NSW Therapeutic Care Framework

Work on the NSW Therapeutic Care Framework began in 2013, as a partnership between the Department of Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) and a range of sector representatives.

The purpose of the Framework was to address the high level of complex needs of children and young people who require a more intensive and individualised trauma-informed practice and care approach.

The project focused on:

• identifying an evidence-based, common conceptual framework that was based on a shared understanding of Therapeutic Care
• guiding the OOHC sector and stakeholders to act consistently and with a shared purpose in their delivery of Therapeutic Care to children and young people in statutory care
• growing a ‘best practice’ framework for NSW to identify an effective Therapeutic Care approach that results in improved outcomes for children and young people, including capacity for outcomes to be measured and evaluated
• developing a framework that does not dictate which Therapeutic Care model an organisation should adopt, but rather core principles to lead practice and the delivery of Therapeutic Care.

Research analysis and sector consultation contributed to the development of a draft definition of Therapeutic Care and a set of draft Core principles. On 16 June 2016, the ACWA Board endorsed the draft framework and draft principles, and supported the release of all draft framework documents for public consultation. These documents, along with a Literature Review and Consultation Report, were released for public consultation in November/December 2016.

Following the public consultation period, the TCF project working group reviewed all submissions and feedback received. See the ‘Summary of key submission themes’ for more information.

The invaluable feedback received throughout the life of the project, from both the sector and public consultation, contributed to forming the ‘NSW Therapeutic Care Framework’.