When a parent makes an arrangement with an organisation for their child to receive overnight respite care or behaviour support for 3 or more nights in a 7-day period outside of the family home in NSW, this is legally known as specialised substitute residential care. Any organisation that provides this type of care falls under the Child Safe Scheme and must follow a code of practice.
SSRC can include emergency placements, regular respite arrangements, longer-term care, behaviour support programs, and some NDIS-funded overnight supports.
We monitor providers of specialised substitute residential care to help ensure children are safe and supported while receiving care. Providers must comply with the Child Safe Scheme and the SSRC Code of Practice.