attend school, staff can advise the child's carer, residential care staff or if not contactable, the CSSC.  

Receive a copy of the education support plan

The school will distribute a copy of the completed education support plan to the main parties involved in the development or review of the plan for endorsement. Upon receipt of the education support plan:

• Sign the education support plan via a return email to the principal within 10 business days or receiving the education support plan.  Electronic signatures or email endorsement is acceptable.
• Make sure the child has been given a copy and clarify any questions they have.
• Attach the education support plan to the child’s ongoing intervention event in ICMS and update education tab in Unify with the date of the education support plan .

Attend the review of an education support plan

The school is responsible for developing a new education support plan, at a minimum, every 12 months. An earlier review may be organised if the child's circumstances change, for example:

• if the child moves to a new school
• if existing goals are met and new goals need to be identified.

Inform the principal of a change in eligibility or circumstances

Inform the principal in a timely way of a change in the child's legal status, care arrangement or school enrolment. Advise the principal by telphone, or in writing by email when a child is no longer eligible for an education support plan—for example, is no longer subject to an eligible order, or the child protection order expires.

Facilitate, monitor and review family contact

A child’s ongoing relationship with their family, friends, other significant people and community can help them to feel connected and supported in managing the difficulties of transitions. Family contact helps with:

• a child's sense of identity
• a child being reunified to the care of a parent
• a child’s ongoing relationship with their family while they are in care or transitioning to adulthood.

Family contact may include:

• face-to-face visits
• phone calls
• emails
• text messages
• letters
• activities attended by the child, family members and other significant people—for example, school concerts and school sports days.  

If a child is placed in care:

• Ensure the child’s case plan upholds the child’s right to maintain relationships with their family and community in line with the Child Protection Act 1999, Schedule 1.
• Arrange contact between the child, the child's parents and appropriate members of the child's family as often as is appropriate, in line with the Child Protection Act 1999,  section 87. (Refer to Decide the level and nature of family contact.)
• Make sure contact occurs between a child and their siblings.
• Seek the child’s views about contact and record them in the Safe contact tool.

Supervise family contact

Family contact must be supervised if:

• there are significant safety concerns for the child
• a high level of control and oversight of the parents or other people participating in contact with the child is required
• there are legitimate concerns that the child may be abducted or harmed during contact
• the child or family requests the attendance of a CSO
• a qualified professional working with the child or family recommends that contact be supervised, based on legitimate concerns.

A CSO may also attend family contact to:

• assess interactions between the child and family
• check the progress of the child’s parent in meeting case plan goals
• help inform an assessment for a current child protection proceeding
• provide parenting or therapeutic support to the child and family.

Carer participation in family contact

Carers may participate in family contact arrangements if all the following apply:

• A high level of control and oversight of the parent’s or family member’s behaviour during contact is not needed.   
• There are no significant safety concerns, such as
  • recent threats to remove or abduct the child
  • aggressive behaviour by the parents when the child was taken into custody, which resulted in harm to others.

Negotiate with the carer their involvement in family contact arrangements and record the details in the case plan and placement agreement.

Outsource transport or supervision of family contact

An external service may be contracted to provide transport or to supervise family contact in line with the child’s case plan. The CSSC manager will decide whether to approve the cost of outsourcing transport or the supervision of family contact. (Refer to the procedure Child related costs—child and young person support.)

Arrange family contact at a correctional centre

Family contact visits for a child in care sometimes need to take place in an adult correctional centre, for example if a parent is incarcerated. Queensland Corrective Services refers to this type of visit as a ‘personal visit’ and requires that all personal visits are booked in advance, regardless of whether the visit is a one-off or a regular occurrence.

Family contact with parents or other family members in a correctional centre may include:

• face-to-face visits
• telephone calls
• letters
• video conferencing.

In addition to information outlined in the practice guide Family contact for children in care, consider the following when deciding the frequency and type of contact to occur in a correctional centre:

• the case plan goal
• the child's age and development
• the child's views and wishes
• the parent’s or family member's views and wishes about if and how the contact should occur
• the child's physical and emotional safety within the correctional centre
• the history of child protection concerns relating to the child, the child’s parent or family member
• the nature of the parent’s or family member’s charges or convictions and whether they relate to the child or other family members
• the quality of the child’s relationship with the parent or family member
• the need to maintain an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child’s relationship with their parents, siblings and other people of significance to the child under Aboriginal tradition or Island custom
• the length of time the parent or family member will be at the correctional centre. (If brief, it may be in the child's best interest to delay contact until the parent or family member is released)
• the distance between the child's care arrangement and the correctional centre, and the disruption that travel to and from visits may cause to the child, including to their schooling
• whether the child's need for family contact can be met by telephone contact and if the parent or family member has access to telephone calls.

Regularly review the type and frequency of the contact, taking into consideration: 

• the child's views about the quality of contact
• the child's behaviour and interactions during contact
• the carer's observations of the child’s behaviour before and after visits.

Depending on the nature of the family member’s charges, the court may have ruled that they are not to have contact with the child, for example, if a parent has been charged with murder of the child's sibling. Contact the Department of Public Prosecutions to gather information about any restrictions.

If the senior team leader decides family contact is to occur and face-to-face visits are not permitted by the correctional centre, consider other options, such as telephone calls or letters. 

To arrange a family contact visit at a correctional centre:

• Contact the correctional centre before the proposed visit to make arrangements and access the ‘Administrative Form 204—Child Safety Visit Notice’, which is to be completed by the Child Safety staff member who will accompany the child.
• Complete a Form 27 - Approval for access to a corrective services facility and visit a prisoner (personal visitor) (Form 27) for each child and attach a supporting letter from the guardian of the child (either a parent or the chief executive) confirming the arrangement to the child’s Form 27. (Refer to Determine who has custody or guardianship of the child for who can sign the letter.)
• Send all the necessary documentation to the Chief Superintendent of the correctional centre, so that it is received at least 24 hours before the proposed visit.

Before visiting a correctional centre, make sure each person attending is aware of the conditions of entry to the centre, including the standards of dress and the search process. This information is availability on the Queensland Corrective Services website.

Once at the correctional centre:

• Each visitor will be advised of the conditions of entry to the centre.
• The CSO and any other person in attendance must show a current identification card.
• The CSO or other approved person will either accompany the child on the visit or a Corrective Services Officer will escort the child to the visits area and collect them at the end of the visit.

Prepare participants for family contact

When family contact arrangements have been decided:

• Inform all participants of
  • the date, time and venue
  • their responsibilities during family contact.
• Discuss whether strategies or supports are required to assist the child, their carer or family members to effectively manage family contact arrangements.
• Complete safety planning with the child, participants and other significant people if
  • the child has been sexually or physically abused
  • the child presents with challenging behaviours
  • the child has a serious medical condition
  • the child presents with harmful sexual behaviours
  • the child has witnessed domestic and family violence and is fearful of the perpetrator.
• Arrange appropriate supervision for the family contact, if required.
• Make sure transport arrangements are made for the child.

Monitor and review family contact arrangements

Monitor and review family contact arrangements on a regular basis, and:

• seek the child’s views and experience of the contact
• assess the parent’s progress in meeting the child’s safety, belonging and wellbeing needs during the contact
• address any concerns as they arise
• gather information about the progress and suitability of the contact from all parties, including the parents, family members, carer and CSSO
• assist and support the child, their family and other significant people in enjoying and participating in the contact visits.  

Respond to disruptive family contact

If family contact is assessed as not meeting the needs of the child, or if issues arise about the actions or behaviour of family members during contact, work with the relevant parties to resolve the identified issues. Possible strategies to address disruptive contact include:

• discussing Child Safety’s expectations of behaviour during family contact with parents and other family members
• establishing clear boundaries for future contact arrangements
• arranging for the child and parents or family members to engage in support and therapeutic intervention.

If the issues are ongoing or escalate, consult the senior team leader to consider changing the contact arrangements to meet the needs and best interests of the child, and  consider if a case plan review id required. (Refer to Review and revise the case plan.)

Respond to child protection concerns related to family contact

If information is received about harm or risk of harm to a child by their parent during family contact, refer to Procedure 1 New child protection concerns.

If worries relate to the carer's role or responsibilities during family contact, discuss the matter with the carer and consider strategies for resolving the issues. If the concerns about the carer relate to the standard of care provided or harm or risk of harm to the child. (Refer to Procedure 6 Respond to concerns about the child’s care arrangement.)

Respond to concerns about pool fencing

If concerns are received or observed about the safety of pool fencing where a family contact visit is held, report the information to the relevant local authority responsible for assessing pool fencing compliance.

Only report:

• the property address
• the nature of the issue relating to the pool fence.

Do not provide the family’s name or other identifying details.

Review the family contact arrangements to ensure the safety of young children until the pool fencing issue is resolved.

Record family contact arrangements and outcomes

Record (in a case note in ICMS) information and decisions about family contact such as:

• the child's views
• daily care decisions made by the carer or CSO (Refer to Contact decisions.)
• observations about the progress or outcomes of family contact
• details of disruptive family contact and response strategies.

The Safe contact tool may be attached to the case note in ICMS.

Record decisions about the level and nature of family contact in the child’s case plan and placement agreement. (Refer to Decide the level and nature of family contact.)

Ellen Barron Family Centre

The Ellen Barron Family Centre is a Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service residential facility for parents with children aged from birth to a child’s third birthday, who require support with building practical parenting skills.

If referring a child and their parents to this service, and the child is subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive, the child will be placed in the care of their parents for the period of the admission, refer to Child Protection Act 1999, section 82(2).  Provide the following documents for the child’s and parents’ admission:

• a completed referral form, obtained from the centre
• a completed Admission agreement―Ellen Barron Family Centre 
• a copy of the signed Authority to care―section 82(2) that has been provided to the parents.

The centre requires Child Safety to:

• Where possible, to drop off and pick up the parents from the centre.
• If it is unavoidable that parents have to be served with court papers during their admission to the centre, discuss this action this with Ellen Barron Centre staff beforehand, who will assist in managing any sensitivities that may arise.
• If an assessment is made that a child is to be removed from their parents’ care, make every effort for this to occur at an alternative location.
• If the removal is considered urgent, involve the Ellen Barron Family Centre staff in the planning process.

Access kicbox 

Encourage each child in care to use the digital application (app) kicbox, regardless of their age, length of time in care and location. Make sure they know how to and can access and update their information.

The kicbox app allows information to be recorded throughout a child’s time in care. This accumulated information is an important record for a child, especially when they leave care.

Refer to Support a young person’s transition to adulthood for information about using kicbox in transition to adulthood case work.

Receive information under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012

During ongoing intervention, information about a child may be received from a Queensland Court as part of a Report to the Court pursuant to section 55 (Part A—Request) form, under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, section 55. 

To respond to this information, complete the report to the court, as outlined in Procedure 1 Request for information from a Queensland court under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012.

Support a young person’s transition to adulthood

All young people subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive have the right to receive assistance and support with their transition to adulthood. The aim is to maximise their life opportunities and choices.

Transition to adulthood is a planning process that occurs with the young person as part of ongoing case work and review processes from the year they turn 15. It is an opportunity for young people to:

• identify their future goals and needs
• work towards the goals with the support of Child Safety and the community
• receive the necessary supports as they grow towards independence.

The years leading into adulthood are a time of opportunity and great change. As a young person learns to take greater control of their lives, their relationships and connections with friends, family and community begin to alter to reflect their growing maturity.

The transition into adulthood can be exciting and daunting, particularly for a young person who has been in care or has experienced trauma. They are often insufficiently prepared—emotionally and materially—for the responsibilities of independent adult life.

A well-planned, gradual and flexible process to support a young person’s transition to adulthood is critical. This includes making referrals for post-care support.

Kicbox can assist young people with their transition to adulthood. It gives them access to information and photos about their time in care on their mobile phone or other device. They can access kicbox to:

• upload and comment on photos and memories
• access ‘Important documents’
• communicate securely and conveniently with their CSO via ‘Private messaging’
• share their views and wishes
• engage in reviews and make goals for their future in ‘My goals’.

Begin transition to adulthood planning with a young person

In the year that a young person turns 15, work with them to review their case plan and include transition to adulthood planning.

Initiate discussion with the young person at an appropriate time during case work contact. Introduce the concept of planning for their life after leaving care and:

• explain the purpose and process of planning for the transition from care to adulthood
• discuss the way the young person would like to engage in the planning process and encourage a sense of ownership for their future planning
• identify members of their safety and support network who might participate in the planning process and be ongoing advocates for the young person, especially the young person's carer or residential care staff
• explain the role of a natural mentor and if the young person would like to have a natural mentor, assist them to identify someone with whom they have a close, positive relationship, who could help them have their say in transition to adulthoodplanning (Refer to the practice kit Transition to adulthood.)
• encourage them to
  • start to be or continue being interactive kicbox users
  • use the Sortli app to set goals and track their progress throughout the transition to adulthood process. (Refer to the  Sortli app page on the Child Safety website.
• discuss the young person's strengths and needs. This can be used for both the case plan and the revised child strengths and needs assessment (Refer to Complete the child strengths and needs assessment.) 
• assist them to identify their goals and dreams and encourage them to complete the ‘My goals’ section in kicbox
• use the handout Go your own way Info Kit, to help identify actions that will assist the young person to develop the necessary skills as they transition to adulthood
• identify support and practical assistance they may need to achieve identified goals
• tell the young person about their rights in care and Child Safety's obligations under the Charter of rights (Refer to the Child Safety website Children and young people in care.)
• talk with them about Next Step Plus which offers young people support with transition to adulthood from 15 years, including help with accessing advice and assistance with money management, accommodation, training and employment, health and relationships until the young person turns 25
• identify what they know and will need to know in order to manage their own health care, including medication, assessment and treatment, transition to adult health services, and management of their My Health records
• tell them about financial support available from Child Safety and the Australian Government to help them meet identified needs and enhance their ability to become an independent adult. (Refer to Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) Operational Guidelines.)

To refer a young person to Next Step Plus, complete the Next Step Plus - Request for Service or assist the young person to contact the service directly. 

If the young person has been a victim of an act of violence, make sure they have information about the support and assistance available from Victim Assist Queensland. Refer to Respond when a child in care is the victim of a crime.

After talking with the young person about their goals and plans for the future and what they may expect as they begin the transition to adulthood process, give them a completed Letter to young person at 15 years.

The letter should confirm information that has already been discussed with them. They should not be informed of the transition to adulthood process for the first time by reading the letter.

Involve the young person’s carer

Ask the young person if they want their carer or a member of residential care staff involved at the start of transition to adulthood planning with the young person, to:

• discuss and reflect on their relationship with the young person 
• make sure they provide wifi access to support the young person’s use of kicbox
• encourage them to make sure photos capturing positive experiences are uploaded to kicbox
• identify what support and practical assistance they may be able to offer to the young person to meet their goals for adulthood
• acknowledge the legal changes that will occur in their relationship with the young person when they turn 18.

If the young person is cared for by a foster carer or kinship carer, advise the foster carer or kinship carer that the fortnightly caring allowance will continue to be paid:

• if the young person is living with them at 17 and remains living with them after they turn 18
• until the young person turns 21, or until the young person leaves the household
• to assist with the costs of the young person's basic needs including food, shelter, clothing and support to access education, employment, transportation and connection with family.

Complete assessment activities for the case plan review

Before the case plan review, complete the necessary assessments and reassessments, in line with Review and revise the case plan.

Make sure that during their transition to adulthood, the young person’s health needs are identified and they receive effective health care. Arrange a comprehensive health assessment if the young person:

• has ongoing physical, dental or mental health needs
• experiences a new physical or mental health issue
• has not had a health assessment for a significant period of time.

Refer to Arrange the comprehensive health assessment. 

Make sure that concurrent planning is incorporated into the case plan so that both the young person’s immediate needs and their future transition goals are addressed. 

Discuss the following ‘key life areas’ in detail with the young person to ensure the planning process is holistic and thorough and takes into account all areas of their life. The key life areas are interconnected and correspond to the child strengths and needs assessment.

When completing the case plan for the young person, consider whether using the template Transition to adulthood plan might assist guiding the planning with the young person when:

• the young person has complex and changing support needs
• there re multiple stakeholders involved in supporting the young person
• there are multiple support tasks to be allocated and monitored.

Using this template does not replace the requirement to complete relevant sections of the case plan for the young person in ICMS.

If this template is used as part of the transition to adulthood planning, attach a copy to the completed case plan in ICMS and save a copy in kicbox.

Ensure the young person is always provided with the details of their transition to adulthood plan in a form that is accessible to them.

Support a young person with disability

If a young person who is NDIS-eligible or is an NDIS participant is likely to require increased disability supports from the NDIS after they turn 18, involve a Specialist Services clinican or transition officer in transition to adulthood planning.

Transition to adulthood planning should occur over several NDIS plans from the time the young person turns 15. The final plan developed before the young person exits care will outline the supports to be delivered after they are 18. To request a review of the young person’s NDIS plan, refer to Respond to a child’s disability needs.

Support a young person with impaired decision-making capacity

If a young person with impaired decision making capacity is likely to need their interests protected after they turn 18, consider whether to apply to have the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) appoint  a guardian (non-financial matters) or an administrator (financial matters). Refer to the QCAT website for application forms, brochures and fact sheets.

An application can be made to QCAT to appoint a guardian for a young person when the young person is 17 years or up to when they turn 18. Known as advance appointments, this allows the Public Guardian to meet and learn about the young person’s needs and goals before they turn 18.

CSSC  manager approval is needed to apply to QCAT for a guardian or administrator. Before seeking approval, consult with the senior team leader or senior practitioner about the decision. If the young person is receiving support from the NDIS, also consult the Specialist Services clinican or  transition officer .

If the CSSC manager grants approval,  apply to QCATas soon as possible after the young person turns 17 years old, to allow adequate time for the investigation and QCAT hearing. To apply, provide the following to QCAT:

• a Form 10 Application for administration/guardianship appointment or review
• supporting medical documents
• other supporting documents, including the transition to adulthood plan outlined in the young person’s case plan. 

On the same day the QCAT application is made, provide copies of the Form 10 application, and all supporting documents, to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) via the mailbox OPG-QCAT@publicguardian.qld.gov.au

The OPG Pre-advocacy legal team can assist with QCAT applications for guardianship appointment before they are lodged. As the OPG is an active party to all guardianship decisions at QCAT, the pre-advocacy team can help ensure that formal guardianship is the least restrictive option, or explore whether there is another appropriate guardian.

For additional information, refer to the MOU Data Exchange and Information Sharing Between State of Queensland acting through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services  (Child Sarety) and The Office of the Public Guardian.

Support a young person to obtain housing assistance

Consider if a young person will need assistance to access and keep housing when they leave care. 

Continue to explore and assess their housing needs throughout transition to adulthood planning with them. Options include shared accommodation with family or friends, private rental assistance, assistance from specialist homelessness services, and social housing. Some young people may continue to live with their carer after their order expires.

If a young person needs assistance to secure housing, the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works (Housing) may assist by providing:

• access to social housing when the young person would find it difficult to sustain a tenancy in the private rental market
• advice about the range of other housing options and products.

If a young person will need access to social housing from Housing , help them to start the application process when they turn 15.

Housing  will begin formal ‘joint action planning’ with a young person from 16 years, however, a referral from Child Safety is accepted for a young person aged 15 if the need is identified in transition to adulthood planning and in the young person’s case plan.

Make sure compulsory education and training requirements are met

A young person's case plan and transition to adulthood goals must comply with the Department of Education’s requirements for compulsory schooling.

They must also take into account eligibility criteria for Australian Government benefits, which are that a young person must participate in 'learning or earning':

• for two years after they complete compulsory schooling (that is, after they have completed year 10 or turned 16 years of age)
  or
• until they turn 17 years of age
  or
• until they complete a Queensland Certificate of Education or a Certificate III (or higher level) vocational qualification.

The Department of Education will develop a senior education and training (SET) plan during Year 10 or in the year prior to the young person's 16th birthday (whichever comes first), for any young person attending a state, independent or Catholic school. The SET plan is created by the school working with the young person and their carer to identify career goals.

The young person will be registered with the Queensland Studies Authority and given a learning account so achievements can be accrued and monitored.

The young person’s education support plan should be congruent with the SET plan.

For further information about SET plans and making sure a young person's case plan goals comply with the requirements of the Department of Education, refer to the practice kit Transition to adulthood.

Schedule a case plan review

After completing the case plan review assessment activities in line with Review and revise the case plan:

• Encourage the young person to have ownership of the planning process and allow them to be involved in preparing for the case plan review.
• Decide with the young person whether a family group meeting or another process will be used for the case plan review.
• Provide the young person with meaningful and ongoing opportunities to participate in the planning process in a way that is suitable to and chosen by them.
• Talk to the young person to identify all the relevant people to attend the case plan review meeting, and invite them to participate in developing the case plan.
• Discuss the case plan review process with the young person's carer and invite them to attend the case plan review.
• If the case plan review is being undertaken to meet the obligations of the Child Protection Act 1999, section 51VAA, explore all permanency options with the young person and discuss which option would best achieve permanency for the young person and how this will be achieved
• For  an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander young person, arrange an independent person to help facilitate their participation, and the participation of their family, in the planning process, with their consent. (Refer to Enable participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in decision making.)
• Decide whether a transition officer or a representative from Specialist Services or Housing and Homelessness Services will participate in, or provide written information for, the case plan review.
• Note that, for a young person who is an NDIS participant, their NDIS support coordinator may also be a relevant participant in a case plan review.

Develop a new case plan with transition to adulthood planning

Work with the young person to develop a case plan that:

• reflects their goals for their future
• focuses on their strengths and future needs
• addresses their needs in the key life areas
• identifies strategies and timeframes for meeting their stated goals
• states who is responsible for implementing each action
• details the resources required to achieve each outcome
• includes information about kicbox. If the young person is not an interactive kicbox user, document how they will be supported in using kicbox to access their life story and important documents in preparation for their transition to adulthood
• includes contingency plans for responding to changes in the young person's life and future goals.

If a young person, before turning 18, is in a care environment and receiving intensive levels of support (such as intensive foster care or therapeutic residential care) the case plan will include strategies to increase the young person’s independence and improve their skills, functioning and behaviour. This is to prepare them for a different level of support when they transition to adulthood.

If the case plan relates to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander young person, ensure the cultural support plan supports the young person's connections to family, community, culture and country. (Refer to the practice kit Safe care and connection.)

It may take some time to work with the young person to develop a case plan that incorporates transition to adulthood planning. Before being able to make informed decisions about their goals and support options, they may need support in understanding:

• how their life may change as a result of leaving care
• adult roles and responsibilities.

Obtain approval for financial support

Financial support is available through child-related costs to support and resource a young person’s transition to adulthood goals, based on their assessed needs. Refer to the procedure Child related costs—child and young person support

To apply for financial support for a young person:

• Record all expenditure with the transition to adulthood actions and outcomes in the endorsed case plan.
• Submit a Child related costs approval form to the CSSC manager.

Financial support may also be provided to a young person who has left care and previously been subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive. 

In addition to considering financial support through child-related costs, assist the young person to identify and (if relevant) access financial assistance that may be available to them through local programs or their educational facility. (Refer to the practice kit Transition to adulthood.)

Assist the young person to access the Transition to Independent Living Allowance 

Assist the young person to access the Australian Government's Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA). This one-off payment of $1,500 is available to young people aged between 15 and 25 who are preparing to leave or have left care.

Refer to the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) Operational Guidelines for details about the allowance, including the eligibility criteria.

A CSO is responsible for applying for TILA on behalf of a young person in care and for managing their payments. There are 2 steps in the application process:

1. Assessment—if the CSO assesses that the young person is eligible, TILA is applicable for them and use of the payment is part of their transition to adulthood case planning, the CSO can submit the TILA application form with the case plan. The application form requires the CSO’s and young person’s signatures.
2. Claim lodgement—after approval has been granted by the TILA program office for the expenditure, lodge a claim via the Department of Human Services Unified Government Gateway (UGG). (CSSCs are responsible for registering staff for access to the UGG. Refer to Appendix 3 of the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) Operational Guidelines for information about TILA UGG registration.)

Record and distribute the case plan outlining the goals for the future

In recording the revised case plan for the young person:

• Use language that can be easily understood by all parties, especially the young person.
• Use the young person's own words to record their views and wishes, where possible and appropriate
• Document the young person's goals, along with the roles and responsibilities of the young person, family, carers, friends and other support people in achieving these goals.
• Record decisions about funding, if relevant.

Provide a copy of the case plan and the list of proposed review dates to:

• the young person
• the transition officer—if they are working with the young person on skills for maintaining safe and stable housing after care
• the Specialist Services clinician—if they are working with the young person on after-care disability and therapeutic support needs
• the young person’s carer
• all other people who participated in the planning process
• people responsible for implementing case plan actions.

While it is essential to record the transition to adulthood goals and actions in the case plan, the information also needs to be meaningful to the young person. In addition to the case plan, work with them to create a record of their transition from care goals that is useful and tailored for them. For example:

• Develop a calendar that shows who is doing what and when.
• Give the young person, their carer or support person each a notebook and ask them to record each goal on a separate page and document how they will meet the goal. Encourage them to document their progress over time.
• Draw a floor plan of a house or unit and collect pictures or list items that the young person may need to live in that space.
• Sit with the young person and together 
  • upload photos and make a collage about their goals and aspirations in the ‘Goals’ section of the young person’s kicbox
    or
  • make a collage from magazine pictures about where the young person would like to be in 5 years.

Review the case plan

Review the young person’s case plan and their progress towards achieving transition to adulthood goals at each case plan review or at least every 6 months. (Refer to Review and revise the case plan.) More frequent reviews may be held at the young person's request or if their support needs are complex.

In addition, a young person may experience episodes of uncertainty as their exit from care approaches. Make sure the frequency of case planning and contact with the young person increases accordingly.

Ongoing assessment of the young person's readiness to leave care will be completed throughout the transition to adulthood planning process. Do not take action to bring forward a young person’s exit from care before they turn 18 unless they are ready on both a practical and emotional level.

At the last scheduled case review meeting before the young person's 18th birthday, decide if there is a need for Child Safety to continue to work with the young person after they turn 18. (Refer to Provide support after the young person leaves care.)

If ongoing support after the young person turns 18 is to be provided through a support service case: 

• document in the revised case plan 
  • the work that will continue until the young person turns 18
  • the recommendation to open a support service case when the young person turns 18
• open a support service case, with the young person’s consent, when they turn 18 and record a ‘support plan’. (Refer to Procedure 4 Support service case with a young person.)

Support the young person in the 6 months before leaving care

Six months before a young person leaves care, plan for how their transition will be celebrated and make sure they are prepared with the necessary information and documents they will need in adulthood.

Recognise a young person's journey from care to adulthood

Rituals and celebrations are an important part of life and are often long remembered and reflected upon. Consider ways to recognise the young person's journey from being a child in care to entering adulthood.

Consult with the young person and those close to them, such as their carer about appropriate activities to mark this time of transition. Some young people may like to receive a congratulatory birthday card, while others may prefer to have a celebratory event.

Refer the young person for Extended Post Care Support

Provide the young person with information about Extended Post Care Support to help them decide whether to accept a referral to the service, including that:

• the service provides intensive, culturally appropriate and proactive case support that includes assistance to find accommodation and to develop and maintain a connection to family, culture and community
• if the young person is not living in a family-based care arrangement or intends to leave their family-based care arrangement before they turn 18, they can receive financial support of up to $16,000 per year to help them to live independently, and to assist with meeting everyday living costs
• the financial support 
  • is not delivered in isolation of the case support and
  • is administered by the Extended Post Care Support provider on behalf of the young person, not provided as cash directly to the young person.

If the young person agrees to a referral for Extended Post Care Support:

• ask the young person which Extended Post Care Support service they would like to be referred to in their area (Refer to Transition to adulthood and post-care support for a list of service providers and their contact details)
• complete the [Referral form]
• send the completed referral form to the relevant service provider.

Once the referral is accepted, invite the Extended Post Care Support provider to participate in the young person’s safety and support network.

If the young person does not agree to a referral for Extended Post Care Support, advise them that they can still be referred to an Extended Post Care Support Service at any time, up to the age of 21 by:

• self-referring to a service in the area they are living

• asking another agency (such as Next Step Plus) to make a referral on their behalf

• contacting Child Safety and asking to be referred to an Extended Post Care Support service.

Provide important documents and information

In the 6 months before the young person leaves care, make sure they have been given the following documents:

• their child health passport folder
• an original birth certificate (another original certificate is retained on the child’s file)
• Medicare card
• Health care card
• a Confirmation of care letter (use the template located in the Leaving care report) and if requested, a Leaving care report (Refer to Provide a leaving care report.)

• information about financial support, including the Australian Government's Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA). If applicable, an application for TILA should have been made on their behalf. (Refer to Assist the young person to access Transition to Independent Living Allowance and Obtain approval for financial support.)

• the brochure Support service case: Information for young people transitioning from care explaining the criteria for opening a support service case for a young person over 18 years
• their tax file number
• the handout Go your own way Info Kit - a resource developed in partnership between the CREATE Foundation and Child Safety
• for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander young person, a copy of their proof or confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage to assist with future funding applications for study purposes. (Refer to the practice kit Safe care and connection.)

Also make sure the young person:

• knows they must enrol to vote for federal, state and local government elections and can do this at 17 years but cannot vote until they are 18. Provide them with information about how to enrol  and an enrolment form , Refer to the Enrol to vote page of the Australian Electoral Commission website. Help them to complete the form if needed
• has a ‘myGov account’ to access their My Health Record and My Health Record—Information for children in care
• has contact details and information about Next Step Plus, which provides assistance and support to care leavers up to 25 years of age
• has the sortli app 
• can access their kicbox account. (Make sure all relevant information is uploaded into the ‘Important documents’ section.)
• has information about any action occurring in relation to a Victim Assist Queensland application that is in progress, if applicable 
• is advised they can apply to Victim Assist Queensland in future, if they have been the victim of an act of violence and an application has not already been made, and is provided with information to support a future application. 

When the young person turns 18 years, provide them with the Letter to young person at 18 years, which:

• acknowledges their milestone birthday
• makes reference to the young person's journey and achievements while in care
• clearly states that the child protection order has expired
• outlines information about any ongoing contact with Child Safety either through 
  • a support service case
    or
  • support from Child Safety in accessing services until they turn 25 (including the telephone number to contact Child Safety)
• reminds them they will retain ‘read only’ access to view and download from their kicbox account.

Attach a certified copy of the young person's child protection order to the letter and retain the original copy on the young person's file.

Provide the young person with information from their file

If a young person requests specific information, such as details of their placement history or the location of their siblings, this can be provided as part of regular case work. If a young person requests copies of their personal documents, such as a birth certificate or case plan, these can also be provided.

If a young person requests detailed information about their personal history, including the circumstances which led to them coming into care, or asks to review their Child Safety file, consult with a senior team leader about how to release the information in a planned, supportive manner, and:

• consult with the young person’s carer about the circumstances that led to the young person making the request, and how best to support their access to the information
• review the file information before providing it to the young person, and remove information not relevant to them
• arrange a time and place to meet and review information with the young person
• meet with the young person and discuss the information being released, explaining any sensitive or confusing information
• refer the young person to a support service, such as a counsellor or psychologist, for ongoing assistance, if appropriate.

Provide a Leaving care report

The Leaving care report details the necessary information to be collated for a young person about their time in care, including details of care arrangements, schools attended, and health information. Included in the report is a Confirmation of care letter which the young person can use for official purposes, for example to:

• access Centrelink payments
• obtain support services
• apply for higher education services.

Before the young person leaves care:

• Complete the Leaving care report (including the Confirmation of care letter) outlining information about the young person’s life in care. Only record information about the young person in the Leaving care report, although information about someone else may be included if it relates to their official role, for example, carer, teacher, doctor.
• Contact the Right To Information, Information Privacy and Screening Unit on 07 3224 2242 or free call 1800 809 078 if assistance is needed to decide what information is suitable to release to the young person.
• Attach a copy of the Leaving care report (including the Confirmation of care letter) to the young person’s record in ICMS.
• Give the Leaving care report (including the Confirmation of care letter) and all relevant documents to the young person.

Provide support after the young person leaves care

After a young person leaves care or turns 18, transition to adulthood assistance and support may continue to be provided through a support service case, if there are:

• existing case plan goals and outcomes still to be achieved
  or
• important life events identified for which the young person requires ongoing support, for example, completing year 12 or applying to study at university or TAFE.

In addition, Child Safety will assist young people aged 18 up to 25 years, who have been in care, to access the necessary support and services.

When a child in care receives youth allowance or earns a wage

If a child in a foster or kinship care placement receives an Australian Government benefit such as Youth Allowance or Abstudy, or earns a wage:

• The carer will receive the fortnightly caring allowance to cover the child’s day-to-day needs, including food, clothing, hobbies, school costs, medical bills, prescriptions, and personal care items
• The child is not expected to contribute towards meeting the costs of their day-to-day needs.

A young person aged between 15 and 17 years, placed in a supported living service, may be asked to co-contribute financially towards the costs of their day-to-day living needs. This arrangement should be identified in the service agreement between the service provider and Child Safety.

If there is a dispute between the parties about financial responsibilities, convene a meeting to discuss the relevant issues.

Respond to a young person in contact with the youth justice system

A young person in contact with the youth justice system is a young person who is referred to a restorative justice conference, sentenced to a community based order or detained in a youth detention centre. It does not refer to a young person who is diverted from the youth justice system when they come to the attention of police.

If a young person subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive is also in contact with the youth justice system:

• Continue to carry out case management responsibility for responding to the child's safety, belonging and wellbeing needs.
• Participate in all youth justice processes, including the support of young people who are seeking bail following arrest. 
• Work collaboratively with the youth justice case worker to address the child's needs and support the young person in developing new behaviours.
• Consult the youth justice case worker, and where relevant, the court liaison officer
  • to provide them information about the young person
  • about who the relevant people are to attend youth justice meetings, reviews, conferences and court proceedings.
• Inform the youth justice case worker about who has custody and guardianship rights and responsibilities for the young person. (Refer to Determine who has custody or guardianship of the child.)

Coordinate service delivery to a young person in contact with the youth justice system

Coordinate service delivery with Youth Justice for the duration of the time that the young person is subject to the custody or guardianship of the chief executive and is in contact with the youth justice system. To do this:

• Work with the youth justice case worker to support a young person seeking bail following arrest.
• Provide information about the young person to the youth justice case worker, and where relevant, to the court liaison officer.
• Liaise with the court liaison officer about court appearances for the young person.
• Obtain information from Youth Justice to use in developing or reviewing the young person's case plan and invite the youth justice case worker to participate in the development or review of the young person's case plan.
• Attend relevant youth justice meetings, reviews, conferences and court proceedings.
• Make sure the needs of a young person who has been sexually abused, or has engaged in sexually abusive behaviour, are met. Clarify the responsibilities of Child Safety and Youth Justice in this regard. (Refer to When a child is sexually abused while in care, Respond when a child in care is the victim of a crime, the policy Response to children who are sexually abused while in care, and the practice kit Child sexual abuse.)

Share information with Youth Justice

Provide the following information to the youth justice case worker (and the court liaison officer, where relevant):

• detail about interventions being undertaken with the young person that may impact on youth justice service delivery
• the young person's care arrangement and contact details
• the young person’s case plan goals for the duration of youth justice intervention
• a copy of the young person's case plan, including the young person's cultural support plan, if the youth justice case worker participated in the development or review of the case plan or is responsible for implementing any of the case plan actions
• the young person's cultural support needs
• the young person's education support needs
• periods of illness or hospitalisation preventing the young person from complying with the conditions of their youth justice order or program
• a copy of alerts recorded in Unify for the young person or their family
• a copy of all critical incident reports recorded about the young person or their family for the duration of youth justice intervention. (Refer to the policy Critical incident reporting.)
• actions taken by the young person that appear inconsistent with the requirements of their youth justice order or program
• advice of the young person's return home and case closure by Child Safety.

Participate in youth justice processes

If a young person is subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive, a CSO (as determined by the CSSC manager) is required to:

• participate in the development of reports, programs or interventions ordered by the court, for example, a pre-sentence report or conditional bail program and the management of programs and interventions  
• attend all initial interviews and final reviews for a young person subject to conditional bail or remanded in custody (Refer to Support a young person seeking bail.)
• attend at least every second progress review for a young person subject to an intensive supervision order, conditional release order or conditional bail program
• attend youth detention centre progress reviews
• attend all youth justice court proceedings, to provide information about the child, their placement and case plan, unless it is agreed that a court liaison officer will attend.

Participate in non-compliance meetings

If the child’s CSO or another Child Safety practitioner is unable to attend the required meeting:

• Provide relevant information to the youth justice case worker before the meeting.
• Record the reason for a Child Safety practitioner not attending the meeting in a case note in ICMS, and document details of other actions taken.
• Liaise with the youth justice case worker afterwards to discuss the meeting outcomes and actions.

Decide the participation of parents and carers in youth justice processes

If the young person is subject to a child protection order granting guardianship to the chief executive:

• Decide if it is appropriate for the young person's parents, carer or both to attend relevant youth justice meetings and court proceedings.
• Inform the parents, carer and youth justice case worker of the decision.

Liaise with a Child Safety court liaison officer

When there is a court liaison officer attached to the court location where the young person’s youth justice matter is being heard:

• provide the allocated court liaison officer with relevant information about the young person
• consult with the allocated court liaison officer about
  • the youth justice court proceeding
  • Child Safety’s willingness to support a young person to meet the conditions of their bail
  • who will appear on behalf of Child Safety to provide a verbal submission to the court about Child Safety’s willingness to support a young person to meet the conditions of their bail - this may be the court liaison officer, CSO or senior team leader.

If support is needed regarding a young person’s youth justice court matter, but there is no court liaison officer attached to the court location where the young person’s youth justice matter is being heard, make a request for support or consultation to the Court Liaison Officer team by emailing the Court Services mailbox at yjclo@cyjma.qld.gov.au.

Take action when a young person is held in watch house custody

When informed by the QPS that a young person who is subject to the custody or guardianship of the chief executive is being held in watch house custody:

• Advise the QPS to contact
  • the young person's youth justice case worker
    or
  • the CSAHSC if it is after hours. The CSAHSC will record the information in ICMS for the relevant CSSCs and the youth justice service centre and will advise the on-call CSSC manager, if required.
• Negotiate with the youth justice case worker a joint plan for visiting and phoning the young person while they are held in watch house custody.
• Work with Youth Justice to source appropriate accommodation for the young person, if a lack of accommodation options is impacting on bail being granted.

Support a young person seeking bail

When a young person is before the court on a youth justice matter, the court is able to consider whether a parent, guardian or other person has indicated a willingness to do one or more of the following: 

• support the young person to comply with the conditions of their bail
• advise Youth Justice or the QPS of any changes in circumstances that may affect the young person’s ability to comply with the bail conditions
• advise Youth Justice or the QPS of any breaches of bail by the young person.

When a young person subject to a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive has been arrested and is seeking bail:

• Liaise closely with Youth Justice staff, legal representatives and the court liaison officer, if there is one attached to the court. (Refer to Liaise with a Child Safety court liaison officer.)
• Coordinate information sharing with Youth Justice and the court liaison officer to ensure all relevant information is available to the Childrens Court to support decision making. (Refer to Share information with Youth Justice.)
• Work collaboratively with the parents, when the young person is in the custody of the chief executive.
• Work in partnership with Youth Justice staff to provide a coordinated response for the young person and support them to lessen the risk of re-offending.
• Explore additional supports to increase the young person’s opportunity for bail if the young person’s current care arrangement affects their eligibility for bail.
• Determine who will attend the bail hearing and provide a verbal submission about Child Safety’s willingness to support a young person to meet the conditions of their bail―this may be the court liaison officer, CSO or senior team leader.

Any verbal submission made to the court by Child Safety must be reasonable and achievable and is not to include anything that is unlikely to be achieved or followed through on.

Attend a Youth Justice court proceeding for an indictable offence

In addition to the requirements in Support a young person seeking bail, when attending the youth justice court proceeding for a young person who is charged with a prescribed indictable offence and who is already on bail for an indictable offence:

• Work with Youth Justice and the court liaison officer to support the young person to show cause as to why bail should be granted. This means the young person has to show why they should get bail, rather than the prosecution arguing why they should not get bail.
• Identify members of the young person’s safety and support network who might be able to support and advocate for the young person, especially the young person's carer or residential care staff.

• Work collaboratively with Youth Justice to ensure the young person has access to support and to services that will lessen their risk of reoffending, including a critical collaborative focus on care arrangements for the young person.

Respond to a change of circumstances or a breach of bail

When Child Safety has provided a verbal submission to the Childrens Court in relation to supporting the young person to meet the conditions of their bail and there is a change in the young person’s circumstances which may affect their ability to comply with bail or the young person has breached a bail condition:

• Contact the young person’s youth justice case worker and provide them with the relevant information.
• Jointly consider whether there is a risk of the young person re-offending or a safety risk to the young person, another person or the community.
• If risk is identified, decide whether or not the matter will be reported to the QPS and if so, by whom.
• Coordinate the appropriate case work response to the young person by both Youth Justice and Child Safety.

Implement actions when a young person is subject to a detention order or remanded in custody

When a young person enters a detention centre, contact the detention centre case worker and arrange an initial visit with the young person. Give the detention centre case worker information about the young person, including:

• their strengths and needs, including as outlined in the child strengths and needs assessment
• the case plan, including the cultural support plan, education support plan, senior education and training (SET) plan, the child health passport and family contact decisions 
• the child's behavioural support plan including details of current behaviour triggers, responses and strategies
• information about who has guardianship of the young person and the implications for decision making and consent
• issues likely to impact on the young person’s safety or wellbeing, or the safety of detention centre residents or staff.

While the young person remains in the detention centre:

• Maintain regular contact with them in person (if geographically possible) or video-link through the youth detention visits centre.
• Maintain contact with the young person's carer and family.
• Liaise with the detention centre case worker to monitor the young person's progress.
• Attend or participate in case planning or review processes.
• Attend youth justice court proceedings.
• Respond to issues as requested by detention centre staff or the youth justice case worker.
• Participate in and support transition to adulthood planning, if relevant.
• Participate in and support planning for the young person’s transition from detention, including
  • making sure the young person is aware of the plan for their release from detention
  • making sure appropriate community supports are in place for the young person upon release
  • finding and assisting the young person to transition to suitable accommodation
  • working with Youth Justice to arrange for the young person’s transport when leaving the detention centre (or court) when released – this may include or Child Safety staff transporting the young person, where geographically possible and practical.

Consider the best interests and assessed needs of the young person when planning for the young person’s transition from the detention centre, including planning around accommodation and transport. Where costs will be incurred for transporting the young person (except where Child Safety transport the young person), Youth Justice will cover the cost

When the young person leaves the detention centre:

• Attend or participate in any final planning or review meeting with Youth Justice.
• Obtain relevant information from the detention centre about the young person's education and medical requirements.
• Make sure the young person's basic needs are met in a timely way.
• Consider whether the young person's change in circumstances requires a review of their case plan.

Seek prior approval of costs to be met by Child Safety

Child Safety’s responsibility for costs will depend on:

• whether the financial support is primarily
  • related to administering youth justice orders or programs
  • specific to the Child Safety case plan for addressing the young person's protection and care needs
• who has custody or guardianship of the young person.

If a dispute about financial responsibility cannot be resolved after both Youth Justice and Child Safety have considered what is in the young person’s best interests, the managers will refer the matter for a final decision to the Child Safety regional director and the Youth Justice regional director.

If a young person’s living arrangement is, or is likely to be, a component of conditional bail or a youth justice order, program proposals and associated costs to be met by Child Safety will be discussed and documented by the CSO and the youth justice case worker.

Nominated costs must be endorsed by the relevant financial delegate, before the youth justice case worker or court liaison officer makes a submission to the court.

In these circumstances:

• Inform the youth justice case worker that written approval of the proposed costs is required from the Child Safety financial delegate before a submission is made to a court.
• Seek approval for the proposed costs from the financial delegate as soon as possible.
• Once the financial delegate has made a decision, immediately inform the youth justice case worker of the outcome so that relevant court submissions can be made.
• Comply with the requirements regarding care arrangements funded through child-related costs, if relevant. (Refer to the policy Child related costs – Placement funding (628) and the procedure Child related costs―Placement funding.)

After subsequent court appearances, costs associated with the continuation or extension of existing programs require renegotiation and re-approval by the relevant financial delegate.

When a child is sexually abused while in care

Child Safety staff are responsible for providing a compassionate, trauma-informed and timely response to a child who has been sexually abused while in care, regardless of who is responsible for the sexual abuse.

This procedure operationalises the policy Response to children who have been sexually abused while in care and relates to any child who has been sexually abused while in care. The policy does not applyto adults who were former children in care, or a child who:

• is in the custody of a relative under a child protection order
• is the biological child, step-child or adopted child of an approved carer or staff member
• resides in the care environment but is not subject to statutory intervention.

Respond immediately to the child

When information is received that a child has been sexually abused while in care, respond immediately to the child by:

• believing the child’s disclosure
• responding sensitively to the disclosure
• verbally acknowledging and apologising for what has happened to them (Refer to Acknowledge the abuse and resulting harm experienced by the child.)      
• taking action to ensure the child’s immediate safety and access to support, including whether the child’s care arrangement needs to be reviewed to ensure the child’s safety.

Take action in response to the child’s disclosure

Following the immediate response to the child, take action to respond to the disclosure, for example:

• tell the child what action will be taken n an age appropriate way
• record the disclosure in line with intake procedures (Refer to Procedure 1 New child protection concerns.)
• complete either a Level 1 or level 2 critical incident report (Refer to the policy Critical incident reporting and the Critical incident report management system.)
• report the allegation to the QPS (Child Protection Act 1999, section14(2))
• undertake an investigation and assessment (if a notification or harm report) including a joint response with the QPS, if required
• ensure the child has ongoing support during any subsequent Child Safety intervention
• review the child’s case plan as outlined in Review and revise the child’s case plan to:
  • reflect and respond to any significant change to the child’s needs, including their safety needs, as a result of the sexual abuse
  • identify whether a referral to relevant counselling, therapeutic support or medical services is needed for the child, parents and their carer. 

Provide ongoing support to the child

Provide ongoing support a child who has been sexually abused while in care. To do this:

• Talk to the child, carer and parent, where appropriate, about accessing the most appropriate medical, therapeutic or behavioural support services to meet the child’s identified needs.
• Assist the child to access the help and support they need to help their recovery, as part of their case plan, for as long as is required.
• Ensure that the carer and parent, where appropriate, are referred to support services who can assist them support the child as a result of the sexual abuse.
• Ensure the child has ongoing support during any subsequent Child Safety intervention and legal or court processes.
• Acknowledge the abuse and resulting harm experienced by the child, including a genuine, meaningful, trauma-informed apology. (Refer to Acknowledge the abuse and resulting harm experienced by the child.)
• Support the child to access independent legal advice, exercise their legal rights and explore legal options for redress or compensation, including the child’s
  • eligibility for financial assistance from Victim Assist Queensland (Refer to Respond when a child in care is a victim of crime.)

  • ability to apply to the National Redress Scheme (before 30 June 2027) (Refer to National Redress Scheme.)

  • right to pursue legal remedy or compensation. (Refer to Contact Legal Services.)

Acknowledge the abuse and resulting harm experienced by the child

If it is established that a child has been sexually abused while in care, taking into account the child’s age, maturity level and cultural and linguistic background:

• provide information to the child (either verbally or in writing) about the outcome of:
  • the investigation and assessment of a notification or harm report
  • criminal or civil proceedings.
• acknowledge the emotional and psychological impact on the child and the possible resulting behaviour.
• provide the child with a genuine, meaningful, trauma-informed apology for the abuse they have experienced and the resulting harm, as well as offering the child a formal apology, either in writing or in person by a senior officer, at a time appropriate for the child.

Contact Legal Services

Contact Legal Services, if required, to:

• seek advice when a child wishes to access legal advice, including considerations as to the capacity of a child to give legal instructions, and potential legal remedies and resources
• seek advice about possible involvement in criminal or civil proceedings
• seek assistance to refer a matter to a solicitor to assess whether the child may have a valid case, and to litigate that case where it is appropriate.

National Redress Scheme

A person who was sexually abused can apply to the National Redress Scheme if:

• they experienced sexual abuse as a child (under 18 years of age)
  and
• the abuse happened before 1 July 2018
  and
  • an institution was responsible for bringing them into contact with the person who abused them
    and
  • they were born before 30 June 2010
    and
• they are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

If a child meets the criteria for the National Redress Scheme, and the child will turn 18 before 20 June 2027:

• support them to seek independent legal advice from knowmore
• contact the Redress Coordination Unit for advice about accessing knowmore.

Respond when a child is no longer subject to ongoing intervention

Child Safety has a responsibility to provide a response to a child who:

• is no longer subject to ongoing intervention (this includes children in the guardianship of a suitable person and children subject to a permanent care order) 
• has disclosed they were sexually abused while they were in care.

To ensure the child receives an appropriate response, the region that receives the information is responsible for:

• referring the matter to a RIS to assess the information and determine a response. (Refer to Procedure 1 Assess the information and decide the response.)
• confirming whether criminal or civil proceedings have commenced, including if the allegations relate to matters outside Child Safety’s legislative responsibility, and were committed by someone who is not a carer or licensed care service staff member
• contacting Legal Services for advice, if required.
• providing the child or their parent or guardian with resources or referrals to appropriate medical and therapeutic services
• completing a brief to inform the regional director of the sexual abuse of the child while in care and including
  • any actions taken to support the child
  • any advice received from Legal Services
  • a letter of regret for signing, if this is required as part of a settlement of legal proceedings 
• recording any action taken in a case note and attaching the approved regional director brief to the child’s closed ICMS event, including if relevant, a copy of the letter of regret, if one was provided.

If historical concerns are received about sexual abuse relating to an approved carer or licensed care service staff member’s actions or inactions that are identified as contributing to harm to a child, refer to Procedure 6 Respond to historical concerns.

Significant detriment to a child as a result of the actions or inactions of Child Safety

Significant detriment is defined as harm, injury or damage of a significant nature, experienced by children, leading to permanent incapacity.

If a child who has been the subject of Child Safety decision making or intervention suffers significant detriment caused by the actions or inactions of Child Safety, then Child Safety has ongoing responsibilities to the child.

The actions or inactions of Child Safety may have occurred during the decision-making process:

• in response to a report about a child or an unborn child (for example, a decision not to record a notification)
• during an investigation and assessment
• during ongoing intervention with a child subject to
  • intervention with parental agreement
  • a child protection order.

Decide if a child has experienced significant detriment

The decision about whether a child has suffered significant detriment caused by the actions or inactions of Child Safety will depend on the individual circumstances of the child, as outlined below.

Child subject to case review process

If a child has suffered significant detriment through a serious physical injury which meets the requirement for a systems and practice review, then:

• the Systems and Practice Review Committee will consider whether the harm, injury or damage of a significant nature was caused by the actions and inactions of Child Safety
• the regional director will be part of the decision making process of the Systems and Practice Review Committee
• the report will be provided to Legal Services.

Child not subject to case review process

If a child has suffered significant detriment, but not as a result of a serious physical injury (that meets the requirement for a systems and practice review), the regional director, in consultation with Legal Services, will be responsible for determining what action is required to determine if the harm, injury or damage of a significant nature was caused by the actions or inactions of Child Safety.

Record a Unify alert

Record the alert Experienced detriment by department—policy 634, in Unify following consultation with Legal Services, and with the approval of the regional director. The alert does not require a review date or an end date. Consult the CSSC manager and senior team leader to discuss what information will be recorded as part of the alert.

Meet the child’s needs

For a child subject to ongoing intervention, or to an order granting long-term guardianship to a suitable person, Child Safety has special obligations as part of the case planning and review process, or the review of a support plan (depending on the child’s age and circumstances) to ensure a focus on the child's recovery and healing. (Refer to the policy Response to children who have experienced significant detriment caused by the actions or inactions of Child Safety.)

When a child has experienced significant detriment caused by the actions or inactions of Child Safety:

• Review the child’s case plan to ensure it reflects changes to the child’s needs, the type of ongoing intervention provided by Child Safety, and any actions required to address the child’s medical, therapeutic and behavioural support needs.
• Provide the child with an apology, which acknowledges the impacts of the significant detriment on the child, or an expression of regret, as outlined in the Civil Liability Act 2003.
• Consult with Legal Services to determine the nature of Child Safety’s responsibilities in relation to matters of redress and potential compensation
• Uphold the Charter of Victims’ Rights, if the child is a victim of crime.
• Proactively provide the child, if they are a victim of crime, with information about services and financial assistance they may be eligible to receive from the Queensland Government through Victim Assist Queensland.
• Organise an application on behalf of a child identified as a victim of crime, if the child is subject to a finalised or interim child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive.

Legal Services is responsible for:

• Arranging the child’s access to independent legal advice where applicable.
• Providing information to staff about their potential involvement in criminal or civil proceedings.
• Keeping relevant officers informed about the progress of any specific matter.

Respond when a child is missing

Child Safety staff will need to respond to situations where a child in care is missing from where they live.

When a child is abducted

If you know or reasonably suspect a child has been abducted, contact the QPS immediately by calling 000.

Then contact the direct carer and make sure the CSSC or the CSAHSC (if after hours) has been advised.

When a child is absent

In some circumstances, a child may be absent from where they should be for a short period and then return. They may be testing the boundaries or have become side-tracked on their way home.

It is important that the child’s direct carer undertakes actions that a reasonable parent would to quickly establish the child’s location and their safe return. This includes:

• searching the house and premises, including the garage, grounds and surrounding area
• asking friends or neighbours if they have seen the child
• contacting the child’s school and asking if they have information about the child’s whereabouts
• checking places the child frequently attends, such as shops, parks, friends’ homes and other special places they may go
• alerting the child’s friends and networks that they are looking for the child and seeking their assistance to find the child―if appropriate to do so
• engaging with other members of the child’s safety and support network.

It may be appropriate to contact the child’s parents or family members to ask if the child has been in contact with them or if they know where they are. It may be preferable for the CSO to do this rather than the direct carer.

If a child is frequently absent from their placement, develop a Safety and support plan with the child and their safety and support network. (Refer to the practice guide Safety and support networks and high intensity responses.)

When developing the safety and support plan with a young person:

• have an open and clear discussion about their reasons (or any triggers they have) for leaving their care arrangement
• talk about unsafe places and clearly explain why they are unsafe
• discuss why Child Safety is worried about the young person leaving the care arrangement
• discuss the risks and impacts of alcohol and drug use and unsafe sex practices
• identify resources that can be used to advise of their whereabouts and seek assistance (mobile phone, go card, important phone numbers, health service contacts)
• help the young person identify and record safe network members and safe places they can go to get assistance.

When a child is missing

Responding quickly and appropriately when a child is missing is vital, even if the child has only been missing for a short period. It is important that the child’s direct carer initiates action that any reasonable parent would take to secure the child’s safe and timely return.

Additional responsibilities of the CSO

When a child is missing, the CSO has the responsibility to: 

• communicate with the child’s direct carer to confirm who will complete the following actions where they have not already occurred
  • alert the child’s parent’s and networks that the child is being looked for and their assistance with finding the child is being sought, unless
    • it is not reasonably practicable to do so
    • it would potentially threaten the child’s safety and wellbeing
  • contact the child’s school, if relevant, to gather information about the child’s attendance and other contextual information
  • complete or assist in completing the Missing child checklist and make sure the QPS are provided with as much relevant information as possible about the child to complete the official missing person report
  • complete the official missing person report with the QPS
• identify factors that may increase the missing child’s level of risk or vulnerability, such as
  • medical conditions or developmental disorders
  • the impact of not taking prescribed medications
  • suicide risk or self-harm behaviours
  • substance or alcohol misuse
  • recent situational anxieties or triggers for the child. (Refer to Make a missing person report.)
• provide immediate verbal advice to the CSSC manager and/or the CSAHSC manager
• create a Missing child alert in the child’s person profile in Unify and close the alert when the child is located
• complete a critical incident report through the Critical incident report management system in line with the Critical incident report management system - guidelines for users
• provide advice to the CSAHSC about where the child will live if located after hours
• refer the matter to the SCAN coordinator, in line with the Appendix 4: SCAN team response protocol―when a child in care is missing  
• advise the OPG that a child is missing as soon as possible, and within one business day of receiving advice about a missing child. This is in line with the MOU Data Exchange and Information Sharing between State of Queensland acting through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (Child Safety) and The Office of the Public Guardian.

Responsibilities of the CSSC or CSAHSC manager

The CSSC manager or the CSAHSC manager will provide guidance and support to staff and make sure all actions (as required by the policy Critical incident reporting) are completed in a timely way:

• A level one type critical incident (such as abduction of a child) requires immediate verbal advice to the regional director, and the completion of a critical incident report within 4 business hours of the staff member becoming aware of the incident.
• A level two type critical incident (such as a missing child) requires a critical incident report be completed by 5pm of the next business day after the staff member becomes aware of the incident.

The CSSC manager or the CSAHSC manager will also liaise with the regional director about which information is suitable for publication. This will include the privacy provisions (including the Child Protection Act 1999, section 189) with which the direct carers need to comply.

Responsibilities of the regional director

The regional director is responsible for:

• providing advice of a level one type critical incident as soon as practical to the regional executive director
• exercising the statutory delegation to authorise the publication of information that will or is likely to identify a missing child as being subject to intervention under the Child Protection Act 1999
• responding to requests for media statements, such as an ‘Amber Alert’, and leading the development of a media strategy in consultation with the QPS and the direct carer.

Responsibilities of the Office of the Public Guardian

The OPG is required to advise Child Safety that a child is missing as soon as possible, and within 1 business day of receiving advice about a missing child.

Notification is to be provided to a RIS or the CSAHSC, unless the OPG knows Child Safety has already been informed that the child is missing.

Make a missing person report

Provide as much relevant information to the QPS as soon as possible to assist them in making a risk assessment and locating the missing child. The Missing child checklist must be completed to assist in providing the QPS with the information they require. (It does not replace the need to make a missing person report.) 

If any information listed on the checklist is not known, provide it later. The absence of information should not delay immediate action.

The checklist can be completed online or manually. It can also be pre-populated in advance and kept in a safe place, particularly if there have been previous incidents of the child being missing.

If the direct carer completes the checklist, the CSO will review it as soon as possible and identify if there is additional information they can provide directly to the QPS. This is likely to be after the direct carer has contacted the QPS. 

After making the official missing person report, the direct carer will obtain and record the following details:

• the date and time the missing person report was made
• the name of the police officer who received the missing person report
• the QPRIME number―obtained from the police officer who took the report.

As soon as practical, the direct carer must provide these details to their care service and the CSSC (or to the CSAHSC if outside business hours). The CSO will record the details in the Missing child alert in the child’s person record in ICMS.

Access Our Child to help locate a missing child

The information in Our Child is the most recent available from:

• Unify (Child Safety and Youth Justice)
• the Department of Education’s information system One School. (Note: if the child is not enrolled in a state school, Our Child will show education-related information from Unify)
• the OPG’s Jigsaw system
• Queensland Health’s client systems.

Information about a child subject to any of the following intervention types can be searched for in  Our Child if the child has been reported as missing to the QPS:

• a care agreement
• a TAO, TCO or CAO―if custody is granted to the chief executive
• a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive (including interim orders)
• a child protection order granting permanent care or long-term guardianship to a suitable person
• an interstate order (if the child is in care and residing in Queensland).

Records relating to a child subject to a permanent care order cannot be accessed in Our Child.

When to access Our Child

Information available in Our Child is subject to strict confidentiality provisions under Queensland legislation and may only be accessed when it is relevant to a function that a staff member is performing under the Child Protection Act 1999.

Our Child may be accessed by CSSC or CSAHSC staff who are actively involved in locating the missing child or in managing the critical incident. Our Child will be used to gather information to assist in:

• establishing the child’s whereabouts
• determining the child’s safety and wellbeing
• ascertaining why the child may have left or not returned to the care arrangement.

When seeking access to Our Child, Child Safety staff will be asked to enter a justification for their access. The justification for access must include the user’s role in searching for the missing child and the child’s name or Unify ID. For example:

• ‘Managing the search for John Smith 52345789W, who has been reported to the QPS as missing
  or
• ‘Assisting in the search for John Smith 52345789W, who has been reported to the QPS as missing’.

Clients with a sensitivity plan

Both Child Safety and the QPS can view information in Our Child about a child who has a sensitivity plan. A sensitivity flag will appear in Our Child to indicate that the child has a sensitivity plan with Child Safety.

Involvement of the mainstream media

The QPS is responsible for decisions about releasing information to the mainstream media (newspapers, television and radio) to help locate the child, including the issuing of an ‘Amber Alert’

Release of a photograph and information about the missing child

The direct carer should, where possible, provide a clear, recent photograph of the missing child to the QPS if requested, to assist in efforts to locate the child.

If the QPS needs to release additional information with the photograph that will identify the missing child as being subject to any intervention under the Child Protection Act 1999, the QPS must seek written authorisation from the chief executive, Child Safety. The regional director and regional executive director are delegated to provide written authority in these circumstances.

Publish a photo to social media

A photo of the missing child may be published on social media by any member of the safety and support network or the QPS, as long as the child is not identified as being subject to intervention under the Child Protection Act 1999. For example:

• It is acceptable to publish a photo on Facebook with the caption ‘Johnny Smith, a member of my son's football team, is missing. Here is his photo.’  This does not and is not likely to identify him as a child in care, nor does it identify anyone else.
• It is not acceptable to publish a photo on Facebook with the caption ‘Here is a photo of Johnny Smith, a foster child I am caring for who is missing’. This identifies him as a child in care.

While the child remains missing

While the child is missing:

• Maintain regular contact with the QPS and provide additional information as requested or required.
• Continue to support the direct carer and the QPS in identifying places the child frequently goes.
• Maintain contact with the child’s family, friends and networks, including previous carers, to determine if the child has been located or to identify additional locations the child may be.
• Take other action to locate the child, such as trying to make telephone contact and leaving messages on the child’s voicemail and on other social networking sites used by the child.
• Cooperate with the QPS about media coverage, including for ‘Amber Alerts’, and in providing information to the regional director for their consideration and action.
• Assist the regional director in working with the QPS on a media strategy, which will likely include consultation with the child’s direct carer and, if appropriate, the child’s parents.

When the child is located

In addition:

• Advise all members of the safety and support network who were aware the child was missing that the child has been located.
• Meet with the child within 48 hours of them being located. This may occur jointly with the QPS. The purpose of the meeting is to
  • encourage the child to talk about any difficulties they may have or are experiencing, including any adverse physical or psychological experiences
  • identify if the child was ‘running away from’ or ‘running to’ someone or something
  • explore any worries the child may have about their current living arrangement
  • help the child to be safe and feel safe where they live.  
• Meet with the safety and support network to
  • discuss the reasons the child went missing
  • identify any actions needed to support the child’s safety and ongoing wellbeing and to reduce the likelihood of the child going missing again.
• Close the Missing child alert in Unify by recording an end date for the alert.

When a child is frequently missing

If a child is frequently missing from their care arrangement, work with the child and the child’s safety and support network to develop a Safety and support plan. (Refer to When a child is absent.)

The child’s safety and support network will identify:

• strategies to reduce the likelihood of the child going missing again
• actions required when the child is missing.

Partner with the child and their safety and support network to review the placement agreement, safety and support plan and the child’s case plan.

Respond when a warrant for a child is required

Determine if a warrant is needed

The decision to apply for a warrant to apprehend a child in line with the Child Protection Act 1999, sections 171–174 is appropriate if a child:

• is subject to an assessment order, TCO or child protection order granting custody or guardianship of the chief executive and an authorised officer has not been able to take the child into custody
• has been unlawfully removed from a person’s custody or guardianship under the Child Protection Act 1999
• has been lawfully removed from a person’s custody or guardianship under the Child Protection Act 1999  but has been kept after the agreed time. 

In order to issue a warrant, the magistrate needs to be satisfied that one of the above circumstances applies.

Before a decision is made to apply for a warrant:

• Contact the person who has the child unlawfully in their care and 
  • gather information about the child’s whereabouts and their wellbeing 
  • attempt to negotiate the child’s return
  • explain that, by unlawfully removing the child, they are in breach of the order.
• Discuss with the senior team leader and the OCFOS lawyer whether an application for a warrant is needed.

Complete an application for a warrant

To apply for a warrant, the CSO will:

• complete a Form 27―Application for warrant for apprehension of a child, clearly stating the grounds for the application, including
  • the child’s circumstances
  • the type of order the child is subject to, the child’s care arrangement and family contact arrangements
  • any worries about the immediate health or wellbeing of the child, such as a diagnosed health condition
  • any documents that have been provided to the person who has unlawfully removed or kept the child, for example, a copy of the order
  • whether the person who has apprehended the child has participated in previous discussions about the child’s care arrangement and family contact arrangements
  • attempts made to negotiate the return or recovery of the child
• arrange for the OCFOS lawyer to review the application
• swear or affirm the application.

Duplicate the warrant if required

If the Childrens Court has issued a warrant, but a copy cannot be physically provided to the CSO or the OCFOS lawyer due to urgent or other special circumstances, the Childrens Court will inform the CSO and the OCFOS lawyer of:

• the date and time the warrant was issued
• any other terms of the warrant.

The CSO will:

• complete a blank Form 28―Warrant for apprehension of a child and include the details about the warrant provided by the Childrens Court to create a duplicate warrant
• send the completed Form 28 and Form 27 to the Childrens Court.

Enact the warrant 

After receiving the original warrant or creating a duplicate warrant:

• Contact the local QPS to provide them with notice that a warrant is required to be enacted.
• Complete a Police referral and email the referral and a copy of the warrant to the QPS
• Liaise with the QPS to jointly execute the warrant to recover the child.

Before entering a place where the child is believed to be, the CSO will:

• Show Child Safety identification to whoever is occupying the place where the child is believed to be.
• Give the person a copy of the warrant or duplicate warrant.
• Request that the person allows access to the place where the child is.
• Explain that they and the police officer are legally authorised by the warrant to enter and search the place to find the child.

When the child is located:

• Attend to the child’s immediate safety needs and arrange medical attention if required.
• Explain to the child what is happening and what will happen next, considering their age and ability to understand.

Take action after the serious injury of a child

In line with the memorandum of understanding between Child Safety and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), the CSO must advise the OPG as soon as possible, or within one business day, if information is received about serious injury to a ‘relevant child’ staying at a visitable location. (A child subject to a child protection order is included in the definition of ‘relevant child’.)

Provide the information by emailing and telephoning the relevant OPG regional visiting manager. (Refer to the OPG—Regional visiting manager contact details.)

Take action after the death of a child in care

The death of a child in care must be reported directly to the QPS by:

• Child Safety, if the child dies at the carer's home or another location, including the parent's home, a licensed care service or another entity
• the hospital, if the child dies in hospital.

The QPS is responsible for advising the coroner of the child's death. This includes circumstances where the death was:

• natural, due to acute or long-term illness
  or
• unnatural, due to accident, suicide or homicide.

Make sure the parents know their rights and responsibilities

Make sure the child’s parents are aware that, upon their child’s death, the powers, duties and responsibilities granted to the chief executive or another person under the Child Protection Act 1999 cease and revert back to them as the child's parents. If one parent cannot be located, the other parent may assume responsibility for decision making.

Although parents may nominate a family member or significant other to act on their behalf in carrying out certain duties and obligations after the child’s death, only a parent can make decisions or undertake actions that require the legal consent or authority of the child's guardian.

In all matters regarding the child's death and funeral arrangements, be respectful of and sensitive to the child's cultural and religious background. Assist parents to communicate their wishes so that cultural and religious protocols and practices can be considered. This may require the engagement of an interpreter.

Implement actions after the death of a child in care

Due to the sensitivities associated with the death of a child and the complexities that may arise with the parents assuming responsibility for decisions after the child’s death (including arrangements for the child's body), the CSSC manager is responsible for:

• selecting the most appropriate Child Safety practitioner to carry out actions required after the child’s death
• making sure all necessary actions are completed.

Immediately after the child’s death:

• Take action in line with critical incident reporting processes. (Refer to the policy Critical incident reporting.)
• In communicating the child’s death to the parents and family of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child contact a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander support agency or Child Safety staff member able to provide cultural advice, to make sure protocols are observed.
• Make every effort to locate and inform both parents of the child's death and support them in assuming responsibility for decisions about arrangements for the child's body and the funeral.
• Make sure the parents and carers are aware of the requirements of the Coroners Act 2003 for reportable deaths.
• Inform the parents that the coroner may decide an autopsy or inquest is required to determine the cause of death. Let them know that if this occurs, it may delay the release of the child's body for the funeral.
• Refer the parents to the coroner's office if they have any questions about the coroner's role in relation to the death.
• Make sure that hospital staff report the death to the QPS if the child dies in a hospital, or inform the QPS of the child's death yourself.
• Provide the QPS with
  • contact details for the child's parents
  • contact details for the child's doctor
  • details of the child's most recent care arrangement
  • confirmation that the child was in care.
• Advise the QPS, medical staff and carers that the parents are responsible for decisions about arrangements for the child's body, subject to any direction by the coroner that an autopsy is required.
• Liaise with the QPS, parents and carers regarding
  • the formal identification of the body. Note—if a parent is unable to formally identify the child because they have not maintained contact with the child, the carer or a Child Safety practitioner may be required to make the identification
  • the attendance of a medical doctor for the purpose of issuing a death certificate certifying the cause of death
  • arrangements for transporting the child's body to the mortuary.
• Inform OCFOS of the child's death if the child was subject to current court proceedings.
• Inform Court Services of the child’s death if the child was subject to current Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) proceedings.
• If the child has died as a result of abuse, record the alert Child death - result of harm on the child's person profile in Unify and record the alert Member of a family - child death - result of harm to the child's immediate family members on their person profile in Unify.

At an appropriate time, advise the parents and carers about Child Safety’s requirements for child death case reviews.

Within one business day of being notified of the child’s death, notify the OPG of the child’s death by emailing and telephoning the relevant regional visiting manager. (Refer to OPG—Regional visiting manager contact details.)

Hospital staff may ask the parents to consider organ or tissue donation, for live transplant or other therapeutic, medical or scientific purposes. Only the parents can make this decision.

If both parents are unable to be located or are unable or unwilling to make decisions about the care of the child’s body and funeral arrangements, the CSSC manager will immediately contact the OCFOS lawyer to discuss the requirements for an application to the Supreme Court of Queensland for an order to attend to matters relevant to the child's circumstances.

Provide support and assistance

Following the death of a child:

• Make sure the parents are provided with information about, or access to, people or services available to assist them in making relevant decisions and in dealing with their grief.
• Provide support and assistance, including grief counselling, to the child's siblings and carers and their family members.
• Encourage parents to allow carers to spend time with the deceased child, particularly if the death has occurred in hospital.
• Provide access to debriefing and support services for Child Safety staff who have been actively involved in providing services to the child prior to the child’s death.

Assist parents with the funeral arrangements

When the funeral is being arranged:

• The wishes of the parents regarding the child’s funeral arrangements are to be respected and will take precedence in all cases.
• The CSO may assist parents with making funeral arrangements, if requested.
• Siblings of the deceased child who are in care should be helped to attend the funeral, provided this is in keeping with the parents’ wishes.
• Seek the parents’ views about Child Safety staff attending the funeral.

Encourage parents to consider the involvement of carers in funeral arrangements

In circumstances where the child has been placed with carers for a significant period of time, encourage the parents to consider and involve the carers and their family members in funeral arrangements. In all cases, however, such involvement is at the parents’ discretion.

Advise carers in serious dispute with proposed funeral arrangements that they can make application to the Supreme Court of Queensland to adjudicate the matter.

If carers and significant others are unable to attend the child’s funeral, due to distance or the wishes of one or both parents, Child Safety may arrange, or assist to arrange, a memorial service to enable carers, past and present, their family members and other people to pay their respects to the child. If appropriate, advise the parents of the arrangements.

Inform parents of available financial assistance

Advise the parents that financial assistance is available from Child Safety for the costs associated with the funeral of a child in care, including for:

• transporting the child's body from the place of death to where the funeral will be held
• assistance with travel costs for family members, carers and their family members and other important people to attend the funeral, subject to the parents’ wishes.

(Refer to the procedure Child related costs—child and young person support.)

Attend to the child's belongings and personal effects

The child's parents are responsible for decisions about the handling of the child's belongings and personal effects. To facilitate this process:

• Seek the parents’ views regarding the handling of the child's belongings and personal effects and inform the parents of any views expressed by the child about these before their death.
• Contact the carer to make arrangements to transfer the child's belongings to the parents, unless otherwise advised by the parents.
• Collect the child's belongings if located elsewhere, and give them to the parents, unless otherwise advised by the parents.

Record case information

Record all details, decisions and actions relating to the child's death and post-death care and attach relevant documentation to the child's file.

When adding information to the case file after the child’s death―about events and actions that occurred before the child’s death:

• Clearly state
  • that the information has been recorded after the child’s death
  • why the information was added after the child’s death
  • if the information is based on memory and not from a document.
• Attach any records, including handwritten notes relied upon in recording the information on the child’s file.