Changes from 07/06/07
Claims by Foster Carers and Relative/Kinship Carers for Commonwealth Child Care Benefit (CCB)
There is a new process for carers to claim the CCB and for DoCS to pay the balance of child care fees directly to child care centres:
1. DoCS approves child's attendance at nominated child care centre for specified number of hours/days 2. Carer is informed that DoCS will assist by paying the 'gap' between the CCB and the full child care fees 3. Carer enrols child at the centre, accepts liability for costs, and arranges to be invoiced by the centre 4. Carer completes application for CCB, acknowledges liability for costs, and provides DoCS with a copy of the receipt for lodgement 5. Carer is invoiced, with the invoice sent to DoCS, either by child care centre or carer 6. DoCS pays the invoiced amount.
This process is repeated each year that child care is required.
If you are unsure of any of this please call us or email fpsn2@optusnet.com.au
Partnership Agreement
between DoCS
and carers
DoCS and carers communicate by:
ø
responding promptly and courteously to one another
ø
contacting one another to share information and feedback
ø
listening to and respecting each others’ point of view
ø
working together to resolve concerns
ø
working together to protect the confidentiality of sensitive and
personal information.
DoCS and carers support placements for children and
young people by:
ø
caseworkers giving carers relevant information as soon as
it becomes available
ø
caseworkers and carers working together to meet children and
young people’s support needs and case plan goals
ø
caseworkers phoning carers to check how things are in
the first week of the placement
ø
helping children and young people to understand their identity,
and supporting their contact with their family and community
ø
telling one another about concerns and asking for help when needed
ø
participating in training to continually expand knowledge and skills
in looking after children and young people in care.
DoCS includes carers’ views by:
ø
recognising the importance of the views of carers in decision-making
concerning children and young people, and including them in caseplanning
processes
ø
giving clear reasons why decisions are made
ø
respecting and celebrating diversity of culture and beliefs
ø
consulting with carers and families, taking their needs and those
of any other child in placement into consideration when making
arrangements for a child or young person in care.
DoCS management systems support carers by:
ø
giving feedback to carers about the care they provide
ø
giving carers written policies and information
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telling carers about DoCS’ processes and how to follow them
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having accessible complaints, appeal and carer feedback processes
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making carer payments promptly and accurately.
One of the ways DoCS staff and carers
work together is through regional
foster carer advisory groups. These
groups will lead the implementation
of this agreement across the state.
DoCS values and appreciates the
contributions that carers and their
families make every day to support
children and young people. The actions
identified in this agreement will be
monitored so we can continue to
improve the way we work together.
Further information
A DoCS caseworker should always be your first
point of contact.
There is information for carers on the Foster
Care pages of DoCS’ website www.community.
nsw.gov.au.
Carers can contact local Community Services
Centres (CSCs) (listed in the White Pages
under Community Services, Department of).
Your Local CSC:
DoCS’ Complaints Unit 1800 000 164
Foster Care Association (NSW) Inc.
www.fcansw.org.au 02 9633 5816
Foster Parents’ Support Network
www.fosterparentsupportnetwork.org.au
02 9608 8494
Aboriginal Child, Family and Community
Care State Secretariat (AbSec)
www.absec.org.au 02