SA Child Protection Awards, COVID-19 update and legislative review

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A message from the Chief Executive 

Dear sector colleagues

I want to start by expressing my deepest thanks to you for the work you do each and every day.

Child protection work is tough, challenging and complex. I am proud of our sector’s exceptional resilience and determination and our collaborative efforts to create positive outcomes for children and young people.

The recent SA Child Protection Awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of children and young people, carers, volunteers, staff and organisations from across the sector.

It was an inspiring event, and I congratulate the winners and finalists. We received almost 300 nominations, each highlighting why our work matters so much.

Speaking about roles that matter – we also recently marked Foster and Kinship Carer Week.

Carers make an extremely important contribution in transforming the lives of children in care and this week gives us an opportunity to celebrate and recognise them.

I was also fortunate last month as part of the Country Cabinet to visit Port Augusta and Port Pirie and spend time with carers at events in these locations.

Another focus of the trip was discussing the review of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 with our Upper Spencer Gulf stakeholders. Over the coming weeks we’ll continue to hold consultation events across the state and encourage you to get involved – join the discussion – and tell us what works, what doesn’t and how the legislation can be improved.

In this edition of Partner, you’ll find several updates from our Contracts and Licensing team, details about a new leadership program for young people and an update on the department’s first Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan.

Ngaityalya (thank you – Kaurna),  

Cathy Taylor
Chief Executive
Department for Child Protection

COVID-19 sector update  

Find out about changes to isolation requirements, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) guidelines, vaccine eligibility and Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) distribution, in the latest COVID-19 update.

 

Review of the child protection legislation

The full review of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 is underway.

We encourage you to have your say by reading the Discussion Paper, registering to attend a consultation event and completing the survey at www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/CYPSActReview.

Feel free to promote this important opportunity amongst your networks.

 

2022 SA Child Protection Awards 

Meet our winners

A choir giving young people a powerful voice, a group of dedicated residential care staff and inspirational foster and kinship carers have been recognised in the 2022 SA Child Protection Awards.

These winners were among those taking out 11 categories at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday 9 September, during National Child Protection Week. 

Find out more, and see the full list of winners on the department’s website.

Uniting Country SA’s Harry Randhana and Liz Sampson accept the award for Outstanding Service (Regional) from the Hon Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection.

 

Brighter futures

Leadership program scholarships for young people

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) has partnered with Youth Opportunities to offer scholarships for up to 20 young people aged 15-25 to complete a personal leadership program.

The 10 week self-paced learning program empowers young people to use their voice and build the skills and confidence they need to make decisions about their future.

If you know a young person who would benefit, please visit our website for more information or email CPReform@sa.gov.au.

 

Procurement and contracting news

 

Residential Care Services

DCP is proud to be working with our partners to continue transforming our non-family-based care services throughout South Australia.

Twelve providers were successful in the  general residential care placement tender to provide up to an additional 80 placements throughout the state. 

Read the full story.

Quarterly contract review update

Thank you to our partners who took part in the Quarter 4 (Q4) contract reviews. The open and honest discussions DCP is able to have during these reviews, and the feedback provided, plays a key role in helping us achieve our combined goals. 

Find out more about the feedback received in the Q4 reviews.

 

Changes to our Service Contracts and Licensing Team

Our Service Contracts and Licensing Team has transitioned from the department’s Finance and Corporate Services Directorate to the Out of Home Care Directorate.

The directorate change provides the opportunity to align our contract management and out of home care functions to ensure quality and effective service provision for children, young people, carers and families.

 

News

 

Licensing reform continues

Working collaboratively with service providers is a critical element in understanding where quality improvements can be made that will support the delivery of better and safer outcomes for children and young people. Read more about DCP’s Licensing Reform on the department’s website.

 

Residential Care Taskforce

The Residential Care Taskforce met again last week, providing another important opportunity to build our capacity as a sector to deliver safe quality residential care and supported independent living services to young people.

The interface between case management and residential care, and potential ways to enhance collaborative care planning was among the key topics discussed. Thank you to those who volunteered to form a smaller working group with DCP staff to further progress this important topic.

We look forward to sharing further updates from the Taskforce as work continues to progress.

 

New course links child protection and domestic violence

Child protection workers in South Australia now have access to a unique domestic and family violence course, to build on their expertise when working directly with families experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV).

DCP has partnered with the Social Work Innovation Research Living Space (SWIRLS) at Flinders University to co-design the Responding to DFV in the context of child protection: Advanced understanding and leadership course.

From L to R: Senior Lecturer Dr Carmela Bastian and SWIRLS Director Sarah Wendt from Flinders University, the Hon Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection, DCP Chief Executive Cathy Taylor, Senior Lecturer Dr Kate Seymour, Flinders University, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) Professor Romy Lawson, Flinders University, and DCP Lead Practitioner Claire Simmons.

 

Missing person response - police change

From November, the way police respond to missing person reports for children and young people in care will change.

Police Security Officers, who were previously called Protective Security Officers and were mainly responsible for the security of State Government buildings, will now respond instead of SA Police Officers.

It’s part of legislative changes to expand the role of Police Security Officers into some operational areas of frontline policing.

While staff and carers will see officers responding wearing a different uniform, they will carry out the same duties.

Police Security Officers will help locate missing and at-risk children and young people, provide care and support and help them return to their placement or care home.

They will also receive training in the welfare, care, safety, security and legislation related to children and young people in care.

 

Working with Children Checks – family-based carers

DCP has undertaken a review and technical update of the Working with children checks for family based carers document.

This update outlines that biological parents who reside with an approved carer and their own children in the same home do not require a working with children check, provided that no other child or young person resides in this home.

More information can be found in the document published on the Carer and Personnel service provision requirement page.

 

Guardian for Children and Young People - Ask Shona

Shona Reid (right) is South Australia’s new Guardian for Children and Young People. She is calling on children and young people with a care experience to ask her a question.

It could be about Shona herself (‘How many pairs of shoes do you have?’), the advocacy work of her office, or about life in care, like connecting to culture and if they really do need to eat all their greens.

Please encourage children and young people to get involved by emailing their questions to gcyp@gcyp.sa.gov.au.

PLUS if the child/young person would like to be part of a video asking the questions directly to Shona, please let her team know and they will get in contact with you.

Emailed questions and expressions of interest to participate in the video close at 5pm on Monday 31 October.

 

DCP's new Reconciliation Action Plan launched

DCP is extremely proud to have launched its first Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day. 

The RAP is a continuation of our reconciliation journey. Throughout implementation DCP is committed to challenging ourselves and our ways of working and aiming high – working towards measurable targets, implementing long-term strategies, and embedding governance and accountability.

DCP is fully committed to bringing our stakeholders along on this journey; working alongside our partners to build a system that supports real change for Aboriginal children and young people, embeds self-determination for Aboriginal families and communities, respects Aboriginal cultures and recognises the role every one of us plays in reconciliation.

Find out more.

 

2022 International Foster Care Conference

DCP, Life Without Barriers and Flinders University presented at the 2022 International and National Foster Care Conference in Darwin recently.

The presentation highlighted the success of the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Program in helping increase support for carers and keep siblings connected in South Australia. The conference provided an opportunity to hear from key stakeholders including foster families, children in care, social workers and academics.

Find out more on the department’s website.

Back (L- R): DCP Executive Director Out of Home Care Sue Barr, Flinders University Senior Lecturer in Social Work Dr Helen McLaren, Manager Practice Advancement & Implementation MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™, Life Without Barriers, Chris Skinner, Life Without Barriers SA Director Simone Mather and foster carer and Hub Home Provider Kristy Smith.

Front (L – R):  Foster carer and Hub Home Provider Deb Bills, Flinders University Senior Lecturer in Social Work Dr Michelle Jones and Life Without Barriers MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Liaison Officer Kate Teekens.

 
 

Free water safety and survival programs for children in care

The summer holidays will soon be here and VACSWIM is again offering free water safety and survival programs to children in care aged 3-12 during December 2022 and January 2023.

The 5-day program builds water safety awareness and confidence, and is a great way to keep children busy during the school holidays. We’re asking that you please share information about the program with carers.

All VACSWIM enrolments for children in care must be completed via this form. You can find out more on DCP's carer portal.

 

Next Steps Pilot Service

The Next Steps Pilot Program is successfully supporting 16 young people to move from residential care to independence, with positions still available to help others adapt to adult life. Find out more on the department's website.

 

Leadership appointments and farewells across the sector

 

Child and Family Focus SA

Child and Family Focus SA’s (CAFFSA) Dr Rob Martin (right) is the new Chair of the National Board for the Child and Family Wellbeing Association of Australia. Rob has extensive experience in the sector.  Congratulations Rob!

 

Melissa Gibson (left) has been appointed as Deputy Chief Executive at CAFFSA. Melissa is the Deputy CEO and Policy and Advocacy Lead for CAFFSA. She brings senior and executive level management experience across a range of human services in the government and non-government sector and is passionate about supporting vulnerable children, families and communities.

 

DCP makes two key appointments

We are pleased to announce two new appointments to our Senior Executive Group.

Billie-Jo Barbara (right) is DCP’s new Chief Human Resources Officer, and joins the department from PIRSA, where she was the Director, People and Culture. Billie-Jo has also held executive HR roles at the Department for Education, Anglicare NT and Charles Darwin University.

 

 

Nikunj Mandlas (left) has been appointed Chief Information Officer. Nikunj brings extensive experience in delivering business and organisational outcomes across the private and public sector. His career has included roles as Digital Transformation Director at the Department for Innovation and Skills in South Australia, the Principal Architect (Digital Program) at the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Digital Technology Manager at SA Power Networks.

 

Do you have a new executive appointment you’d like us to share? Or, would you like to bid farewell to an executive who has made a significant contribution to the child protection sector in South Australia?

Let us know at DCPCommunications@sa.gov.au.

 

How to contribute to Partner 

We are keen to hear from you 

Partner is a great platform for us to collaborate and share learnings, innovation and best practice. Partner can showcase the great work that happens every day.

If you have an article you would like to share with your sector colleagues, contact DCPCommunications@sa.gov.au.

 
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Department for Child Protection | Government of South Australia
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