Community Services and Non-Government Agency Partnership Relationships Challenges and innovations Lisa CharetMaryanne JacobsDeb Simpson

Transition March the State Government began transitioning the provision of Statutory Out –of-Home-Care to the Non-Government Sector. This presentation explores the relationships, challenges and innovations faced by the Met West region.

Regional Implementation Groups Rationale for the RIG’s

Purpose of the RIG Plan Facilitate Monitor Report on progress of the transition

RIG membership How many agencies are represented? Peak Agencies

Growth of agency representation since 2012 Number of NGO’s at the commencement of transition 30/06/20148 Number of NGO’s on the pre approved list as of 30/06/ Number of CYP transferred to the NG Sector as at 30/06/2014NSW 4395 WSNBM 587 Number of CS Carers transferred to the NG Sector as at 30/06/2014NSW 1770 WSNBM 174 Number of CYP first time entries into care entries to care at 30/05/2014WSNBM 575 Number of Residential OOHC CYPWSNBM 64

Achievements since March 2012 Residential Care Projects Absent without permission project in partnership with Police Access to Mental health for children and young people in Residential care ( Alternate Care Clinic Redbank)

Achievements since March 2012 Government Agencies Department of Health -Pathways Department of Education -Pathways Housing NSW - currently working with FACS to pilot a housing option for OOHC

Achievements since March 2012 Within FACS Child and Family District Unit Community Services Offices Out of Home Care Reform Legal Services High needs Kids Team Nepean Blue Mountains District Office Western Sydney District Office Aboriginal partnerships and new services

Challenges – Community Services Letting go Revised Service system Trust

Challenges – Community Services Developing true partnerships Increasing stakeholder relationships

Challenges – Non Government Organisations A new order – change to the way we work with both CS and other agencies Forming meaningful and respectful relationships Pressure points in our relationships

Challenges –Non Government Organisations Collaborating with competitors Developing true partnerships

Discussing the difficult issues Are we ready? Maintaining a focus on delivering quality care to children and young people in OOHC

Future What will it look like when it is finished? The next stage of our development is a lot freer We are now problem solving sector wide It’s easier to measure how far we have come in this sector when we work across many sectors There is a strength in our relationship now The sector has stepped up to take control of the issues Having Community Services at the meetings all the time

Future continued Good leadership from both sectors NGO commitment to the process – Senior Leadership present at meetings Meetings are not tokenistic Fear and disillusion turned around to be positive There is more potential for networking Forum and a voice for other agencies We create meaningful linkages

Future continued There is confidence now that we are working on an equal footing Transition of carers and children – good to be in the middle of this and learning from partners Communication helped by ACWA and AbSec, aided by those agencies which work across many regions – helps with the consistency of practice SPO’s – have provided a critical connection for all agencies and we can only move forward if we can replicate and ensure continuity