Marianne Richards Marianne Richards Care & Protection Coordinator Care & Protection Coordinator Conferencing Unit Conferencing Unit Youth Court of South Youth Court of South Australia Australia FAMILY CARE MEETINGS FAMILY CARE MEETINGS A collaborative approach A collaborative approach in addressing long term in addressing long term child protection child protection
36
Embed
Marianne Richards Care & Protection Coordinator Conferencing Unit Youth Court of South Australia FAMILY CARE MEETINGS A collaborative approach in addressing.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Marianne RichardsMarianne Richards
Care & Protection CoordinatorCare & Protection Coordinator
Conferencing UnitConferencing Unit
Youth Court of South AustraliaYouth Court of South Australia
Section 28“The purpose of a family care meeting is to provide a proper opportunity for a child’s family, in conjunction with a Care and Protection Coordinator –
(a) to make informed decisions as to the arrangements for best securing the care and protection of the child; and
(b) To review those arrangements from time to time”
Conferencing Unit StatisticsConferencing Unit Statistics • Conferencing Unit
(care and protection)
– Referrals
– Outcomes
– Timeline
Total Referrals
Intensive Placement Prevention
Valid Plans
Finalised within 8 weeks
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Family Care MeetingsFamily Care Meetings
Family Decision Making ModelFamily Decision Making Model
• Family care meetings are based on the belief
that:
− Families, and extended families should be involved in the decision making
process, because they know what they are capable of achieving.
− Families have strengths to contribute
− The family knows the best way of dealing with the cultural values and beliefs in relation to the child.
EmpowermentEmpowerment
• Encouraging responsibility
• Building on strengths
• Participation
• Inclusion
Family Care MeetingsFamily Care MeetingsJurisdictionJurisdiction
The Care and Protection commenced operations in 1995 and deals with child protection matters referred to it by Families SA and the Youth Court.
Care and Protection convenes Family Care Meetings, to provide families with the opportunity to come up with their own plan to ensure the safety and protection of the children concerned.
Family Care MeetingsFamily Care Meetings
Restorative PracticesRestorative Practices
• Individuals and families make important
decisions about issues that effect their lives
• Professionals facilitate rather than impose
• Government does things WITH people rather
than TO them or FOR them
Family Care MeetingsFamily Care Meetings
DiversionDiversion
• Diverting from court, before court applications
• Reducing number of hearings
• Reducing number of contested applications
• Reducing number of orders made
• Reducing the number of children removed from their family home
Families SAFamilies SA
Receive notifications of abuse, Investigate and assess, confirm abuse Removal of children at risk Refer for Family Care Meeting Apply to Youth Court for Care & Protection Orders Place children in foster (alternative) care Refer families to support services Provide financial assistance
Families SA / Intensive Families SA / Intensive Placement PreventionPlacement Prevention
Background to the initiation/ implementation of Intensive Placement Prevention model
HOW WHY COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE
Intensive Prevention PlacementIntensive Prevention PlacementService Service
What it is?
• Intensive provision of both therapeutic and cognitive interventions and practical support within the family home
• Delivered by non government service providers in partnership with Families SA.
• May include a Families SA Anti-Poverty worker
(financial counselling and assistance).
• Home based service provision.
Referral agencies for Intensive Referral agencies for Intensive Placement ProgramPlacement Program
Delivered by non government service providers in partnership with Families SA.
Anglicare – Elizabeth & Salisbury, Adelaide
Centacare – Port Augusta
Available in 4 metropolitan and 2 country locations
Development of a Case Plan in partnership with the family, utilising a strengths
based approach.
ProceduresProcedures
• Preparation
• The meeting
• Follow up
Preparation: Coordinator's Preparation: Coordinator's responsibilities under the Actresponsibilities under the Act
Before the meeting
• Set date and place in consultation with family
• Decide who to invite
• Appoint child advocate
• Invite a Cultural Representative if required
• Ensure sufficient information is provided to participants
Family participantsFamily participants
• This may include extended family members i.e. aunt, uncle, grandparent
• Support people – close friend, advocate, agency.
• Coordinator will discuss the role of each invited participant will have within the meeting.
Child AdvocateChild Advocate
S 29 (2). The coordinator must arrange for a suitable person to act as advocate for the child at the meeting, unless satisfied that the child has made an independent decision to waive his or her right to be so represented.