The Targeted Care Package (TCP) program provides flexible, tailored support to children and young people subject to a Child Protection order and who are in, or at risk of entering residential care. TCP's are designed to enable a successful transition from residential care to a more suitable living arrangement, or to prevent entry into residential care by supporting alternative placements with necessary supports. Any child or young person in, or at risk of, entering residential care is in-scope to receive a TCP, however, the program prioritises Aboriginal children and young people, children aged 12 and under, and children and young people with a disability. For more information about TCPs and the eligibility criteria, please see the Targeted Care Package program manual.
The consultation, referral, and proposal assessment/approval stages of a TCP are managed through CRIS. For detailed guidance on how to complete a TCP consultation, referral and proposal in CRIS please refer to the CRIS/SP guide.
The TCP proposal development by the service provider should be completed through CRISSP. Ongoing implementation, reviews, variations and closures are documented via existing departmental systems and processes.
Case practitioner tasks
- Child Protection, Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC) agency, contracted case managers and/or Care Services staff will contact the divisional Care Services TCP team to request a consultation prior to undertaking any CRIS processes.
- The TCP co-ordinator will confirm if preliminary eligibility requirements are met before proceeding with a TCP consult. Preliminary eligibility criteria are determined by statutory order status and assessed risk of entering, or remaining, in residential care.
- In consultation with Child Protection, ACAC, and/or contracted case managers, the TCP co-ordinator will complete the CRIS TCP consultation form to assess the suitability of a TCP and the support needs of the child or young person.
- Child Protection, ACAC, or contracted case manager will complete the TCP referral in CRIS. The referral is approved by the Case Planner and/or line manager.
Supervisor tasks
- Provide ongoing supervision and consultation.
Team manager tasks
- Provide ongoing supervision and consultation.
- Review and endorse the TCP referral submitted to the agencies.
- Review and endorse the agency proposal once is has been provided back to the department.
TCP Coordinator tasks
- Provide ongoing support and consultation.
- Depending on the agreed approach (direct allocation or invited process), the TCP co-ordinator will seek interest for TCP delivery from one or multiple service providers. For Aboriginal children and young people, a direct approach to the relevant Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) will be made.
- Proposals for TCP's are submitted in CRIS to service providers in CRISSP.
- The TCP co-ordinator will review proposals in CRIS for alignment with the child/young person’s best interest, case plan, and cost-effectiveness and recommend amendments before proceeding to endorsement/approval.
- Once a TCP has been endorsed, TCP staff submit a ‘Referral for Service’ in CRIS to the successful TCP service provider. The service provider accepts and creates the Service Provision record in CRISSP.
- Implementation, variations, monitoring, reviews and closure processes are to be undertaken via existing systems and processes as per TCP guidelines and operational program manual.
- Review and recommend the agency proposal once it has been provided back to the department
- Email the proposal to the relevant financial delegate for final approval. Once the financial delegate has approved, the TCP coordinator records the approval in CRIS and finalise the TCP documentation.
Consideration for good practice
- TCP's should align with cultural support plans for Aboriginal children/young people.
- CPP's must ensure the child/young person’s voice is central in all stages of the TCP process.