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Place a child in care

Types of care arrangements

Child Safety provides recurrent funding to regional service providers for the following types of care arrangements:

Licensed care arrangements

  Type of care Direct care provided by Target group
Family based care Kinship care Approved kinship carer Children 0-17 years, with a moderate or high level of support needs. Ongoing support is provided to the carer by the service provider.
Foster care Approved foster carer
Intensive foster and kinship care Approved foster or kinship carer Children 0-17 years with a complex or extreme level of support needs. The carers and the child receive intensive support and assistance from the service provider.
Non-family based care Residential care Rostered staff Children and young people 12-17 years who have been assessed as having a high, moderate, complex or extreme level of support needs.  Can also place sibling groups for children under 12 years, as outlined in the policy Residential Care.
Therapeutic residential care Rostered staff Young people 12-15 years who have been assessed as having complex to extreme level of support needs and require an intensive level of therapeutic support, and cannot be placed in other care arrangements.
Safe house care Rostered staff Children aged 0-17 years in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with moderate and high support needs, whose families required intensive family support.
Supported-independent living (SIL) Individual or small group living with levels of worker support Young people 15 to 17 years who have been assessed as having moderate, high or complex level of support needs. The service provider focuses on developing or enhancing the person’s life skills and self-care, to support their transition to adulthood.

When it is not possible to place a child in any of the abovementioned care arrangements, the Child Protection Act 1999, section 82(1)(f) enables Child Safety to place a child with another entity, if satisfied this would be the most appropriate care arrangement for meeting the child’s specific care and support needs. For more information, refer to Place a child with another entity.

Other entities include service providers who:

  • do not hold an organisation level license under the Child Protection Act 1999, to provide care services to children subject to ongoing intervention by Child Safety 
    or
  • the proposed residence for the child is not included in their license.

Attention

Before placing the child with another entity, an assessment is required to determine the suitability of the care arrangement. The entity must be able to meet the standards of care, (Child Protection Act 1999, section 122), and care service staff must have a current blue card or exemption card. (Refer to Assess the suitability of another entity).

Child Safety may use commercial accommodation as a temporary accommodation response for a young person when:

  • all funded and fee-for-service care arrangements options have been explored and no care arrangement is available to care for the child 
    and

  • it has been approved by the regional director. For more information refer to Obtain approval to use emergent accommodation.

Follow legislative requirements

When making a care arrangement, the Child Protection Act 1999, requires certain actions to be taken:

Legislative requirements - placing a child in care
Child Protection Act 1999 Description Refer to 
Section 5B(h) Consider placing the child in care with kin as a first option. Explore kinship care as the preferred care arrangement
Section 5B(i) Place the child with siblings, if possible. Consider the needs of a child with siblings in care
Section 5E Seek the child's views. Enable the child to provide their views
Section 83A(1)(a) Give the proposed carer information about the child to help them make an informed decision about whether to provide care. Submit referral to Placement Services Unit
Section 83A(4) Have regard to the child's views and wishes before giving information to the carer. Enable the child to provide their views
Section 83A(5) Tell the child what information about them is being given to the carer. Take into account the child's rights to privacy
Section 83(A)(1)(c) Give the child an opportunity to meet the proposed carer, if possible. Prepare child for the care arrangement
Section 85 and Section 86 Given the child and their parents information about in whose care the child is placed or reasons for withholding this information. Advise parents where the child is living
Section 84 Enter into a written agreement with the carer. Negotiate the placement agreement

Additional legislative requirements for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child  

When making a care arrangement for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, the Child Protection Act 1999, requires additional actions to be taken:  

Legislative requirements - when placing an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child

Related forms, templates and resources

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Version history

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Published on:

Last reviewed:

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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
  • Date: 
    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New carer application forms uploaded. Updated carer assessment templates uploaded, as well as updated guidelines for completing the carer assessment forms.
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    New content to reflect the out of region referral process in the Unify care arrangement product.
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    Content on the requirements for making an out of region referral in Unify.
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    Maintenance
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    Maintenance
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    Changes to reflect the release of the care arrangements referral process in Unify.
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    Maintenance
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    Maintenance
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    Maintenance
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    Maintenance
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    Maintenance
  • Date: 
    The key step 'Place a child in care' has been condensed to improve accessibility and navigation. (Refer to new key step 'Support a care arrangement' for other information). Also includes some reviewed content and layout changes.