Care and Cultural Planning

The Care Plan for children and young people in statutory out-of-home care has been redesigned. The latest version come into effect on Monday 9 January 2017.

To help deliver culturally appropriate care to Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse children and young people, the redesigned Care Plan includes 'Cultural Plans' to ensure children preserve their cultural identity as well as their connection to culture and family.

The Care Plan is presented by Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to the Children’s Court, after extensive consultation with the child or young person, their parents and family, the carers, the non-government organisation (if they hold case management responsibility), and any other people involved in the care and cultural planning for the child.

In developing the redesigned Care and Cultural Plan, there has been Extensive consultation with and also feedback received from:

• parents and carers
• the President of the Children’s Court
• frontline staff (this includes Managers and caseworkers both within DCJ and from Non Government Community partners)
• children and young people
• peak bodies including AbSec, ACWA
• legal stakeholders.

To support caseworkers with this important work we have developed this new website to ensure the successful implementation of the Care Plan.

If you have any questions please contact: safehomeforlifereform@DCJ.nsw.gov.au

Why the change?

Redesigning the Care Plan has been driven by the need to:

• have a standard and consistent approach to care and cultural planning in NSW that captures planning information more comprehensively
• ensure that all children and young people who are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or from multicultural backgrounds are supported with a detailed Cultural Plan
• enhance consideration and use of the Permanent Placement Principles introduced in legislation in October 2014
• provide the Children's Court with a clearer picture of who the child is and what orders are being sought.

What are the benefits?

The Care Plan has been redesigned to be user-friendly for caseworkers, including features such as:

• auto-population of family details to relevant sections throughout the Care Plan
• the inclusion of information buttons to support caseworkers and stimulate ideas for better practice
• spell check.

The Care Plan supports successful accreditation by clearly documenting cultural information in the child's care records. It will record how children will stay connected to their culture and maintain their identity, as well detail how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are placed in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Placement Principles.