17.6 Locating a non-relative placement in another jurisdiction
Purpose
This procedure outlines the process for requests made to another state, territory or New Zealand (jurisdiction) in relation to locating a non-relative placement for a child subject to a child protection order in Queensland.
Introduction
Where a child is subject to a Queensland child protection order and a decision has been made that it is in the child's best interests to locate a placement in another jurisdiction, the CSO can request the assistance of the other jurisdiction to locate a non-relative placement. All possible kinship care options should be explored in the other jurisdiction before making a request to locate a non-relative placement.
Requesting the assistance from another jurisdiction to locate a non-relative placement
When requesting the assistance from another jurisdiction to locate a non-relative placement within their jurisdiction, the CSO will:
- request a copy of the 'Request to Locate an Interstate Placement' form from the ILO at Court Services Unit;
- complete the 'Request to Locate an Interstate Placement', paying particular attention to the type of placement being sought, the preferred locality and any relevant behaviours of the child;
- provide appropriate supporting documentation, for example, the current case plan, as well as any relevant medical, psychological or school reports;
- sign the request and ensure that it is also signed by the team leader; and
- fax or post all relevant documentation to the ILO at Court Services Unit.
Upon receipt of the relevant documentation from the CSO, the ILO will:
- forward the request to the ILO in the relevant jurisdiction and will continue to liaise with the other jurisdiction until a placement is located or until advised by the other jurisdiction that the placement cannot be found; and
- advise the CSO of the progress and outcome of the request to locate a placement.
If a placement is located, the potential carer/s must meet all the requirements for approval of carers in Queensland even though the interstate jurisdiction has recommended their approval for the child. This includes the completion of the 'Application for Approval - Form 3 (APA)' and the undertaking of personal history checks and application for a blue card for the applicant/s and all other adult household members. Once the CSSC manager has approved them as carer/s for the child, the CSO will need to arrange for the child's travel and transition into the new placement, in accordance with the child's case plan and departmental procedures.
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A request to locate a placement remains current for six months. Following this, the request will be 'closed' by the Queensland ILO and at the other jurisdiction. If a placement cannot be located in this time, the Queensland ILO will discuss the request and any other options with the CSO. This includes the possibility of submitting a further request, if a subsequent case plan review determines the child's needs are best met by the child residing in another jurisdiction.
Whilst other jurisdictions will work towards securing non-relative placements on behalf of the department, prior to seeking a placement for a child in another jurisdiction, the CSO must give consideration to the following:
- the difficulty all jurisdictions experience in locating non-relative placements, especially for older children, children with challenging behaviour/management issues and sibling groups; and
- the circumstance for the planned move, for example, a parent may have recently moved to the other jurisdiction, but is known to be highly mobile. In this circumstance it may not be in the child's best interest to move placements, if there is no certainty that the parent/s will remain in that jurisdiction.
Forms
The following form is available from the Queensland ILO at Court Services Unit:
- Request to locate an interstate placement
- Last updated
- 23 April 2009
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