Plans that support children

Plans that support children

Case plan

When a decision has been made by the department that a child is in need of protection, ongoing support will be provided to the child and family to strengthen their capacity to safely care for their child. A key part of this process is the development of a case plan to address the child's protection, belonging and wellbeing needs. Case planning involves a cycle of assessment, planning, implementation and review.

The initial case plan for a child is developed at a family group meeting to ensure an inclusive and collaborative, culturally appropriate process that promotes self-determination and empowers children, their family and other significant people in their lives to plan and make decisions about the child’s wellbeing, protection and care needs.

A case plan is a written document that explains why the child is considered to be in need of protection (worry statements), what needs to be done to achieve safety for the child (goal statements) and how safety will be achieved (action steps). Each action step will clearly articulate the roles and responsibilities of the participants in addressing the child's protection, belonging and wellbeing. When it has been determined that the child’s safety and wellbeing can only be achieved through a child protection order, a case plan must be developed and submitted to the court prior to the court granting a finalised child protection order.

There are a number of valid reasons a proportion of all children subject to ongoing intervention on a certain day may not have a case plan recorded. These include:

• a collaborative family decision making process is required to develop a case plan. This process must be held within 30 days of the decision a child is in need of protection, or within the timeframe set by the court on an adjournment. For example, it would be legitimate for a child who requires ongoing support from 5 June to not yet have a case plan approved and recorded on the client management system by 30 June.
• exceptional circumstances may delay a case plan being recorded for the child. These include cases where parents may be unwilling to engage in the case planning process.

For children in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive, case plans are required to be reviewed at least every six months to be considered current. Where a child has a long-term guardianship order, and the guardian is a relative or other suitable person, the child is contacted every 12 months to determine whether the case plan requires review.

Education support plan

The department works closely in partnership with the Department of Education (DoE) to ensure each child and young person in care is enrolled and actively engaging in an educational program that meets their individual learning needs to maximise their educational potential and improves their wellbeing.

Both departments acknowledge children and young people in care have experienced trauma and periods of instability which can have a significant impact on educational engagement and attainment.

An ESP is required for a child or young person if they are:

• under the age of 18 (Prep to Year 12),
• enrolled in a state or non-state school in Queensland, and
• subject to either an interim or finalised child protection order or interstate child protection order, granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive.

The ESP then informs the application process for the child or young person to be considered for additional financial support through the Education Support Funding Program (ESFP).

An ESP aims to improve the educational experience and outcomes for eligible children and young people in care.

There are a number of valid reasons why a child or young person may not have an education support plan recorded. These include instances where:

• the child or young person has recently entered care (e.g. has not been in care for 60 days)
• the ESP has been completed, but not yet recorded, or
• the ESP has been completed and recorded but is yet to be approved.

Transition to adulthood planning

Young people who are in, or transitioning from, care have the same developmental needs as those who are not in care, but they also face a range of unique challenges and circumstances that highlight their need for particular support during this time.

Transition to adulthood is the process that supports a young person's transition from care to adult functioning, to maximise life opportunities and choices.

Transition to adulthood planning is integrated into case planning for a young person from the age of 15 years. The review of a young person's progress towards achieving transition to adulthood goals happens at each case plan review which occurs at least every six months.

Alongside the practitioner, the young person takes the lead in planning, supported by their safety and support network.

The process of developing a transition plan includes identifying the young person's goals, aspirations, wants and needs. The plan will structure their preparation for transition and include the kinds of support and assistance they receive.

A well-planned, gradual and flexible process for transitioning young people to adulthood is very important, including the potential provision of support for a period of time after they have left care.

There are a number of valid reasons why a young person may not have a transition to adulthood plan recorded. These include instances where transition planning:

• has not yet occurred (e.g. a young person has only recently turned 15 years and their case plan has not yet been reviewed)
• has been delayed, because advice has been received from a therapeutic worker that the young person is not ready to commence these discussions
• has not commenced, as a young person may refuse to engage in planning and the focus of case work is on engaging the young person prior to commencement of meaningful planning
• has been completed, but not yet recorded, or
• has been completed and recorded but is yet to be approved.