out-of-home care services
This section is for people working in agencies involved in provision of out-of-home care services.
DoCS is committed to working with our out-of-home care (OOHC) partners to ensure you and your clients are aware of current initiatives and changes in out-of-home care.
Our OOHC legislation pages provide you with an explanation of the changes to the out-of-home care components of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.
For guides and policy documents on how to work with DoCS, see the .
A Charter of Rights has been developed specifically for children and young people in out-of-home care.
DoCS has developed a practice guide for working with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to assist agencies in providing effective services.
For information for clients and families, go to our fostering & adoption section of this site.
Also see the out-of-home care research section.
service provision guidelines
Draft service provision guidelines have been developed to provide clear direction to services about the core policy and operational framework for delivering out-of-home care and family preservation services.
The guidelines are a companion resource to be used alongside an agency’s own policies and procedures.
provision of after care assistance
Guidelines that specify the circumstances in which after care assistance may be granted in accordance with section 165(4) of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 have been developed.
framework for the future of out-of-home care in NSW
This framework has been developed by DoCS together with the non government sector to provide an overview of the OOHC service system, as a basis for the enhancements planned over the next three years.
service models
Service models have been developed through the Out-of-Home Care Partners Reference Group. They are considered to reflect best practice and are a guide to current service development priorities.
- general foster care services
- intensive foster care services
- supported family group home
- family preservation/intensive support services
- relative/kinship care
- residential accomodation
- intensive residential treatment
- wrap around services
- supported independent living model
costing manual
A costing manual has been developed to help OOHC organisations determine the indicative unit costs for a range of services. This allows organisations to develop a better understanding of cost structures and drivers and to develop agreed costing principles for funding new and existing programs.
