Delivering transition in partnership
Community Services is working in partnership with the non-government sector to develop a strong, sustainable OOHC system in NSW. The transition is being led by an OOHC Transition Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), which developed the Stage 1 Transition Implementation Framework and Plan and established a Transition Program Office (TPO), comprising of staff from Community Services, AbSec and ACWA.
The Transition Program Office was funded until 2015.
A key driver of successful transition is local implementation. While Community Services and DCJ has been localised into 15 districts, OOHC transition continues to be managed according to former Community Services regions and led by hosting districts.
Each of the seven Community Services regions across NSW has a dedicated Regional Implementation Group (RIG) consisting of government and non-government partners. The RIGs have developed Regional Implementation Plans (RTP) to guide local implementation.
Stage 1 transition implementation framework and plan
In 2011, the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) developed the OOHC Transition Implementation Framework and OOHC Transition Plan (Stage 1) to guide implementation of the transition of out-of-home care (OOHC) to the non-government sector.
The following principles have been outlined in the OOHC Transition Plan:
- services and placements built around the child’s and family’s needs
- placement stability and cultural support
- early intervention for children and families
- informed choice for children, young people and carers
- all Aboriginal children and young people in OOHC will be cared for by Aboriginal carers, supported by Aboriginal caseworkers employed by local Aboriginal managed agencies
- all children and young people have appropriate cultural plans and supports in line with the Placement Principle
- partnerships between the non-government sector and Community Services
- case management responsibility transferred to the non-government agency
- transition will occur in a timely manner.