Safeguarding Experts
Out of Home Care and Youth Services
Out of home care providers and youth services support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Australia. Whether delivering foster, kinship or residential care, leaving care support, youth homelessness services or community youth programs, organisations have heightened legal and moral obligations to keep children and young people safe from harm.
Expert legal services to out of home care and youth services
Step by Step implementation
Here when you need us
Child Safety in Out of Home Care and Youth Services
Children and young people in out of home care are among the most vulnerable in our community. Many have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect before entering care, and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the heightened risks faced by children in residential and out of home care settings. Youth services also work with young people who may be experiencing homelessness, family violence, mental health challenges or contact with the justice system.
Out of home care providers and youth services are generally required to comply with the Child Safe Standards in their state or territory, as well as sector-specific registration, accreditation and regulatory requirements. Carers, staff and volunteers must hold the required Working with Children Checks, and screening, supervision and support for carers must be robust and ongoing.
Out of home care providers are also captured by Reportable Conduct Schemes in the jurisdictions where these operate and, in some jurisdictions, the schemes extend to foster and kinship carers. Allegations of abuse or misconduct must be notified to the relevant regulator and investigated within strict timeframes.
Regulators expect organisations to show that safeguarding is embedded in everyday practice: that children and young people are heard and involved in decisions affecting them, that cultural safety is upheld for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and that concerns are responded to promptly and appropriately.
Our Services
Child Safety Policies
Developing child safety policies, codes of conduct, and complaints handling processes for out of home care and youth services
Child Safety Investigations
Independent, trauma-informed investigations into allegations involving carers, staff and volunteers, compliant with Reportable Conduct Schemes
Audits
Audits and gap analysis against the Child Safe Standards and sector requirements with practical safeguarding recommendations
Child Safety Training
Tailored child safety training for carers, caseworkers, youth workers, managers and volunteers
Legal Advice
Expert safeguarding legal advice for out of home care and youth services, including disclosures, allegations and critical incidents
Incident Management
Root cause analyses of critical child safety incidents with crisis management and regulatory compliance support