Centrecare’s work across the social services sector is founded on and embedded in, a holistic and evidenced based Therapeutic Framework developed by the organisation in 2014 and fully implemented throughout 2016. This framework ensures our work with children, adults, families and communities is a responsive and valued service that enhances well being and recognises human dignity and worth.

The Framework consists of seven key elements:
- Evidenced Based Practice Framework;
- Pathways of Service Model;
- Collaboration Framework;
- Cultural Competency Framework;
- Integrated Service Model;
- Pathways of Change Model; and
- Evaluation Framework

Each element plays a critical role in the clients’ service journey, how clients’ needs are identified and addressed, how services are designed, what activities/interventions are implemented, how outcomes are achieved and measured and how services are reviewed and improved.

This presentation will follow the journey of the development of the Therapeutic Framework, and the implementation in Centrecare’s Aboriginal specific, out of home care service - Djooraminda. In the out of home care context, the Therapeutic Framework ensures children and young people have regular opportunities to share their experiences of their care journey and ensures staff working with children and young people are able to adjust therapeutic care plans to meet the changing needs of children and young people. The Therapeutic Framework also ensures thorough assessments are regularly completed, and ensures outcomes are regularly measured to ensure the service remains responsive to the needs of children and young people.

Junction Australia’s staff are trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention. We ensure that staff are ‘trauma informed’ by providing continual training in the area of developmental trauma, and believe that positive psychology is the next step in providing an exceptional standard of care for young people.

Evidence has demonstrated that well-being and resilience can be taught and measured. Using a systematic approach, positive psychology interventions including education and modifications to existing policies and procedures; specifically focused on PERMA+ . Improved psychological health will increase staff productivity and collaboration; financially beneficial due to higher staff retention rate, and is also positively correlated with the stabilisation of young people’s placements.

Engagement in these activities enables our young people to start their healing process, and develop their capacity to experience more positive emotion and build foundations of healthy relationships. Staff consistency provides the young people with stability and predictability; once stabilised, staff assist them to embed PERMA+ skills as lifelong strategies to maintain well-being.

Information on burnout and the psychological impact it has on the nervous system; the importance of self-care when supporting individuals effected by trauma, to avoid vicarious traumatisation. Looking at the benefits of yoga, to improve cognitive functioning, citing a number of published neuroscientific studies, and case studies from young people in our care.

Through the use of case studies and interactive activities we are able to demonstrate that the program has been effective to help young people flourish into adulthood.

Junction Australia works in partnership with Australian Childhood Foundation.

Placement stability for children in out of home care has been linked to a range of positive outcomes including lower levels of stress, fewer behavioural problems and fewer mental health issues. Placement instability, however, is widely recognised as compounding the harm experienced by already vulnerable children. Besides being associated with higher stress levels, more mental health issues and poorer educational outcomes, children who have experienced multiple placements have greater challenges transitioning to adulthood.

The importance of placement stability is recognised by its use as an effectiveness measure in national reporting on child protection services. The current national counting rules for placement stability, however mask the true extent of placement instability experienced by children in out of home care in Australia.

This presentation poses that the national counting rules need to be amended to provide a true understanding of the level of placement instability. The measure needs to count the number of placements experienced by children currently in the system, include counts for all children, not just those on orders, and be a continuous count of all placements a child has experienced across their lifetime of care, not just their last period of care.

True Relationships and Reproductive Health (True) has spent almost 45 years working in the areas of sexuality, respectful relationships and sexual abuse prevention, including working with children, young people and families who have experience with child protection systems. True also delivers training and develops resources for foster and kinship carers and child protection professionals.
Children and young people in OOHC are less likely to access sexual sexuality education program, are less likely to have the same sexuality knowledge of their peers, and therefore have a high need for specialised sexuality education. In line with the expected recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse in Out Of Home Care, True was funded by the Complex Case Advice and Practice Support (CCAPS) Practice Leadership Unit within the Queensland Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (Child Safety) to develop, deliver and evaluate the Shared Understandings project for professionals working with foster and kinship carers across Queensland. The aim was to increase the confidence and competence of these professionals to support carers, communicate about relationships and sexuality, and respond to the sexual health and behaviour needs of the children and young people in their care.
Shared Understandings enabled the development of a community of practice amongst participants, whilst recognizing and building upon their existing experience working with carers. The project promoted enduring positive and protective strategies for working with children, families and carers in the area of relationships and sexuality.