Policy Purpose To prescribe the limited circumstances in which Territory Families employees are eligible to provide care for children in the daily care and control, or under parental responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Policy Statement As a general rule, Territory Families does not encourage employees becoming authorised carers. This is because of the intrinsic difficulty of managing issues and risks, including conflicts of interest that may arise from the employee’s dual role as an employee and as an authorised carer, especially as they may apply in a small jurisdiction such as the Northern Territory. Territory Families employees may only apply to be authorised carers in the following specific circumstances: The employee is adopting the child and awaiting formalisation of the consent by the local court; The employee is a blood relative or a kinship relative and is seeking to be the child’s kinship carer; The employee was an authorised carer at the time of commencing their employment; or Exceptional circumstances apply, as determined by the Regional Executive Director responsible for direct service delivery. Employees who were approved as authorised carers under the policy implemented on 11 November 2012, can continue to provide care under ‘grandfathered’ provisions, that is, as long as the placement arrangement remains active for the child(ren) concerned. No further children may be placed, except in the specific circumstances described in this policy. Legislative Basis Standards – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 Authorised by: Active from: Version Current Version Active from: Authorised by: Update: Updated information to align with current organization structure. Review due: Maintenance: Policy
Policy Purpose To prescribe the limited circumstances in which Territory Families employees are eligible to provide care for children in the daily care and control, or under parental responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Policy Statement As a general rule, Territory Families does not encourage employees becoming authorised carers. This is because of the intrinsic difficulty of managing issues and risks, including conflicts of interest that may arise from the employee’s dual role as an employee and as an authorised carer, especially as they may apply in a small jurisdiction such as the Northern Territory. Territory Families employees may only apply to be authorised carers in the following specific circumstances: The employee is adopting the child and awaiting formalisation of the consent by the local court; The employee is a blood relative or a kinship relative and is seeking to be the child’s kinship carer; The employee was an authorised carer at the time of commencing their employment; or Exceptional circumstances apply, as determined by the Regional Executive Director responsible for direct service delivery. Employees who were approved as authorised carers under the policy implemented on 11 November 2012, can continue to provide care under ‘grandfathered’ provisions, that is, as long as the placement arrangement remains active for the child(ren) concerned. No further children may be placed, except in the specific circumstances described in this policy. Legislative Basis Standards – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 Authorised by: Active from: Version Current Version Active from: Authorised by: Update: Updated information to align with current organization structure. Review due: Maintenance: Policy
Provision-of-Care-by-Departmental-Staff-Policy.docx