Permanent Care and creating a Home for Life
What's Important To Us
Children and young people achieve their greatest potential in homes where they are safe, secure and feel that they belong. When it is not possible to return a child or young person to the care of their parents, we want to find them a home for life where they will feel loved, wanted and valued. Creating a home for life for these children and young people is the key to establishing a sense of belonging and promoting their wellbeing.
This policy responds to the permanent care needs of children and young people in the custody of the chief executive. It outlines the critical requirements when returning children and young people to the care of their parents and when creating a home for life for those unable to return home.
Developing a case plan
Every child or young person must have a case plan developed within three months of entering care that addresses their permanent care needs. The plan must include a primary and concurrent permanent care goal.
The two care goals will be worked alongside each other to prevent delay in planning and so that children and young people do not drift in care.
The permanent care goals
The permanent care goals are:
- return home
- a home for life with family/whānau
- a home for life with non-family/whānau
- transition to independent living
Return Home
Priority must be given to returning the child home, if this meets their safety, needs and wellbeing, and interests. See Key information: Returning children safely home and Key information: Supporting young people to return home safely for more information.
A Home for Life with Family/Whānau
If the child or young person is unable to return home then a home for life with family/whānau must be the next consideration. Key information: Securing a bright and safe future in a home for life gives you further guidance on this.
A Home for Life with Non-Family/Whānau
If a home for life with family/whānau cannot be achieved, home for life with non-family/whānau becomes the primary goal.
Prior to actively seeking a home for life with non-family/whānau a child and family consult must occur that includes either a CPRP member or an Iwi representative.
Refer to the Key information: Securing a bright and safe future in a home for life for further information.
Transition to Independence
If, for a definite reason, a young person in the custody of the Chief Executive reaches the age of 15 and they are unable to safely return home or achieve an alternative home for life arrangement then the social worker must take steps to plan for a successful transition to independent living.
Transition planning includes identifying family or whānau or a significant adult to mentor and provide guidance (or become a formal additional guardian) to the young person once they are no longer in the custody of the Chief Executive.
If no suitable family/whānau or significant adult is identified or the young person is still at school, then an application for an additional guardianship order in favour of the Chief Executive must be completed.
When a young person is transitioning from care to independence the social worker must liaise with Work and Income to ensure the young person is linked to employment, training courses and receives all their financial entitlements.
See Key information: Preparing for independence and Key information: Towards independence - Voices of young people for more information.
Reviewing the case plan
The case plan must be reviewed every three months, either informally or through the relevant formal process, for example family group conference or Family Court. The plan is reviewed with family/whānau and caregivers and others named in the plan. Consideration must be given to how the child or young person can actively participate.
Key Information: Planning and reviewing
When children and young people are returning home
At least two weeks prior to a child or young person returning home (including children and young people exiting from residence), the social worker will hold a planning meeting involving the key professionals who are working with the child or young person and their family. At this meeting professionals will ensure that the services and supports needed are in place.
Within four weeks of the child or young person returning home the social worker will initiate and lead a planning and progress meeting with all professionals involved with the child or young person and their family.
The social worker will use the Child & Family Consult or Young Person & Family Consult as a framework for the meetings held prior to return home and within four weeks of returning home.
Ongoing case plan reviews with professionals will occur within the three month review cycle.
Timeframes for permanent care and home for life
Under 5 years
The key decisions for a child aged under 5 years at the time of coming into care are:
| Time Frame | Decision to be made regarding |
|---|---|
| Within 3 months of coming into care | Permanent care goals agreed |
| Within 6 months of coming into care | The child’s on-going permanent care |
| Within 12 months of coming into care | The child will be in a home for life placement if they have been unable to return home |
| Within 18 months of coming into care | Legal orders to support the home for life placement will have been sought |
5 years and over
The key decisions for a child/young person aged 5 years and over at the time of coming into care are:
| Time Frame | Decision to be made regarding |
|---|---|
| Within 3 months of coming into care | Permanent care goals agreed |
| Within 12 months of coming into care | The child or young person’s on-going permanent care |
| Within 18 months of coming into care | The child or young person will be in a home for life placement if they have been unable to return home |
| Within 24 months of coming into care | Legal orders to support the home for life placement will have been sought |
Where there is deviation from these timeframes a case consult led by the practice leader must occur
When will I know a home for life has been achieved?
A home for life will have been achieved when all of the following has occurred:
- the child or young person is in an approved home for life placement
- the caregivers have obtained legal orders to secure the home for life placement
- custody orders in favour of the Chief Executive have been discharged.
In exceptional circumstances where family/whānaucaregivers have committed to a home for life, and it has been agreed that legal orders are not necessary to keep the child or young person safe, they will be entitled to access support under the home for life package. In these circumstances follow the guidelines outlined in Key information: Securing a bright and safe future in a home for life.
Supporting a home for life
Every child or young person in a home for life placement must have a plan that addresses their needs now and into the future.
Legal orders enabling custody orders in favour of the Chief Executive to be discharged must be used. There are a range of ways in which this can be achieved:
Home for life support package
All approved home for life family/whānau and non-family/whānau caregivers will be offered the three year support package as outlined in Resource: Home for life support.
The support package will be agreed before legal orders to support the home for life placement are sought and orders against the Chief Executive are discharged.
Updated 3 April 2012
