business.gov.au

Statutory Out-of-Home Care Agency Accreditation - New South Wales

Description

You will need this accreditation if your organisation intends to provide statutory out-of-home care services for children and young people in New South Wales (NSW).

Out-of-home care programs provide care to children and young people who may not be able to live safely at home or who have been placed in someone else's care by the NSW Children's Court (statutory out-of-home care) or by the parents (voluntary out-of-home care).

There are two types of out-of-home care services:

  • Statutory out-of-home care is provided to children and young people for at least 14 days when the Children's Court makes an order, or the young person is designated a 'protected person' (accreditation)
  • Voluntary out-of-home care is arranged between a parent and an organisation when there are no concerns for the child's safety (registration).

It is illegal to provide statutory out-out-home care services in NSW without first being accredited by the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for provisional accreditation, your organisation must:

  • be an entity (individual person such as a sole trader is not eligible to apply)
  • demonstrate how your organisation will comply with the New South Wales Child Safe Standards for Permanent Care
  • submit your organisation's statutory out-of-home care policies and procedures (indirect evidence) for assessment.

To be eligible for full accreditation, your organisation must:

  • hold current accreditation by the Office of the Children's Guardian
  • be due for accreditation renewal
  • have provided statutory out-of-home care services during the 12 months prior to your current accreditation expiry date
  • demonstrate how your organisation complies with the New South Wales Child Safe Standards for Permanent Care
  • submit your organisation's statutory out-of-home care policies and procedures (indirect evidence) for assessment
  • participate in a direct evidence program by demonstrating your organisation's statutory out-of-home care practice (direct evidence) for assessment.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

As an accredited statutory out-of-home care provider, your organisation must comply with all the conditions of accreditation issued by the Children's Guardian.

Duration

The provisional accreditation period is three years. The full accreditation period can be between one, three or five years.

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

Please consult the Contact Officer for information on fees to be submitted.

Act(s) name

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 New South Wales

Regulation(s) name

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Regulation 2012 New South Wales

Application process

Apply

Your organisation can apply to the Office of the Children's Guardian for accreditation to provide statutory out-of-home care services in NSW. If your organisation is not already accredited, it may be granted provisional accreditation. Provisional accreditation will involve an assessment of your organisation's statutory out-of-home care policies and procedures (indirect evidence).

When your organisation is provisionally accredited and has commenced providing statutory out-of-home care services, it may be eligible to apply for full accreditation following an evidence based assessment of its statutory out-of-home care practice (direct evidence).

Transfer

You may apply to the Office of the Children's Guardian to transfer your accreditation to another eligible organisation. The Office must give its express written authorisation before a transfer can take place.

Additional information

The Office of the Children's Guardian may request additional information with the application for accreditation.

Accredited statutory out-of-home care organisations are known as designated agencies. All designated agencies are publicly listed on the Office of the Children's Guardian website.

The Children's Guardian may place conditions on an organisation's accreditation.

You have the right to an administrative review of any decision made by the Children's Guardian in relation to your organisation's application for accreditation.

Please note: individuals or sole traders are not eligible to apply for accreditation by the Children's Guardian. Applicant organisations must have an Australian Business Number.

Administering agency

NSW Office of the Children's Guardian

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.