out-of-home care services
This section is for people working in agencies involved in provision of out-of-home care services.
Community Services 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.
See the program guidelines for further information.
OOHC reform implementation
OOHC Service System Reform has now advanced to the implementation stage. Templates and forms for vacancies and referrals as well as case management transfers are now available.
Service models have been also been developed to help organisations when applying for funding.
transition plan
The Ministerial Advisory Group has been tasked by the Minister for Community Services to provide an agreed plan for the transfer of OOHC service provision by December 2011.
- Communiqué (6.2.12)
- OOHC contract negotiation update
- OOHC transition implementation framework
- Communiqué (29.11.11)
- OOHC transition plan stage 1
- Report on children in care
- Communiqué (18.10.11)
working with young people
A Charter of Rights has been developed specifically for children and young people in out-of-home care.
working with people from CALD backgrounds
Community Services 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, see foster care resources and fact sheets.
Also see the out-of-home care research section.
provision of after care assistance
Guidelines that specify the circumstances in which after care assistance may be granted have been developed to assist agencies. They clarify the scope of assistance provided to eligible young people leaving care.
Your Next Step provides young people leaving care with the contact details for range of services as they prepare to leave care for independent living or have left care.
Boston Consulting Group report
In 2009, Community Services, NSW Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet commissioned the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to review OOHC service delivery in NSW.
Their report was an input into decisions by Cabinet, however it does not represent Community Services or the Government’s considered position on out-of-home care reform.
related links:
- OOHC program placement service specification
- OOHC funded services
- service provision guidelines
- guide for working with clients from CALD backgrounds
- guidelines for after care assistance
- Fostering our Future - magazine for foster carers
- Office of the NSW Children's Guardian
- Assocation of Childrens Welfare Agencies (ACWA)
- 2009 Boston Consulting Group report: review of out-of-home care arrangements for children and young people in NSW