Support a care arrangement

Child Safety, foster and kinship care services, approved carers and non-family-based care service providers have common responsibilities for children in care.

Further reading

The Statement of commitment to Queensland's foster and kinship carers outlines Child Safety's commitment to the work in partnership with Queensland's family-based carers.

Child Safety will work in partnership with the child’s care arrangement to implement and achieve the agreed goal and outcomes of the child’s case plan. This may include collaborating to:

• Establish the child's safety and support network, if one is currently not in place. Refer to the practice guide Safety and support networks and high intensity responses.
• Ensure the carer, their support worker or a representative from the non-family-based care service provider is included in the membership of the child’s safety and support network.
• Schedule placement meetings to occur at least every 6 months, or as required if there is a change in the child’s care needs or care arrangement. Refer to Arrange the placement meeting.
• Co-ordinate service delivery and network responsibilities to provide the best response to the child.
• Identify and address concerns about the child or care arrangement, should they arise. Refer to Respond to concerns about the standards of care or harm to a child in care.

Arrange to meet with the carer, their support worker or non-family-based care service providers at regular intervals to ensure the placement agreement:

• provides those responsible for the child’s daily care with the most recent information about the child’s needs
• responds to the need for additional supports to meet the child’s needs or to assist those caring for the child to meet the child’s needs
• reflects the changing family contact schedules and cultural contact arrangements
• shares responsibility for meeting the child’s needs
• helps the parties to be clear about their role and responsibilities, and that of others in the child’s safety and support network.

Provide updated information relevant to the child’s ongoing care

After a carer commences caring for a child, the Child Protection Act 1999, section 83A(2) requires carers to be provided with information about a child that they reasonably need to provide for the child’s going care. If it is reasonably required, provide the carer with information:

• that updates or corrects information previously given
• a copy of the child’s case plan
• about the child's goals, personality preferences and behaviours
• about any special behaviour management needs of the child
• about the child’s family, culture and background
• about any arrangements for contact between the child and the child’s family group
• about the child’s specific needs including cultural needs, educational needs and support needs, if applicable
• other relevant information.

Provide the carer with comprehensive information in a way that is easy for the carer to understand, Child Protection Act 1999, section 83A(6).

Respond proactively to emerging issues

If emerging issues about a child’s care arrangement are identified that do not require a standard of care consultation meeting (SOC consultation meeting) with the service provider to discuss a standard of care review or harm report, respond proactively to ensure the identified issue does not continue or escalate.

Attention

An early and targeted response to emerging issues in a care arrangment is likely help the stability of the care arrangement and assist in maintaining the required standards of care for the child.

Discuss the emerging issues with the senior team leader for their decision about the next steps. Also make sure:

• the placement agreement is current, and whether an early review of the placement agreement may be required (Refer to Review the placement agreement.)
• that any agreed actions and supports identified at the placement meeting have been completed or are being actioned by those responsible for them (and if not, address the outstanding actions as soon as possible)
• to review the adequacy of contact with the child and their carer or care arrangement (refer to Procedure 5 Have contact with a child in care) and the nature of the support being provided to the care arrangement.

Practice prompt

If the information indicates that the standards of care may not have been met, or a child may have experienced harm caused by the actions or inactions of a carer, adult household member or non-family-based care staff member, arrange a SOC consultation meeting and work collaboratively with the service provider. (Refer to Respond to concerns about the standards of care or harm to a child in care.)

Discuss the emerging issues with the carer’s support worker from the foster and kinship care service provider, or the manager or coordinator of the service for a non-family-based care arrangement.

The purpose of the discussion is to:

• identify the additional supports or strategies that can be quickly mobilised to address the emerging issues (Refer to Provide support to the carer.)
• clarify who will be responsible for putting these supports and strategies in place.

Document the discussion in an ICMS case note, Care arrangement support, in the child’s placement event.

Note

The service provider is primarily responsible for discussing the emerging issues with the carer. This discussion will focus on:

• the support needs of the carer or the supervision for the staff member of a non-family-based care service
• the learning and development needs of the carer or staff member, including the provision of support and supervision to implement the associated skills and knowledge.

Child Safety is responsible for:

• implementing and co-ordinating services to meet the goals and outcomes of the child’s case plan
• developing a placement agreement with the child’s carer and their support worker from the foster and kinship care service (or the non-family-based service provider)
• ensuring the carer or non-family-based care service have the necessary support and information to meet the child’s daily care needs.

Where relevant, consider and address any systemic matters that may be contributing to the emerging issues, such as:

• the number of children placed in the care arrangement and the complexity of their needs
• the provision of and access to support and training for either the carers or the staff member of a non-family-based service provider
• whether the care arrangement has been provided with all the relevant information about the child’s needs and behaviours (Refer to Prepare the care arrangement for the child’s arrival.)
• actions about the matching of the child’s needs and characteristics with the carer’s capacity and capability to meet the child’s needs. (Refer to the policy Foster care matching: a partnership approach.)

Further reading

Fulfil legislative requirements in relation to placement agreements

The Child Protection Act 1999, section 84, requires Child Safety and an approved carer to enter into a written agreement regarding a child's care when a child is subject to a:

• care agreement, assessment order or temporary custody order
• a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive
  and
• the child is placed with, or is to be placed with:
  • a foster, kinship or provisionally approved carer
  • a non-family-based service provider (Refer to Types of Care arrangements.)
  • another entity who has been issued with an authority to care for the child—such as a care arrangement with an Individualised placement and support agreement or one funded through child related costs.

  The Child Protection Regulation 2023, section 5, prescribes the information that must be included in the written placement agreement. The following table below sets out these requirements.

  Placement agreement inclusions Further information

  The intended length of the care arrangement

  Child Protection Act 1999, section 5(2)(e), the connection principle
  and Practice kit, Care arrangements, Cultural support plans
  and Procedure 5 Develop a support plan

  Practice prompt

  Record the arrangements for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child’s connection with their family, community, language and tradition or Island custom in the Child strengths and needs section of the placement agreement, specifically CSN6 cultural identity.

  For a child without a completed Child strengths and needs assessment, record this information in the Other arrangements section of the placement agreement.

  Negotiate the placement agreement

  The placement agreement is developed in collaboration with the child’s carer and their support worker from the foster and kinship care service, or for a child placed in a non-family-based care arrangement, with the manager or coordinator of that service. Where possible, arrange a placement meeting to negotiate and develop the placement agreement.

  Consider inviting the young person to attend or contribute to the placement meeting, particularly if they are transitioning to adulthood. (Refer to Procedure 5 Support a young person’s transition to adulthood.)

  If one of the parties is unable to attend the placement meeting in person, advise them that arrangements can be made to enable them to take part using audio or video conferencing, or by telephone.

  Prepare for the placement meeting

  Before holding the placement meeting, gather the following information to help develop the placement agreement:

  • actions outlined in the child’s case plan that are relevant to the care arrangement (family contact arrangements, cultural support, educational needs, medical and therapeutic services accessed etc)
  • the child’s level of support needs as referenced in the care arrangements referral—refer to Determine the child’s level of support needs
  • the Child strength and needs assessment in ICMS, taking in to account any changes to the child’s needs since its completion
  • any worries the child may have about the care arrangement—refer to Prepare child for the care arrangement
  • information provided about the child by the former care arrangement (if applicable)—refer to the Conclusion of care arrangement form
  • the supports and strategies requested by family-based care service provider or the non-family-based care service provider as part of their offer to care for the child—refer to Review offers from service providers
  • issues that may have emerged since the time the child’s care arrangement was negotiated that need to be shared with meeting participants.

  Tip

  Wherever possible, discuss requests for Child Safety to provide financial or other supports with the delegated officer prior the placement meeting.

  If the child has complex or extreme support needs, consider asking the region’s Investment and partnership team for information about the nature of the service providers funding, such as the funding to provide high-plus places, wrap-around supports, flexible funding or intensive foster care services. Ask the service provider what additional supports they are providing to the care arrangement or could provide from such funding.

  If the placement meeting is to review a placement agreement for an ongoing care arrangement, refer to Prepare for the placement meeting to review the placement agreement.

  Arrange the placement meeting

  Arrange a suitable time and location for the placement meeting, preferably before the child’s care arrangement commences. If it is not possible to complete the placement agreement before the placement commences, arrange a placement meeting within 3 business days of the care arrangement commencing.

  If a placement meeting cannot be held within 3 business days, make sure the carer and their foster and kinship care service provider, or the non-family-based care service provider, has been provided with all the necessary information and documentation to meet the child’s daily care needs, including the:

  • authority to care form
  • child information form
  • child health passport folder
  • Medicare card or Medicare care card number
  • information from the child’s case plan relevant to the care arrangement
  • Conclusion of care arrangement form, if provided by the former care arrangement.

  Arrange a placement meeting even if there is limited available information about the child and their needs – such as when a child has come into contact with Child Safety in urgent circumstances. Schedule another placement meeting to review the placement agreement within a short timeframe, when more information is known about the child’s care needs. Refer to When to undertake an early review of the placement agreement.

  Tip

  If agreed to by the parties, the placement meeting may be arranged or facilitated by the family-based or non-family-based care service provider. Child Safety’s participation in the meeting is still required.

  Develop the placement agreement

  Provide the carer and the family-based or non-family-based care service provider with the opportunity to:

  • raise any concerns for the child’s safety or the safety of others in the care arrangement
  • seek additional information about the child’s health, particularly any immediate health care needs, immunisations, allergies, and prescribed medications
  • discuss the management of the child’s high-risk behaviours, if applicable
  • suggest additional supports that may assist the child or them to meet the child’s specific needs in the care arrangement.

  Further reading

  Practice guide Positive behaviour support and managing high risk behaviour.

  In addition, discuss as relevant:

  • each of the matters specified in the Child Protection Regulation 2023, section 5. (Refer to Fulfil legislative requirements in relation to placement agreements.)
  • for a carer who is a member of the child’s family, any support needs associated with their dual role
  • information from other agencies involved with the child, including education services, therapeutic services, and the child’s NDIS service providers
  • the frequency and purpose of the CSOs contact with the child in the care arrangement
  • the additional supports to be provided by the service provider—such as those associated with an intensive foster and kinship care program, high-plus funding or the payment of child related costs directly to the service provider.

  Attention

  During the placement meeting maintain the confidentiality of personal information about the child or parents that is not directly relevant to ensuring the child’s safety, belonging and wellbeing, or the safety of other members of the carer's household.

  Record the placement agreement

  Create a Placement agreement in the child’s placement event in ICMS and record the details of the placement meeting.

  Provide a copy of the placement agreement to the carer and their support worker from the family-based care service, and for a child in a non-family-based care arrangement, to the manager or coordinator of the service. Make sure this occurs in a timely way so that the participants have immediate access to the information in the agreement to help them work with the child and support the care arrangement.

  Tip

  If a carer is using the Carer Connect App, the carer can directly access their placement agreement recorded in ICMS—refer to Carer Connect.

  Review the placement agreement

  The placement agreement will be reviewed, with the carer and their support worker from the family-based care service provider, or the non-family-based service provider, at least every 6 months.

  The review ensures the placement agreement provides up to date information, reflects the current supports needs and is consistent with the child’s case plan. This review may occur before, during, or after a family group meeting or a review of the child’s case plan. (Refer to Procedure 5 Case planning.)

  The placement agreement may need to be reviewed before 6 months if a child’s needs or case plan significantly changes. An early review may be triggered for a range of reasons, including those outlined in the table below.

  When to undertake an early review of the placement agreement

  Reason	Explanation
  One of the parties to the agreement requests an early review.	The carer, service provider or Child Safety identifies the current agreement no longer adequately supports the care arrangement.
  The current agreement was developed in urgent circumstances when limited information was available.	More information becomes known about the child's circumstances that needs to be provided to the carer or service provider so that the child's needs can be supported in the care arrangement.
  There is a low match between the child’s needs and the current care arrangement’s skills and experience in meeting the specific needs.	Additional supports or strategies may be required to enhance the care arrangement’s ability to meet the child’s needs.
  The care arrangement is not subject to licensing or to HSQF certification.	Care arrangements made with another entity (refer to Place a child with another entity), or the Emergent accommodation procedure, may require additional oversight.
  The care arrangement is under stress and needs support to be maintained.	To identify and coordinate additional supports in a timely manner to reduce the likelihood of an unplanned ending to the care arrangement.
  There are continuing concerns about the quality of care the child is receiving.	To collaboratively determine how best to respond where the provision of routine casework, support and training has not been sufficient to bring about the desired changes.
  A standard of care review has determined the family-based carer did not meet the standards of care.	A review must occur to determine how the child will be provided with care that meets required standards of care. Refer to Review the placement agreement for a child placed with a carer.

  Attention

  If the care arrangement ends and the child is placed in another care arrangement, a placement agreement will be negotiated with the new care arrangement—refer to Negotiate the placement agreement.

  Prepare for the placement meeting to review the placement agreement

  Before arranging the placement meeting to review the current placement agreement, gather relevant information needed to inform the discussion. This includes information about:

  • the tasks identified in the current placement agreement, and the progress made to complete these
  • the effectiveness of supports and strategies provided to the care arrangement under the existing placement agreement
  • matters that have emerged since the current placement agreement was developed that need to be shared with meeting participants
  • the child’s views about the care arrangement including any worries the child may have about the care arrangement
  • changes to child’s case plan that may impact on the care arrangement—such as family contact arrangements; arrangements for the child’s connection to their culture of origin; actions to further embed the connection principle as requierd by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle; educational needs; medical and therapeutic services accessed etc)
  • outstanding requests for additional supports or services made by the carer or service provider
  • actions taken, or yet to be taken, to address concerns arising from a standard of care review or an investigation and assessment of a harm report that has arisen since the last placement agreement—refer to Respond when the standards of care are not met, or for a harm report, Develop an action plan for a carer or Ensure an action plan is developed by the non-family-based care service provider.

  Schedule the placement meeting with the carer and their support worker, or for a child in a non-family-based care arrangement, with the coordinator or manager. Refer to Develop the placement agreement, and Record the placement agreement.

  Further reading

  For information about the funding Child Safety provides to family-based and non-family-based care services, and the service delivery requirements, refer to Child protection (placement services) investment specifications.

  For information about the role of family-based care service providers, refer to the practice kit Care arrangements, Foster and kinship care support agencies.

  Provide support to the carer

  The Child Protection Act 1999, section 148E, requires Child Safety to provide approved carers caring for a child with, or to access to, support and training to the extent it is practical and appropriate in the circumstances, to assist them care for the child. This includes:

  • support to help them care for the child, including for example:
    • information and advice about providing care for children
    • short break care to support the care arrangement
    • access to support persons
      and
    • other support relevant to the child’s particular needs, including information about financial assistance

    Tip

    Provide the carer with information about accessing the Connecting with carers website.

    This provides easily accessible information about wide range of matters tailored to foster and kinship carers, including money matters, where to get help, everyday caring topics, how to use the Carer connect app and more.

    Approved carers should have the majority of their support needs met by their funded care service provider. During visits to the child's care arrangement, consider the carers need for:

    • practical supports—arrange timely referrals to specialist services in line with the child’s case plan
    • financial supports—facilitate the carers access to carer payments, including high support needs allowance, complex support needs allowance, and reimbursements from child related costs.
    • emotional and psychological supports—ask the carer if they need additional support, particularly at times of stress (such as when challenging behaviours are escalating, or when a child is leaving the care arrangement.)

    Further reading

    Practice kit Care arrangements, Home visits

    Carers require additional support during times of stress. They are more likely to experience stress:

    • when they are struggling to deal with a child’s high risk behaviours, including a child who has experienced trauma, or is displaying violent or harmful sexual behaviours, or has a mental health or neuro-developmental disability
    • if there have been several stressful events over the past 6 months
    • where supports, services or strategies are required to enhance the carer's ability to meet the child’s specific needs—refer to Decide on supports for the proposed care arrangement.

    Advise foster and kinship carers that they can access:

    • their service provider’s on-call arrangements for after-hours support
    • the Foster and kinship carer support line—refer to Consider a referral to the foster and kinship care support line
    • CSAHSC (or if there are concerns for a child’s safety and wellbeing outside of business hours, complete the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre: After hours referral form)
    • the Connecting with carers website, for carer resource information.

    Further reading

    For practice guidance on engaging with carers, refer to the practice kit Care arrangements:

    • Example questions for engaging with carers.
    • Support strategies.

    Respond to the support needs of kinship carers

    Kinship carers' support needs may be different and more complex than foster carers, due to family dynamics and history,

    Note

    Kinship carers, particularly grandparents, may have little time to prepare for a request for a care arrangement. They may already have raised a family to adulthood, be older, have chronic health or other conditions, or have a limited income at the time they agree to provide kinship care.

    Although the kinship carer may have an existing relationship with the child, meeting the needs of a child who has experienced trauma may present significant challenges and may significantly alter relationships with the child’s parents and other relatives.

    Recognise the knowledge the kinship carer has about the child and the family system and support their participation in case planning and family group meetings or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Led Decision Making, if applicable.

    Discuss the specific challenges and the additional supports the kinship carer may require to manage familial issues—refer to Develop the placement agreement.

    Consider a referral to the foster and kinship care support line

    If a carer is likely to require after hours support to meet the needs of a child in their care, make a referral to the Foster and kinship care support line using the Foster and kinship care support line referral form from the carer entity Monitor and Support screen in ICMS.

    A referral to the Foster and kinship care support line will be appropriate when the carer is likely to require additional support outside of Child Safety business hours, and they cannot access this support from their foster and kinship care service provider. For example, when:

    • a child or sibling group have been newly placed
    • a child has complex needs due to their behaviour or other special needs
    • a child has high support needs due to a specific event or issue
    • they are a provisionally approved or a newly approved kinship carer and need advice.

    Note

    The foster and kinship care support line is operated by Child Safety staff. They will:

    • record information about their contact with a carer in ICMS in the relevant event for the child and/or carer
    • advise the CSSC and PSU of their contact by the next business day.

    Advise the carer that they can access the Foster and kinship care support line directly, regardless of whether the CSSC has made a referral. Provide the carer with the contact details and operating hours.

    Attention

    The Foster and kinship care support line can be contacted on 1300 729 309. It operates Monday to Friday 5.00pm–11.30pm and on weekends 7.00am–11.30pm.

    Provide support to non-family-based care services

    Non-family-based service providers are responsible for recruiting, supervising, training and supporting their staff to ensure they meet the required standards of care. Non-family-based care includes:

    • residential care and therapeutic residential care services
    • supported independent living
    • accommodation in safe houses
    • arrangements for care to be provided by another entity (refer to Place a child with another entity or to Obtain approval to use emergent accommodation.)

    To work in partnership with non-family-based care service provider:

    • ensure the service provider has the information they need to care for a child, including information about:
      • the case plan
      • the child’s family and cultural background, health and educational needs,
      • NDIS plan, if applicable
      • a copy of the Child’s strengths and needs assessment form
      • the abuse or neglect the child has experienced, including sexual abuse, and whether the child demonstrates harmful sexual behaviours

      Respond to a request for short break care

      Short break care can be provided to support the child and their primary care arrangement. Its purpose is to:

      • enhance the child’s wellbeing
      • assist in meeting case plan goals, including those relating to building and maintaining cultural connections
      • support the carers to continue as primary carers for the child
      • help sustain the caring relationship.

      Short break arrangements can be used for diverse reasons, to respond to the child’s needs and the carer’s needs and circumstances. These can be a one-off arrangement in response to a carers emergent need to address a personal matter, or can be a planned and ongoing arrangement.

      Short breaks may be an informal arrangement providing care for the child for a few hours or overnight, or can be a more formal arrangement for the child’s care for more than 3 nights.

      If short break options are being discussed at the placement meeting:

      • consider the child’s views about the proposed arrangements
      • consider how a short break would support a child’s safety, belonging and wellbeing needs or whether it may be contrary to the child’s best interests
      • the type, frequency and duration of short break care that is most suitable for meeting the child’s safety, belonging and wellbeing needs
      • any additional supports the carer requires
      • document the agreed dates and arrangements in the placement agreement,
      • discuss whether dual payments of carer allowances will be requested. Refer to the policy Dual payment of carer allowances and the procedure Dual payment of carer allowances.

      In some instances, short breaks may not be in the immediate best interests of the child—it may negatively affect an infant's opportunity to form a secure attachment and bond with a primary carer, or destabilise the adjustment of a child who has experienced significant disruption and trauma.

      When considering short breaks under these circumstances, discuss the child's need for security and whether the carer feels able to meet the child’s need to experience a stable placement without short breaks. Where there is conflict between the interests of the child and the carer’s needs, the child's needs will be prioritised. This may result a planned care arrangement not going ahead or for short breaks to be delayed, to enable the child to form a secure attachment.

      Tip

      If short break care is to be a regular arrangement involving overnight stays, it is important to provide the child with continuity and certainty. If possible, the child should be cared for by the same person to provide them with continuity and stability.

      Consider the preparation needs of the child before, during and after the short break care—particularly where it involves overnight stays in a new and unfamiliar environment.

      Depending on the funding agreement with the specific family-based care service provider and the availability of carers within their service, the CSO may be required to complete a PSU referral to request a short break care arrangement for the child.

      Informal short breaks

      Carers can make decisions to allow the child to stay with another person for up to 2 nights—refer to the practice kit Care arrangements, Short breaks. Usually this would occur with a person the child has an existing relationship with, such as a trusted person in the carers support network or by a member of child’s family, cultural or social network.

      Ask the carer to provide the CSSC with the name, address and phone number of the person they are proposing will provide short break care, and the dates of the proposed care.

      These arrangements are not subject to the requirements of the Child Protection Act 1999.

      If the length of the proposed short break is for 3 nights or more, the child’s guardian will make the decision about whether to proceed with a proposed arrangement. Depending on the type of child protection order, the guardian will be either the child’s parents, or for a child subject to a child protection order granting long term guardianship to the chief executive, the delegated officer—refer to Procedure 5 Facilitate decision making— guardianship matters. If the chief executive is the child’s guardian, the delegated officer will ensure the child’s views about the proposed arrangement are obtained and considered.

      Other short break arrangements

      Recreational camps, vacation care and after-school care programs can also be considered as short break options for the child. (Refer to the procedure Child related costs - education and child care support.)

      When a child is to stay overnight with kin, either in Queensland or in another state, territory or New Zealand, (for example, during school holidays), the CSSC manager will determine whether the person proposed to provide the short break arrangement will be subject to a carer assessment and approval process, or whether the arrangement will proceed as a family contact visit or holiday. (Refer to Procedure 5 Decide the nature of overnight contact with kin.)

      Visit the child in their care arrangement

      The CSO will have a minimum face-to-face contact with a child, in their care arrangement, once a month. (Refer to Procedure 5 Child Safety contact requirements for ongoing intervention.) If the care arrangement is not monitored via a licensing arrangement or a carer approval process, more regular face-to-face contact with the child will be required—refer to Place a child with another entity.

      Other factors may trigger more frequent contact with the child, such as when:

      • the child has asked to have more contact with the CSO or with the cultural practice advisor
      • higher levels of support are indicated due to the complexity of the child’s needs and behaviours
      • the child may be unsettled by changes to or within their care arrangement
      • other members of the child’s safety and support network, or the carer’s support network, are temporarily unavailable to support the child.

      Having regard to the child’s age and ability to understand, provide them with a meaningful opportunity to express their views about how their needs are being met in the care arrangement. If further support is needed to ensure their rights in the charter of rights for a child in care, Child Protection Act 1999, schedule 1, are being upheld. Arrange to talk with the child alone, to provide them with the opportunity to raise any worries they may have or to provide advice about how they would like to be supported to communicate their views or raise any worries. Refer to the practice guide Home visits to children in care. During discussions with the child make sure to:

      • be child focused
      • explore the child’s worries about the care arrangement, their family or the future
      • help them to feel safe.

      Further reading

      For practice guidance on engaging with a child in care, refer to the practice kit Care arrangements:

      • Engaging with children
      • Practice tools
      • Engaging and supporting children in care, which covers the different stages of a child's care arrangement - whether they have just been placed, or are continuing or exiting a care arrangement.

      During these visits:

      • create opportunities for age appropriate participation and listen to the child’s views about decisions being made on their behalf
      • be alert to changes in their views or behaviour.