KPMG Final Report – National Standards for Out of Home Care (2010)

1. Executive summary

'All governments and the non-government sector are committed to making sure that vulnerable children are looked after and cared for in a safe and supportive environment wherever they live. This requires a consistent and concerted national response across all levels of government.'
From 'Developing National Standards to protect vulnerable children', Minister Macklin media release 14 October 2009

1.1 What is Out of Home Care?

While there are a range of definitions for Out of Home Care, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare defines Out of Home Care as 'alternative accommodation for children under 18 years of age who are unable to live with their parents, where the state or territory makes a financial payment or where a financial payment has been offered but declined'. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data does not include children and young people who are living in Out of Home Care outside the child protection system, such as placements made in disability services, medical or psychiatric services, juvenile justice facilities, overnight childcare services or supported accommodation assistance services.

The development of National Standards for Out of Home Care is a key action under the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020, which was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments on 30 April 2009.

1.2 Childhood outcomes

It is widely reported that children and young people who have been placed in Out of Home Care have poorer life outcomes than children and young people not living in care.¹ Children and young people in Out of Home Care deserve the same opportunities, to grow up safe and well, and to reach their potential.

The key areas of well-being for children and young people² include:

• Physical and Mental Health;
• Learning, Participating and Achieving;
• Safety and Security;
• Identity;
• Culture, Spirituality and Community; and
• Family and Relationships.

1.3 Developing National Standards to influence outcomes

The National Standards for Out of Home Care seek to drive improvements in the quality of care to ensure that children and young people living in care have the same opportunities to reach their potential in all areas of well-being.

1.4 What people told us

The consultation process to inform the development of National Standards for Out of Home Care included:

• 14 workshops with representatives from government and non-government organisation's across Australia (317 participants);
• 12 workshops with carers (foster, kinship and residential) across Australia (96 participants);
• 7 workshops with young people who live or have lived in Out of Home Care (64 participants); and
• 52 written submissions.

During the consultations participants provided a diverse range of feedback, with most indicating support for the development of National Standards. Please note that there was a low representation of Indigenous stakeholders at both the carer and government/non-government workshops and this may lead to a bias in views.

Some of the critical points that have assisted in shaping the development of the National Standards include:

• Maintaining Family Connection: Children and young people need to know their family, and maintain family connections.
• Stability: The need for increased stability for children, young people, carers and child protection workers.
• Supporting Transition from Care: Children and young people living in Out of Home Care need to be supported to make decisions about their future, in particular their transition to independent living.
• Training and Support: Carers and child protection workers need to be better supported to undertake their roles, with a particular emphasis on training and support provided to carers.
• Improved Practice and Relationships: Children and young people need increased involvement in decision making and communication processes with the aim that decisions are made in their best interests. This process needs to be based on respect and understanding.
• Improved Access to Support Services: Children and young people need improved support and timely access to services, particularly physical and mental health, and education services.

The support for National Standards that emerged during the consultations is accompanied by the view that coverage of the National Standards (that is, to whom they apply) is a complex issue to resolve, with differing views put forward throughout the consultations. The consultation process also suggested that the standards should be independently monitored and measured, and progress reported publicly.

1.5 Proposed National Standards for Out Of Home Care

The Proposed National Standards have been based on the following principles which have been informed by the consultation process.

The principles include:

• Care provided to children and young people living in Out of Home Care is focussed on their best interests and maximising their potential.
• Children and young people living in Out of Home Care are provided with opportunities for their voice to be heard and respected.
• Children and young people living in Out of Home Care have their privacy respected.
• Carers are key stakeholders and partners in the system.
• Children and young people living in Out of Home Care are provided with a level of quality care that addresses their particular needs and improves their outcomes.
• The National Standards should add value to the current state and territory arrangements and not be unnecessarily burdensome.
• Continuous improvements are made to enhance the life outcomes of children and young people living in Out of Home Care.
• Changes to the Out of Home Care outcomes for children and young people are measured, monitored and reported in a transparent and consistent manner.

The proposed National Standards are outlined below:

• Standard 1.Children and young people are matched with the most suitable carers and the care environment, according to their needs, that will provide stability during their time in care.
• Standard 2. Children and young people participate in decisions that have a significant impact on their lives.
• Standard 3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are consulted in decisions concerning the placement of their children and young people and placements are made in accordance with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles.
• Standard 4. A comprehensive health assessment is provided to children and young people entering care, with ongoing medical needs attended to in an appropriate and timely way, and children and young people have their own written health record which moves with them if they change placements.
• Standard 5. Children and young people entering into care receive timely and appropriate therapeutic assessment and support as needed.
• Standard 6. Children, young people and carers are able to access objective advice, ask for help, have their concerns listened to, and have information and access to review mechanisms.
• Standard 7. Individual education plans are developed, implemented, and reviewed regularly for children and young people in care.
• Standard 8. Children and young people between 15 and 18 years are supported to be engaged in appropriate education, training and/or employment.
• Standard 9. Children and young people in care are supported to participate in social and/or recreational activities, such as sporting, cultural or community activity.
• Standard 10. Children and young people in care are supported to stay in contact with their families, friends, culture, spiritual sources and communities (providing it is safe and appropriate) and have their life history recorded as they grow up.
• Standard 11. Children and young people in care are supported to identify and stay in touch with at least one significant family member or other person who cares about their future, who they can turn to for support and advice on an ongoing basis.
• Standard 12. Carers are assessed and receive relevant ongoing training, development and support.
• Standard 13. Each child and young person has a case plan developed that details their health, education and other needs, which is implemented and reviewed regularly, with the children and young people supported to participate in both the development and updating of their plan.
• Standard 14. Young people have a transition from care plan, commencing at 15 years old, which is reviewed at least annually, details support to be provided after leaving care and involves children and young people in its preparation.

1.6 Where to from here?

Prior to implementing the National Standards for Out of Home Care there are a number of issues that warrant further consideration, including:

• The coverage of the National Standards and those for whom they apply?
• How will the National Standards be monitored and measured?
• How will changes as a result of the National Standards be reported publicly?
• Mutual recognition of National Standards and alignment to current state and territory standards.

To resolve these issues, the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the non-government sector will need to continue to work collaboratively.