1. The Home
An approved carer/s must ensure the home in which the child or young person will reside in home-based care is kept safe, clean and in good repair, and is properly ventilated, lit, heated and smoke-free.
2. Furniture, furnishings and equipment
The home must have:
(a) adequate furniture, furnishings and equipment for the children or young people who reside at the home, having regard to their ages and physical and intellectual development
(b) adequate facilities for the preparation, refrigeration and hygienic storage of meals and refreshments
(c) adequate facilities for the storage of equipment and bedding, and for the safe keeping of the children or young people's outdoor clothes and other personal belongings
(d) sufficient equipment suitable for the indoor and outdoor recreational needs of the children or young people, having regard to their ages and physical and intellectual development
(e) access to a telephone
3. Swimming pools/spas/waterways
Fencing for swimming pools (including spas) must comply with relevant legislation, the standards and community service organisation policy, and must not prove a hazard for children and young people. Access to other waterways, dams, creeks, rivers, ponds and water features must not prove a hazard for children and young people.
4. Care of children and young people
The approved carer/s must, in relation to each child or young person in home-based care, ensure:
(a) the health, welfare and progress of the child or young person are promoted, and their home is free from abuse or neglect of any kind. If at any time the approved foster carer becomes aware of a risk to the child, the carer must take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the child and report this to the agency. This includes support network people providing unsupervised care with children in OOHC.
(b) the child or young person is encouraged to participate, as far as is reasonable and practicable, in the ordinary life of the community
(c) the observance by the child or young person of their religion (if any)
(d) understanding, respecting, valuing and encouraging connection to culture (if any)
(e) the same standards of care and discipline are applied to all children and young people residing in the home
(f) the carer will participate in Looking After Children processes and be involved in the care and placement planning process (Care Team meetings) for children or young people they are caring for
(g) the carer will undertake to securely store all personal information concerning children or young people and their families - access will only be provided to appropriately approved persons (standard 2.8.1)
5. Bedrooms
The approved carer/s:
(a) must provide adequate sleeping accommodation for each child or young person who resides in home-based care
(b) must ensure sleeping accommodation is appropriate for the age of the child or young person and takes into account their requirement for privacy and sense of belonging
(c) must ensure that:
each child or young person is provided with a separate bed or cot which complies with Australian safety standards, equipped with a clean and comfortable mattress and bed clothing appropriate to the climate
linen on each child or young person's bed or cot is changed weekly (or more frequently if necessary)
adequate facilities are provided for the storage of each child or young person's clothing and personal belongings
the top bunk bed should not be used by children under eight years of age (standard 3.6.2H)
6. Study
The approved carer/s must ensure that each child or young person in home-based care who is attending school or undertaking studies is provided with adequate facilities for quiet study, having regard to their age.
7. Health and medical attention
(a) The approved carer/s must ensure that each child or young person in home-based care is supplied with such medical and dental treatment as is necessary, in line with the standards.
(b) When a child or young person is admitted to hospital, the approved carer/s will contact the community service organisation immediately. If a medical practitioner recommends a variation in care or treatment for reasons of health, the carer must use their best endeavours to give effect to that recommendation.
(c) If there has been a recommendation by a specialist or doctor regarding the child or young person's health care needs, the approved carer/s must inform the community service organisation and follow the medical recommendations.
8. Children and young people not to perform unreasonable duties
The approved carer/s must not require a child or young person in home-based care to perform duties that are unreasonable, having regard to their age and physical and intellectual development.
9. Positive behaviour support of children and young people
The approved carer/s must comply with the behaviour management policy of the designated community service organisation and the standards. This includes support network people providing unsupervised care with children in OOHC.
10. Supervision and management of a child or young person's behaviour
The approved carer/s must provide children and young people with appropriate support and supervision at all times (standard 2.5.1).
11. Pets or animals
The approved carer/s must ensure that pets or animals kept by the household do not pose a risk to children and young people in a placement (standard 3.6.2Q).
12. Placement change and ending
Any placement change or end of placement for children or young people must be facilitated by the community service organisation in consultation with the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing. Under no circumstances is a child or young person allowed to leave a placement without consultation with the community service organisation.
13. Police checks and working with children checks
The approved carer/s must notify the community service organisation if anyone aged 18 years or over joins the household. For kinship carers, the community service organisation will notify the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing (DFFH) to conduct these checks as necessary when informed by the carer. A police check must be completed for all household members aged 18 years and over, and a Working with Children Check is mandatory for all household members aged over 18.
14. Change of family circumstances
The approved carer/s must notify the community service organisation of any changes to their family circumstances, such as relationship changes and health or medical issues.
15. Attendance at training
The approved carer/s, and other household members as determined by the community service organisation, will be expected to attend training on a range of issues relevant to children and young people in their care (standard 3.3.1).
16. Carer undertaking of privacy and confidentiality
As an approved carer/s for Brophy Family & Youth Services and DFFH, I/we recognise that privacy and confidentiality of client information is an important principle of good practice and ethical behaviour, and an expectation of all foster carers. This includes the secure storage of all personal information concerning children and young people in the placement and their families.
I/we understand that Brophy Family & Youth Services has contractual obligations to the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing regarding privacy and confidentiality of client information.
I/we undertake that I/we will not communicate, release or disclose to any person any client information, with the exception of:
information that is necessary and required in the normal course of caring for the child or young person in the placement
information necessary to be exchanged with Brophy Family & Youth Services and Department of Families, Fairness & Housing workers, in relation to the child or young person in the placement
information where informed written consent of the client has been obtained by Brophy Family & Youth Services or the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing, enabling that information to be exchanged
information as required by law - for example, in court proceedings
I/we undertake that I/we will not use any media or technology to release or disclose to any person any client information or other details relating to children in Out of Home Care, with the exemption of information necessary to be exchanged with Brophy Family & Youth Services and Department of Families, Fairness & Housing workers, in relation to the child or young person in the placement.
At the conclusion of a placement, I/we will return copies of relevant client records to Brophy Family & Youth Services. I/we also undertake to maintain this confidentiality after I/we cease to be a volunteer carer with Brophy Family & Youth Services or DFFH.
17. Supervision
The approved carer/s will actively engage in monthly carer supervision as per agency policy with their agency placement worker. CSOs will determine the level of supervision, monitoring and support for a carer at the beginning of the placement by assessing the needs of the child in care as well as the carer's needs, ensuring a minimum level of supervision of once per month while a child is placed. Carers are also expected to actively participate in annual carer reviews and Home & Environment check renewals.
18. Adhere to legal and ethical standards
The approved carer/s will follow and abide by all applicable laws, regulations and ethical guidelines governing foster care, including reporting any concerns of abuse or neglect.
