Policy and procedural information for organisations providing specialised substitute residential care to children and young people.

Chapter 16A of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 allows certain agencies, known as prescribed bodies, to exchange information that relates to a child or young person’s safety, welfare and wellbeing.

Specialised substitute residential care providers must have enough information to develop and implement plans to meet the immediate day-to-day care needs of children, young people and their families.

Providers must have formal case plans for each child or young person in care for 180 days or more in any 12-month period.

If a child or young person is in specialised substitute residential care for 90 days or more in any 12-month period, they must be placed with a designated agency or have their placements supervised by a designated agency.

Specialised substitute residential care is an arrangement between a parent and an organisation for a child to receive care away from their usual home for 3 or more nights in any 7-day period. The care must be for respite or behaviour support, or funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).