NEW CARER SUBSIDY AND THERAPEUTIC ASSESSMENTS
On the 22 January 2015, the ACT Government launched a new five year $16 million strategy A Step Up for Our Kids – One Step Can Make a Lifetime of Difference to reform out of home care services.
We are one step closer to new arrangements under A Step Up for Our Kids with the introduction of the new Carer Subsidy and commencement of Therapeutic Assessments.
What is the new Carer Subsidy?
From 1 July 2015, a new Carer Subsidy rate based on a child or young person’s age will apply to all new placements. The new Carer Subsidy will replace the Basic Care, Care Level 1, Care Level 2, Enduring Parental Responsibility (EPR) and Intensive Care subsidies.
Carer Subsidy Rate / Age 0-4(Weekly) / Age 5-14
(Weekly) / Age 15-17
(Weekly)
Per child / $255.96 / $287.01 / $385.55
New placements occur when a child or young person enters care, or when a child or young person in an existing placement moves to a new care placement.
Grandfathering arrangements will apply to your subsidy rate if:
· you have a child or young person in your care prior to July 1; and
· the subsidy rate you receive is higher than the new standard age related subsidy rate.
This means you will continue to be funded at the same level for up to four years, or until the care placement changes, whichever occurs first.
Changes to Carer Subsidies will ensure the fairest and best use of resources for all children and young people in care in the ACT.
The new subsidy is intended to contribute to the cost of living for a child or young person regardless of their complexity of need.
A child or young person’s additional needs will be identified through a Therapeutic Assessment process. This will result in more flexibility for carers in accessing supports and services that are relevant for their child.
What is a Therapeutic Assessment?
A Therapeutic Assessment aims to provide a holistic assessment of a child or young person’s needs across a wide range of domains. It will review the impact trauma has had on a child or young person’s development and identify how carers may be best supported to meet the child or young person’s needs.
Carers will be central to this process and a Therapeutic Assessment will look at different areas of a child or young person’s life such as health, education, behavioural and emotional development, culture and identity, family and social relationships.
A therapeutic case plan will detail the supports and services required for the child or young person. This plan may consist of a variety of supports including, but not limited to, psychology services, speech therapy and supervised contact services.
Therapeutic Assessments will be undertaken for all children and young people in care. This is a new service which will take time to set up and for the assessors to see every child and young person. This will happen in phases from July 2015. Intake to Phase 1 of Therapeutic Assessment service will be for new placements and children with high/complex needs in non-family based placements (residential care).
A Therapeutic Assessment may also be considered on a case-by-case basis if the child or young person currently in your care is experiencing difficulties and needs additional support.
Case Study 1
John and Sue have a 3 year old boy, Peter, who came into their care on 3 July 2015. John and Sue receive the age-related subsidy of $255.96 per week.This is the first time Peter has been in care. He has come from a birth family with a background of significant neglect.Peter had an out of home care health and well being assessment at the Child at Risk Health Unit and a Therapeutic Assessment.
The two assessments identified delayed speech and language skills, tooth decay, limited social interaction skills, being underweight and poor sleep patterns.
Recommendations from the Therapeutic Assessment included supervised contact, having a speech pathology assessment accessed through the ACT Government Therapy ACT, dental follow up with ACT Dental, Paediatrician appointments to look at weight, diet and sleep. Follow up referrals will continue to occur through current government or community services to normalise children and young people’s experiences.
Peter had a speech pathology assessment and it was identified that he will need ongoing speech therapy. Peter was referred for an eligibility assessment for funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Peter’s attendance at child care two days a week will address the therapeutic need to increase his social skills in a peer oriented play environment. Peter will also attend supervised contact visits with his birth parents. These activities will be provided for through therapeutic support.
Case Study 2
Rachel, 13, has been in a short term placement with foster carers since May following the death of her mother. Rachel moved in with her aunt and uncle in kinship care on 10 July 2015.
Rachel’s aunt and uncle will receive an age related subsidy of $287.01 per week and Rachel will receive a Therapeutic Assessment.
The Therapeutic Assessment revealed the need for Rachel to receive counselling support to deal with the loss of her mother, as well as the need to continue with activities that were a normal part of her life. This included continuing with ballet, as Rachel is a very accomplished dancer and dancing has been a significant part of her life. Being able to continue on with dancing and remain connected with this peer network is deemed as having a therapeutic effect for Rachel especially during this difficult time in her life. Funding ongoing ballet classes, attending ballet school camps and equipment is seen as therapeutic and attracts the therapeutic support in addition to the age subsidy.
I already have a child in my care – what does this mean for me?
Grandfathering arrangements will apply to your subsidy rate for placements existing prior to 1 July 2015.
The child or young person in your care will have a Therapeutic Assessment at a later stage, during Phase 2. A Therapeutic Assessment may also be considered on a case-by-case basis if the child or young person currently in your care is experiencing difficulties and needs additional support.
Case Study 3
Peter and Lindy have had an 8 year old girl, Sophia, in their care for the last 2 years. Sophia currently plays soccer and attends Cubs.Sophia also attends regular counselling sessions through a private psychologist. Prior to 1 July, Peter and Lindy received the care level 1 (5-14 years) subsidy payment of $411.95 per week for Sophia.
On 1 July 2015 the new age-related subsidy will be introduced. Under the new age-related subsidy Peter and Lindy will receive $287.01 per week with a grandfathered payment of $136.06 per week for a period of up to four years, or until Sophia’s placement changes.
The costs associated with Sophia’s soccer and Cubs are included in the costs of daily living and part of the age-related subsidy.
Sophia attends supervised contact visits with her birth mother. The cost of this, and associated transport, will continue to be funded.
Peter and Lindy also receive additional financial support to cover the counselling costs.This additional financial support will also be maintained. The counsellor indicated that they want to see Sophia twice a week for a short period to help her deal with difficult feelings that arose from recent contact with her birth mother. The foster care agency worker contacts the CYPS case worker to get approval for this extra expenditure through existing processes.
Case Study 4
David is a 7 year old boy who has been with his carers, Trish and Michael, for the last 8 months. Initially he appeared to settle well, being very compliant and quiet.Over the last month, David’s behaviour has become more difficult. He is regularly having bursts of anger and throwing anything within reach at this time. This has resulted in damage to doors, windows and individual items in the house.
Trish and Michael are now considering whether they can continue to care for David. A Therapeutic Assessment was undertaken and additional issues were identified including difficulties playing with peers at school during recess and lunch, difficulties sustaining attention to work in class.
Recommendations to address these issues were made including working with the school psychologist to facilitate support through the network student engagement team behaviour support worker. A referral was made to Melaleuca Place (Trauma recovery Centre) for ongoing therapeutic support and coordination of trauma informed services with all stakeholders (e.g. school, carers). David enjoys watching soccer matches with his carer Michael and enrolment in a local soccer team to encourage teamwork and peer interactions was recommended.
All costs associated with these services would be covered by the therapeutic support, however Melaleuca Place and the school based services are current government services and therefore do not incur a financial charge.
For any further information please visit www.act.gov.au/CBRstepsup, email or phone the out of home care services team on (02) 6207 4544.