Decisions you can make

Children in care have many adults involved in their lives, and it may become unclear who can make decisions relating to their care. There are a range of different factors that impact on decision making:

• the authority that places the child in the care of a carer
• who has legal guardianship of the child
• legal requirements outlined in state or federal laws that are relevant to the decision
• policy requirements of Child Safety and other government departments
• costs relating to the decision and whether Child Safety is required to approve these costs
• the complexity of the decision and the impact on the child’s long term well-being.

Daily routine

There are many decisions that need to be made every day, as part of normal family practices. Child Safety wants to reinforce the child’s place and belonging in your family, and wants you to make these everyday care decisions. While it is not possible to make a complete list of these decisions, they may include:

• daily routine decisions, such as meals and nutrition, homework, bath and bedtime routines
• expectations relating to household functioning, such as keeping rooms tidy, TV and computer usage
• the child’s appearance, such as clothing, grooming and hygiene
• variations to school routine
• responding to calls from the child’s school, child care etc.
• daily travel arrangements, such as to and from school
• occasional babysitting arrangements
• providing pocket money, consistent with your family practices
• haircuts to maintain the child’s current hair style, excluding the child’s first haircut
• accompanying you on outings and social events, when not in conflict with pre-planned family contact
• responding to invitations for the child to visit friends, such as after school and vice versa.

As the child’s carer, you are expected to act as a responsible parent would, and make decisions that are in the child’s best interests. This includes the need to take prompt action in situations where a child in care is missing.

If you are ever uncertain about a decision, or you have limited information about the child in your care, talk to your Child Safety Officer (CSO).

Not all of these decisions are straightforward and sometimes it will be important to discuss the proposed decision with the CSO. One example is haircuts, other than those required to maintain the current style. For some families haircuts can have cultural or religious significance. Additionally, baby’s first haircut, even where this might only be a trim, may be of emotional importance to parents. This is why haircuts, hair styling and colouring require sensitive attention.

Custody decisions

There are also a range of decisions that you are best placed to make. Your capacity to make these decisions minimises circumstances where the child will ‘feel’ different by being a child in care. Where the decision has a financial implication that is not covered by the Fortnightly Caring Allowance, do not assume that Child Safety will necessarily meet the additional costs. Separate request and approval processes are required for child-related costs.

Decisions you can make
Healthcare
Routine medical treatment for common childhood matters or newly presenting conditions	Administering prescribed medications
Routine dental examination and/or treatments relating to common childhood dental health	Administering over the counter medications for childhood ailments
Seeking urgent medical or dental treatment	Consenting to blood tests where recommended by the child’s doctor (where guardianship is with Child Safety)
Childhood immunisation for a child on guardianship order	Consenting to local anaesthetic and x-rays
Arranging allied health appointments, such as Optometrist, Speech Therapist, Audiologist, Physiotherapist	Seeking a second medical opinion (but not acting on it)
Education
Enrolling in child care (in accordance the child’s needs)	Consenting to school incursions and excursions in Australia (where guardianship is with Child Safety)
Enrolling a child at school (after Child Safety’s consultation with Department of Education, you and others )	Consenting to school and club (e.g. girl guides/scouts) camps within Australia (where guardianship is with Child Safety)
Attending meetings at school about the child
Travel
Travel with you by car, bus, or train within Queensland for up to 3 nights	Travel with you via air in Queensland or another state for up to 3 nights when the travel is not in conflict with the case plan or family contact arrangements (where guardianship is with Child Safety)
Identity
Haircuts to maintain the child’s current style (unless specified in the Care Agreement or Placement Agreement)	Consenting to participation in religious or cultural activities that are consistent with the views of the parent
Observance, maintenance or participation in religious events and activities where consistent with the views of the child and their family	Makeup
Ear piercing
Recreational
Consenting to sport and recreational activities of low to moderate risk	Consenting to day excursions within Australia undertaken by tourism operators involving high and very high risk activities (where guardianship is with Child Safety)
Consenting to club photos that will not be published and do not identify the child as being in care	Consenting to sporting and recreational activities undertaken by schools and clubs involving high and very high risk activities (where guardianship is with Child Safety)
Allowing a child to stay with another person for up to 2 nights e.g. with a school friend or with your family or community