Future Planning: A New Approach to Leaving Care

Hugo Madrid and Angie Adams

Our OOHC practice framework is trauma informed, strengths based and solution focused to assist

children and young people shape the best future for themselves, their families and their

communities

Newpin Social Benefit

Bond restoration from care

447 authorised

carers146 staff members

bold advocacy in leaving

care

capacity building with 2 Aboriginal

OOHC agencies

$20million expenditure

2013/14

305 children / young people

in foster care, kinship care,

intensive foster care and residential care

Snapshot: Out of Home Care

programs located in Sydney, Mid North Coast and Orana Far West

280 children & young people

in sibling group homes, aftercare and intensive family based services

Hoping You’ll Gain…..

• Why we are here today

• What we did

• How we did it

• Where next?

• What about the Research?

1/3 homeless

28% parents

2/3 didn’t complete Year

12

Why we are here today…

• Ombudsman’s Report August 2013

• Community Services new template

Young People who left care 2009 % 2011 %

With endorsed plan 6 8 19 22

With plan not endorsed 36 49 31 36

Plan completed after exit 12 16 20 23

No plan provided 17 23 16 19

Plan development dates unclear 2 3

Total 73 100% 86 100%

Human Rights Issue?

“As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Australia has a responsibility to protect children and young people, provide the services necessary for them to develop and achieve positive outcomes and enable them to participate in the wider community." http://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/out_of_home_care_rpt.pdf

Ombudsman’s Key Messages

• Delays in assessing victim’s compensation• Lack of consultation with other key agencies• Lack of cultural planning and support• Failure to provide ongoing support for young

people completing their HSC • A failure to address the specific circumstances

and needs of high risk young people

What we did…

• Our Current Practice

• Formed a Working Group

• Consulted Staff

Young People Feedback

Objective

• New Template• Trauma Informed Practice Framework• Training Package

How We Did It…

• Consultation with OOHC services and NGO’s

• Working Group focus

• Terminology

• Competition

Future Planning Template

Future Planning Template

Where to from here?• Joint work with FaCS • Staff and Carer training and

implementation • Feedback from NGO’s and CREATE• Planning for review and monitoring• Young Person Reference Group

Approach to future planningYoung People’s feedback:• Happy with term ‘young people’ vs. ‘kids’.• Familiarity/strong relationship.• Casework goals vs. young person’s goals.• Frequency of discussions

Approach to future planning• How will information be used (Why?)• Confidentiality.• Court documents.• Embracing Different Cultures.• Comments box.

Staff training• Facilitated by Manager & Practice

Manager.• Acknowledge experience & wisdom in the

room.• Study template together.• Sections: What do we want Young Person

to learn?

Staff training• What do we want this to look/sound like?-

Therapeutic framework/Relationships.• Break into groups and create an approach.• Return to big group.• Consult with young people reference

group.

Independent Living Skills

• FaCS Independent Living Skills checklist.• Creativity vs. Ticking boxes.• Every Living Skill has an activity.

Understanding money- budget and refurbishing challenge

THE CAR I WILL OWN IN NOVEMBER 2017

Price: $6000 Weekly savings to own the car: $48.40 Type of job I would need to work: Fast food stores, retail, café. Number of shift per week: One 5 hour shift Progress tracker: Bundle.com My supports: Mum, Matt (keyworker), Burnside staff.

Gnome Challenge

Excellent Mistake…..

Hoping You Have Gained……

• Why we are here today• What we did• How we did it• Where we go next• Questions?

Contact details:

Hugo Madridhmadrid@unitingcarenswact.org.au

Angie Adams

aadams@unitingcarenswact.org.au