Our policies
The following publications are about our policies and procedures:
| Publication title | Summary |
|---|---|
| Child safety practice manual | The Department of Child Safety is the lead agency for the whole of government response to child protection in Queensland. The Child Safety Practice Manual is one of a set of 'authority documents' that collectively make up the policy and procedural documentation of the Department of Child Safety. The purpose of the practice manual is to facilitate standardised practice across the state. |
| Disability service plan 2007-10 | The purpose of the Disability service plan is to provide increased responsiveness and gradual improvement of government services in addressing the needs of people with a disability and, in keeping with our first priority, it has a particular focus on children and young people in the care of the department, and our staff. |
| Do you have a complaint about the Department of Child Safety? | The Department of Child Safety values accountability and your feedback will help us improve our service. We invite you to contact us if you have a complaint about a decision we have made, the service we have provided and/or the behaviour of our staff. |
| Multicultural action plan 2007-09 | The plan aims to identify and support culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) child protection staff and recruit and promote services and support for CALD foster and kinship carers. |
| Multicultural action plan 2006-07 | The plan demonstrates the department's commitment to improving the responsiveness of its child protection services to children and young people, carers and guardians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD). |
| Multicultural action plan 2005-06 | The plan demonstrates the department's commitment to improving the responsiveness of its child protection services to children and young people, carers and guardians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD). |
| Privacy plan 2007 | The privacy plan provides information about how the department manages personal information. The Department of Child Safety respects and protects people's privacy and collects, stores, uses, and discloses personal information responsibly and transparently when it delivers government services and conducts government business. |
| When child safety officers visit your home | This factsheet details what happens when child safety officers visit your home, what the options are if you do not agree with a decision made by the child safety officers, and who you can talk to for further information. |
| Care agreements - information for parents | A care agreement is an agreement between you and the Department of Child Safety to place your child in out-of-home care with an approved carer for a short period of time. This brochure explains the types of care agreements, your rights, who will care for your child and who to contact for further information. |
| Wanem Sail Proteksan Oda? (What are child protection orders? - Torres Strait Creole translation) | This brochure outlines the different types of child protection orders in Queensland. It has been translated into the Indigenous language of Torres Strait Creole for clients who speak this as their first language. |
| Wen ol Sail Seipti Opesa kam po aus blo yu (When child safety officers visit your home - Torres Strait Creole translation) | This brochure explains what a person can expect prior to, during and after a home visit conducted by child safety officers. It has been translated into the Indigenous language of Torres Strait Creole for clients who speak this as their first language. An English language version of this brochure is also available. |
| Recognised entities (Torres Strait Creole translation) | This brochure explains the role of Recognised Entities and the types of decisions they should be involved in. It outlines that Recognised Entities should be involved in every step of the child protection process as well as changes to temporary arrangements, when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are concerned. It has been translated into the Indigenous language of Torres Strait Creole for clients who speak this as their first language. |
| Child protection system framework | The child protection system framework has been developed to describe in a user-friendly way each phase of the child protection system, the decisions that the department makes, and the key actions that the department takes to improve the safety of children and young people. The audience for the framework includes departmental staff, our partner agencies and members of the public. |
| Foster carer screening and assessment practice paper | The purpose of the assessment of foster carer applicants is to ensure that members of the community who apply to become foster carers are assessed and approved in accordance with the Child Protection Act 1999. This practice paper outlines the assessment criteria and phases of assessment to provide safe and accountable care environments for children and young people who are subject to statutory child protection intervention. |
| The Statement of commitment between the Department of Child Safety, foster care services and the carers of Queensland | The Statement of commitment reflects the importance of sharing our responsibilities and respecting each other's rights in providing the necessary services that keep children and young people safe from harm and promote their well-being. It acknowledges the difficult task before us and is an expression of our sincere determination to work together to meet the challenges of the future. |
| Legislative requirements for providing care | The Child Protection Act 1999 and the Child Protection Regulation 2000 are the key laws that regulate how the government responds to children and young people in need of care and protection. This fact sheet outlines the legislative requirements that include the Statement of Standards (Section 122 of the Child Protection Act 1999) for foster and kinship carers, and the Charter of Rights for a child in care (Schedule 1 of the Child Protection Act 1999). |
| Blue cards | A blue card is a card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG) and indicates that a person is eligible to work with children and young people in Queensland. This information outlines the eligibility requirements, application process and some commonly asked questions. |
| Recognised Entities | Recognised Entities are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations or individuals mandated by their communities and approved and funded by the Department of Child Safety to provide cultural and family advice in Indigenous child protection matters. In placing an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child or young person outside of the home, the Department of Child Safety must involve a Recognised Entity to assist decision making in the best interests of the child or young person. |
| Maintaining confidentiality | Everyone who works with children, young people and their families needs to respect their privacy and maintain confidentiality. As a foster carer or kinship carer, you need to be aware of your responsibilities under the Child Protection Act 1999 for handling information you may receive in your role as a carer. This fact sheet addresses the principles of confidentiality and tips for maintaining confidentiality. |
| Change in circumstances | We understand that as a foster carer or kinship carer, your circumstances may change from time to time. You must inform the Department of Child Safety if a significant change in your circumstances has occurred or is expected to occur. This fact sheet addresses; when you should inform the Department of Child Safety of a change in circumstances, how to inform the department of a change in circumstances and what will happen if you do not inform the department of a change in circumstances. |
| Case planning for a child in care | Case planning is the process used by the Department of Child Safety to make sure children and young people in out-of-home care receive the care and support they need, including maintaining a connection with their family. This fact sheet details how a case plan is designed to meet children and young people's needs ranging from placement and support, health and education, to emotional and social development. Children and young people should be involved in case planning in a way that is appropriate for their age and development. |
| What is a Care Agreement? | A Care Agreement is an agreement between the Department of Child Safety and a parent to place their child or young person This fact sheet addresses the following issues; what rights do parents have if they sign a care agreement, who will care for a child or young person under a care agreement, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, when will the care agreement end and how to obtain more information. |
| Matters of concern | A matter of concern is any concern raised in relation to the quality of care provided to a child or young person placed in an out-of-home care placement under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 82(1), where a breach of the standards of care is indicated. The Department of Child Safety will record and assess these concerns in a fair and open manner that respects your rights. The assessment will look at whether any of the standards of care have been breached. |
| Child protection orders | If it has been assessed that a child or young person has been harmed or is at risk of harm and requires protection, the department may apply to the Childrens Court for a child protection order. This fact sheet addresses why a child protection order may be sought and the different types of child protection orders. |
| Education support plans | Children and young people in out-of-home care often have unique educational needs, and meeting these needs requires planning and support. An education support plan is developed in collaboration between our department and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts, for all children on a child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the Department of Child Safety. This fact sheet looks at what is involved with an educational support plan, when it is developed, what are the department's responsibilities and what the carer's role is. |
| Family contact - information for foster carers | Continued contact with their biological families is fundamental to children and young people in maintaining a sense of self-value and identity. It has significant effects on the emotional and physical development of children and young people and can help them deal with the grief and loss they experience when they leave their family and enter out-of-home care. This fact sheet discusses the benefits of maintained family contact, the department's responsibilities, the role of the foster carers, how to maintain family contact and how to handle difficulties. |
| Promoting positive behaviour | From time to time children and young people in foster or kinship care may display behaviour that is difficult to manage. Often this behaviour will be quite normal for their age and stage in life. However, in some cases a child or young person may display a pattern of challenging behaviour that is disturbing or unusual. This fact sheet looks at reasons for challenging behaviour, short-term and long-term strategies to promote positive behaviour, unacceptable methods of managing behaviour, support for carers in promoting positive behaviour and other programs such as Triple P. |
| Family contact - information for kinship carers | Continued contact with their biological families is fundamental to children and young people in maintaining a sense of self-value and identity. It has significant effects on the emotional and physical development of children and young people and can help them deal with the grief and loss they experience when they leave their family and enter out-of-home care. This fact sheet discusses the benefits of maintained family contact, the department's responsibilities, the role of the foster carers, how to maintain family contact and how to handle difficulties. |
| Collaborating to achieve better child protection outcomes | The Queensland Department of Child Safety has embraced a new framework of government and community partnership – one that is designed to improve service planning and delivery in the State's child protection sector. Through a multi-level planning and partnerships network, the department and its partners are scoping and shaping services in a way that fuses partnerships into service planning and delivery. |
| Non-government service provider - basic recordkeeping guide | This guide has been developed for Service Providers in receipt of grant funding or Individual placement funding from, or licensed by, the department. Service providers should consider the information provided in this guide as reference material and interpret these guidelines in the context of their own environment when developing specific recordkeeping processes. |
| Fact sheet Blue cards - carers | A blue card is a card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian and indicates that a person is eligible to work with children and young people in Queensland. |
- Last updated
- 1 July 2009