Family based care

Emergency care is provided for a short period, usually a few days, when children or young people need urgent care to ensure their safety or following a family crisis.

Emergency carers need to be prepared to support children and young people who need extra comfort and reassurance because entering care can be an uncertain time for them.

The period of emergency care may be busy with many appointments and meetings to attend.

During this period, Child Safety may be seeking a family member to care for the child or young person in a kinship placement.

Respite care is provided for children and young people for short periods of time on a regular basis, for example, one weekend a month. Respite placements provide the child or young person and primary carers with a network of support.

Wherever possible respite carers are identified to provide regular respite for the child or young person.

Respite carers are an important part of the child or young person’s Care Team. They ensure consistency of care and routine when the child or young person is not with their primary care giver.

Kinship care is a formal arrangement, similar to foster care and is provided by members of the child or young person’s extended family or an adult who is known to the child and their family (e.g. a close family friend).

Wherever possible, an Aboriginal child must be placed with kin or kith within the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Children and young people may need care for a short period of time prior to being restored to their families or while a longer-term care arrangement is being organised.  

Carers may be asked to:

• attend appointments
• support the child or young person to spend time with their family
• support the child or young person to attend school and stay involved in existing activities, like sports or hobbies.  

During this time, children and young people may feel anxious about their families, pets, toys or want to return home and need flexibility and patience.

If children and young people are not able to be restored to their families, they may need a long-term carer. This provides them with a stable, supportive home in which they can feel included and valued. This may be until the circumstances of their families change, or until they exit the Out of Home Care system, as young adults.

Specialist therapeutic care is provided to children and young people with high needs, such as disabilities or complex medical or developmental trauma needs. Carers who are experienced in these areas may be asked to look after a child or young person with more complex needs.

Intensive supported foster care provides a child or young person the opportunity to live in a family home while receiving therapeutic support. It provides them with the chance to build real and meaningful relationships within the family home, in an environment that supports stable connections and responds to their complex trauma needs.