Page 1163 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 May 2020
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The purpose of the therapeutic assessment is to:
• review the child’s history of abuse and neglect, and the impact it has had on them;
• identify early relevant therapeutic needs specific to the child;
• recommend strategies to appropriately address the child’s needs; and
• assist the carer and the child’s Care Team to understand the impact trauma has had on the child and help to establish a healing and therapeutic care environment for the child.
The plan that results from the Therapeutic Assessment includes the supports that a carer will need to care for the child and respond to the trauma that they have experienced.
Kinship carers can seek professional counselling support directly from the services referenced in the Carer Handbook, or though their case manager or other contact at any time. Professional counselling services may be requested or recommended for many reasons such as; family conflict resulting in risk of placement breakdown, relationships with birth families, marital issues/discord, financial difficulties and/or behavioural issues of the children in their care or the carer’s own children who may be struggling with the additional family members. The support offered by a professional counselling service is not limited to these reasons and is often unique to the family circumstances of the carer.
5. See response to question 4.
6. Within the ACT, 93 per cent of the 42 carers (referred to in response to question 2) were referred to a local counselling service. Generally, professional counselling services are recommended to carers within their local area.
In circumstances where a kinship carer resides in another jurisdiction, counselling is provided by professional counselling services within their local area. This equates to a total of 7 per cent (three kinship carers).
7. There has been minimal disruption to counselling services as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Several counselling services have adapted their counselling sessions from face-to-face to telephone and teleconference counselling, and other technological communication where possible. The ACT Government continues to work with community agencies and service providers to ensure the continuity of services to carers during COVID-19.
In addition, the CYPS Kinship Team has increased telephone support across the ACT and interstate to kinship carers. This support involves daily and/or weekly telephone and teleconference contact and may also include face-to-face support depending on the needs of the carer.
Support services through ACT Together also continue to be delivered via telephone and teleconference.
8.CYPS and our key stakeholders have been active in supporting all carers during this difficult time and have been providing information about services as well as information and resources for children, young people and carers. A child or young person’s stability within the kinship carers home is fundamental in supporting a child or
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