Build the capacity of parents and families
Build the capacity of parents and families to help prevent children with complex disability support needs from needing care outside of their family home.
What we have done and continue to do:
- In late 2019 we introduced the Children with Complex Disability Support Needs Program. This program delivers tailored packages of support to families of children with complex disability needs who:
- need extra supports to sustain care in the family home, or
- live outside the family home because of their disability needs.
Lead division: Children and Families
Help families to navigate the NDIS
Help families to navigate the NDIS.
What we have done and continue to do:
- In 2021 we set up the Family Services Specialist Disability Program. The program addresses the challenges many vulnerable families experience with accessing the NDIS and disability supports. It aims to enhance sustainability of care by supporting families to access the NDIS and disability supports while also building parenting capacity. The program strives to build both disability and NDIS expertise across the child and family service system.
Lead division: Children and Families
Expand the Parents with Intellectual Disability program
Expand the Parents with Intellectual Disability program to include intensive home-based care and case management.
What we have done and continue to do:
- Since July 2021 the program (now titled the Steps to Confident Parenting program) has provided wraparound family services, early parenting and disability supports to parents with cognitive or intellectual impairment/disability who have children at risk of entry to care.
- The program supports parents to provide for the health, safety and development of their children through intensive home-based case management response. While taking part in the program, no parent had a child removed from their care.
Lead division: Children and Families
Work with parents with disability and advocacy agencies
Work with parents with disability and advocacy agencies to identify program and service improvements, including for those navigating the child protection system.
What we have done and continue to do:
- Produced communications in Easy English for parents with intellectual disability or cognitive challenges involved with the child protection system. Consultation continues with parents with disability and their advocates about opportunities for collaboration and co-design.
- Led on the Charter of Rights of Parents and Carers with Disability involved with Child Protection. The Charter aims to ensure parents and carers with disability who have a child involved with Child Protection will understand their rights and know what supports are available to them. The Charter will form part of the training to practitioners on first engagement with families.
Lead division: Children and Families
Bolster the care services system to better support children with disability
Bolster the care services system to better support children with disability. Use a specialist approach that draws on improved partnership with the NDIS.
What we have done:
- Worked with the NDIA to set up a crisis and afterhours response where care has broken down or imminent breakdown is likely. This will help prevent avoidable care placements for children with disability where there are no protective concerns.
What we will do:
- Improve processes for identifying children with disability entering care services. This will help ensure all children who may have a disability receive a specialist response from the state-wide Targeted Health Supports for Children in Care Program.
Lead division: Children and Families