The Screening Unit is responsible for screening all foster carer applicants. A Department officer/assessor
must initiate screening applications for all applicants and adult household members using the online
Record Check Consent Application System (RCCAS). Children 10 years of age and above that live with the applicants should be listed in the applicant's RCCAS application as a household member.
| In exceptional circumstances, where applicants or household members can't use the RCCAS to lodge their screening application (e.g. due to not having an email address or access to a computer/mobile phone), they can use the
Form 395 - Record Check Consent Form (in related resources).
|
Connect for Safety
A Connect for Safety search can be conducted to help identify if Kinship carers may have a child protection history in another state, as part of a broader child protection assessment for an active case. Where a carer has already been identified, a Connect for Safety search can be used with client consent, to seek information from another jurisdiction about the prospective carer or other household member, or to support reunification.
The Form 140 Consent to interstate Child Protection History Check (In Related Resources) should be attached to the subsequent request via the interstate Liaison Officer (ILO) for interstate child protection history/information check. This includes checks conducted for the carer, or any person over the age of 18 years who will be living in the same house as the child in the proposed care arrangement. For more information, see Chapter 2.2 Connect For Safety.
The following relates to applicants and any identified adult household members.
Minor or non-adverse screening results
The Screening Unit determines whether criminal information or Client and Child Protection Records are minor/non-adverse and will finalise these checks accordingly.
Adverse screening results
The Screening Unit will forward a copy of the applicant's criminal history in a Check Result Report with a Submission Template attached by email to the authorised officer. This information
must be discussed with the applicant and they
must be provided a copy of the Check Results Report. It cannot be disclosed to any other party.
In certain circumstances, a district director (DD), Regional Executive Director (RED) or Executive Director (ED) can support a recommendation to approve the continuation of the assessment of an applicant or adult household member when there are adverse screening results. A submission should be provided (using the template provided by the Screening Unit) which
must include an accurate summary of the applicant's criminal record history including offence, conviction date, penalty and spent conviction status (if relevant). The submission
must also outline any mitigating circumstances, such as any relevant changes in lifestyle and/or personal circumstances since the time of the offence that indicates a positive change in behaviour, and support the recommendation to approve the continuation of the assessment of the applicant as a foster carer.
The draft submission
must be forwarded to the coordinator, Screening Unit before submission to the DD and/or RED or ED in order to ensure accuracy of criminal history information details.
Referees
The assessor will contact a range of referees to obtain further personal information about the applicant, particularly covering their child rearing years if applicable. The number of referees contacted will depend on the need to clarify specific issues and on the quality of the information provided. At least three referees should be contacted for a single applicant and a minimum four referees for a couple. The assessor should make sure the applicant selects a range of people that should include family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours, etc. At least one referee should be unrelated to the applicant. If the applicant is currently working in, or has previously worked in any child-related field, an employer or colleague reference must be obtained. Referees from employers, where relevant, should also be sought
A telephone interview should take place using the Form 707 Referee Questionnaire for Foster, Family and Significant Other Care Applicants (in related resources). The referees will be asked to provide oral evidence to support the applicant's ability to meet r.4 of the Regulations. Wherever possible, this information is confidential, however this cannot be guaranteed due to Freedom of Information legislation.
The assessor will need to contact all adult children connected to the applicants to obtain information about their experience as children of the applicants, and ascertain their views on their parent's becoming foster carers.
Working with Children (WWC) Check
The applicant and adult household members must apply for a WWC Check when it is determined that they are likely to be approved. This is at the last stage of assessment, and before the applicant is recommended for approval.
The assessor must make sure that the WWC Check Application Form has been signed by a Department officer, Level 5 or above, and been given to the applicants to lodge at an Australia Post Outlet.
| Section 6 of the WWC Check application form must be completed by a Department officer (examples in related resources). |
If the applicant already has a WWC Card, the details
must be included on the
Form 395 and submitted to the Screening Unit.
Where the applicants have their own adult children, lodgers, other adult family members who also reside at the house, these individuals are required to have a WWC Check. In other words, other adult household members who support the care arrangement, for example, by looking after the child while the carer is away, transporting the child to school etc., require a WWC Check. An adult household member does not need a WWC Check if it is very clear that they are unable to care for a child (e.g. severe disability and requires a full-time carer).
An Interim Negative Notice (INN) or a Negative Notice (NN) from the WWC Screening Unit will preclude an applicant from being approved as a foster carer (r.4 of the Regulations). If an adult household member has an INN or a NN, that person must vacate the house or the child will not be placed in that household, even if other household members are the primary applicants and are approved as foster carers.
