Walking the Tightrope Balancing the needs of children and management

Find A Family Offers an integrated service of adoption and permanent family care to children permanently removed from their families by the courts or whose parents have signed adoption consents. Strong permanency planning focus. Emphasis on trying to maintain family relationships through placement of sibling groups and ongoing contact with birth family.

Find-A-Family Adoption and Permanent Family Care òThe program has been operating since òOver 400 children have found permanent families. òOne third of these children have been adopted. òBarnardos finalised one sixth of all carer adoptions in Australia in (AIHW)  The average age at adoption is 10 years 3 months.

Statistics ò78% of our children are still in their first permanent placement. òAverage age at referral is 6 years 4 months òSince 1986, 124 have been adopted of which: T61 made with full consents. T63 have involved some dispensation action. T13 contested (5 only to full hearing).

Characteristics of the children likely to be referred to Find-A-Family òLikely to have had a disrupted care history, and have experienced many moves and be ‘hard to place’. òUnder the parental responsibility of the Minister. òLikely to have been physically, emotionally and/or sexually abused and neglected. òAged years and may be part of a large sibling group. òLikely to have emotional and testing behavioural problems, and educational difficulties

What does permanency really mean to children in Find-A- Family? òBelonging, as well as security in a loving relationship. òFamily membership until adult life.

How to meet the permanency needs of these Children Secure supported family environment Stability of placement with same carers Case management stability Knowledge of long-term plans Contact with birth family

The Big Picture The child’s needs remain the central focus. A framework of consistent and stable supports around the child and the carer family needs to be built.

Consistency and Stability We need to provide: Stability which can be multifaceted Multiple attachment points Wrap around supports for children Maximised opportunities for consistent relationships Support to carers to make this possible

Case Study 1 Came into FAF at 8 yrs of age – now 16 yrs. Classified in the extremely difficult range for FAF. History of extreme sexual and emotional abuse, critical mental health issues & under regular review and consultation with psychiatrist, unable to attend full time education from age 13. Placed in intake at the age of 8 yrs Moved to permanent placement at 10yrs – previous intake carer transferred to respite program in order to continue to maintain relationship and support the young person and her permanent carer. Supports into placement:  finances, consistent respite, neighbour trained to provide transport to and from school, same case manager throughout, same secondary school

Research has highlighted critical elements for children in care Number of placements they have Number of workers involved Frequency and quality of family contact Knowledge and access to information about themselves and how plans are made Participation and consultation Appropriate preparation for leaving care

Management Dilemma’s Balancing the needs of the individual child with cost effective program management. Decision making in response to conflicting needs: children’s and carer’s needs, case loads, recruitment & geography, budget constraints.

Case Study 3 Child 10yrs - placement breakdown on South Coast Previous experience of respite on Central Coast - carers expressed wish to be considered. Considered an appropriate match but meant significant move out of area Had developed significant relationship with case manager however this could not continue indefinately because of distance Initially case manager organsied all the access for the first few months until child felt comfortable with new case manager.

Management Strategies How to maintain this in the most cost effective way: Regular reviewing of plans Consistency with case manager & support people Providing appropriate and sufficient supports to carer family Integrated work with all involved parties

Making It Work  Specialist Service - Specialist Staff ò Full case management responsibility ò Matched placements ò Direct work with all parties ò Arranging Adoptions ò After Care and Post Adoption Casework

Key Standards for Best Practice  Looking After Children case management system  Supervision, Support, ongoing training and development of Staff and Carers  Regular reviewing of protocols and policies  Controlled caseloads  Location of Centres in strategic areas  Networking

Practice priorities for children Focussed permanency program. Well supported case management and planning environment. Up to date training and group work support. ‘Wrap around’ supports for children and carers. Localised carer resources.

Case Study 2 3 siblings referred to program at ages 5, 7 & 9yrs. Remained with DCS carers until matched placement could be found. Placed in permanent placement and matched with 3 separate respite carers. Permanent placement disrupted after 3 years. Placed in intake placement with respite carers continuing to provide support. 10 months into placement intake carers expressed wish to provide permanent care to children. Children have now been with 2 nd permanent placement for 18 months Respite carers continue to provide support Consistent case manager throughout. Birth family contact remained consistent throughout.

Practice priorities for Management Find A Family covers large geographical area. Difficulties in recruitment of carers in specific geographical area Balancing time frames - how long do you look for the optimal placement and what ‘costs’ might this have for the child? Staff retention in relation to remuneration and career opportunities.

Where to from here? Continue to: Provide optimal opportunities for children to attach and belong within a community. Operate in an open and transparent manner Maximise participation of all parties Inform our practice by research Retain staff as a priority