3. Approval
3.1 Decide the outcome of the application for approval
To approve an application the CSSC manager must be satisfied that the applicant is suitable based on all aspects of suitability. When an applicant does not meet one or more aspects of suitability, the application must be refused.
Where reference is made to the CSSC or CSSC manager, this refers to the CSSC or CSSC manager in the geographical area where the carer resides, or the foster and kinship care service conducting the assessment is located.
Unless an application is withdrawn by the applicant in writing, or refused based on an adverse personal history, the CSSC manager is delegated to approve or refuse the application:
- within 90 days of the recorded lodgement date of the application
- during the period of extension as agreed in writing (refer to 3.2 Extend the timeframe for deciding the application).
If a decision is not made within either of the above timeframes, the application is taken to be refused and the applicant is provided with written notice of the refusal decision (refer to 3.4 Refuse the application).
When deciding the outcome of an application for approval, the CSSC manager will consider all information provided and the legislative and policy requirements for suitability, including:
- the outcomes of all applications for a blue card or the validation of a blue card and all personal history checks, as recorded on the Form 4: Approval decision
- information in the Form 3A: Foster carer applicant assessment and recommendation form - Initial approval only or Kinship carer assessment report
- whether the applicant is a suitable person to be an approved foster or kinship carer
- the views of the recognised entity about the proposed kinship carer for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.
The approval decision may be informed by the convening of an assessment panel however a CSSC manager must decide the outcome of the application.
For further information about the legislative and policy requirements underpinning approval, refer to the practice paper Assessment of foster carer applicants or the practice resources Legislative requirements for the approval of kinship carers and Assessment of kinship carer applicants.
Note: The CSSC manager may decide the outcome of an application, prior to the finalisation of personal history checks for a new adult household member, that joined the household after the application has been lodged.
3.2 Extend the timeframe for deciding the application
Where an application is unlikely to be decided within 90 days of the lodgement date, it is possible to extend the timeframe. The extension is to be for the minimum amount of time required to decide the application, as agreed to by the applicant in writing.
When an extension is required, the following actions are required by the CSSC manager, before the 90 day time period from the lodgement date lapses:
- contact the applicant and discuss the reason for the application not being decided within 90 days and the additional time required to decide the application
- seek the agreement of the applicant to the extension
- complete the Letter requesting an extension to Form APA and request that the applicant signs and returns the agreement
- place a copy of the letter and the signed agreement on the applicant's file.
3.3 Approve the application
To approve the application, the CSSC manager will record the approval decision, along with any relevant comments, on the 'Form 4: Approval decision', and sign the form.
When the application is approved, advise the applicant:
- that their application has been approved
- that they are legally obligated to inform Child Safety Services of specific changes in carer circumstances and copies of the Change in carer circumstances form will be posted to them, for their future completion, if necessary (refer to 2. What if there is a change in carer circumstances).
Following the provision of the above advice to the approved carer:
- provide the following to the approved carer:
- a Letter of approval as a foster carer or Letter of approval as a kinship carer
- a completed Certificate of Approval (Foster carer) or Certificate of Approval (Kinship carer)
- copies of the 'Change in carer circumstances form'
- the Foster Carer Card - Fact sheet
- a copy of the Statement of Commitment between the Department of Child Safety, foster care services and the carers of Queensland
- a copy of the Carer handbook, if they do not already have one
- place the assessment report, the 'Form 4: Approval decision' and a copy of the certificate of approval and the letter of approval on the approved carer's file
- provide a copy of the certificate of approval and the letter of approval to the foster and kinship care service, if applicable
- generate person records in ICMS for the approved carer and any adult household members, create a carer entity for the carer or carer couple and record the carer's approval details in ICMS
- provide the approved carer's payment details to Carepay by completing a FIN 23 - Vendor egistration/change application form, and forwarding the form to Expenditure and Carer Services, Corporate Link.
For information about determining the expiry date for a certificate of approval, refer to the practice resource Completing the Certificate of Approval.
Note: A kinship carer requires a separate certificate of approval for each child for whom they are approved. A 'Certificate of Approval (Kinship carer)' cannot be amended to change the child for whom the carer is approved.
3.4 Refuse the application
Refusal - not on blue card grounds
When an application for approval or renewal of approval is refused by the CSSC manager and the refusal is not on blue card grounds, or when an application for approval is not decided within 90 days of the lodgement of the application or during the period of extension as agreed in writing:
- provide the applicant with written notice of the decision within 10 days, using the Letter of refusal
- record the refusal decision in ICMS.
To record the refusal decision in ICMS for an application for approval:
- create a person record for the applicant
- record an 'alert' on the applicant (refer to Chapter 10.7 Recording alerts for a child and family)
- record the alert 'start date' as the date the decision was made to refuse the application.
To record the refusal decision in ICMS for an application for renewal of approval:
- update the carer's approval status from 'approved' to 'cancelled', enter an end date and record the decision to refuse the application in the 'end reason'
- record an 'alert' on the former carer
- record the alert 'start date' as the date the decision was made to refuse the application for renewal.
The CSU must be notified (by email, telephone or in writing) of the decision to refuse the application, if:
- if the applicant does not seek a review of the decision within the required timeframe, or
- if they do seek a review of the decision and the CST upholds the decision of Child Safety Services.
When an application for approval is not decided within 90 days of the lodgement of the application or during the period of extension as agreed in writing, the proposed carers will need to submit a new Application for approval - Form 3 APA, if they wish to proceed with an application.
Refusal - on blue card grounds
When an application for approval or renewal of approval is refused by the CSSC manager and the refusal is due to blue card grounds:
- provide the applicant with written notice of the decision within 10 days, using the 'Letter of refusal'
- explain in the letter the reasons for the decision and that there are no review rights under the Child Protection Act 1999, schedule 2, in relation to the decision by Child Safety Services to refuse approval or renewal of approval on blue card grounds
- record the refusal decision in ICMS (see above).
- Last updated
- 21 September 2009
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