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 wellbeing.
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
| Education | |
Attending meetings at school about the child | |
| Consenting to curriculum-related activities, including but not limited to swimming, Arts Council and religious education consistent with the views/beliefs of the child and their family | |
| Consenting to school or class photos for personal or family use | |
| Consenting to school incursions and excursions in Australia (where guardianship is with Child Safety) | Variations to school routine, including day excursions of low to moderate risk that are intrastate or interstate. Refer to Seek approval for high or very high risk activities. |
Enrolling a child at school (after Child Safety’s consultation with Department of Education, you and others) | After the decision is made by Child Safety, and with appropriate supporting documentation, the carer or non-family based care service staff may attend the school to make enrolment arrangements. |
Enrolling in child care (in accordance the child’s needs) | Select and enrol a child in a child care centre that is eligible for the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy payment. This is separate to financial decisions about costs. |
| Signing school reports | |
| Sporting and recreational activities of low to moderate risk, undertaken at school | |
| Healthcare | |
| Administering over the counter medications for childhood ailments | Administer non-prescription medication and seek routine medical care related to common illnesses or dental care. |
| Administering prescribed medications | Administering prescribed medications with the exception of psychotropic drugs or other medications prescribed to manage behaviour or mental health conditions. (Refer to Management of psychotropic medication). |
Childhood immunisation for a child on guardianship order | Consenting to local anaesthetic and x-rays. |
| Consenting to blood tests, where recommended by the child’s doctor (where guardianship is with Child Safety) | Blood tests (excluding DNA testing) where the child is in the guardianship of the Chief Executive. |
| Consenting to local anaesthetic and x-rays | Seek treatment requiring a local anaesthetic. Seek medical or other health treatment for non-routine, newly presenting conditions. These include diagnostic tests relevant to the presenting condition (for example, x-rays). |
| Resume care of a child after they are discharged from hospital | |
Routine dental examination and/or treatments relating to common childhood dental health | Seek routine dental treatment not requiring a general anaesthetic. |
Routine medical treatment for common childhood matters or newly presenting conditions | Administer non-prescription medication and seek routine medical care related to common illnesses or dental care including allied health appointments such as optometrist, speech therapist, audiologist or physiotherapist. Seek the continuation of health or dental treatments and administering prescribed medication for established conditions, with the exception of:
|
Seeking a second medical opinion (but not acting on it) | Seek a second medical opinion (but only a guardian can decide to act on a second opinion). |
Seeking urgent medical or dental treatment | Seek urgent medical or dental treatment not requiring a general anaesthetic, blood transfusion or surgery. |
| Identity | |
| Consenting to participation in religious or cultural activities that are consistent with the views of the parent | Participation in religious or cultural activities that are consistent with the views or beliefs of the child and their family. This includes religious education provided at school. |
Ear piercing | |
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. |
| Makeup | |
Observance, maintenance or participation in religious events and activities where consistent with the views of the child and their family | |
| Recreational | |
| 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 | Allow a child to stay with another person for a period of up to 2 nights, for example a sleep-over at a school friend's house. |
Consenting to club photos that will not be published and do not identify the child as being in care | Consent for club photos, such as sport, dance or drama, if the photo is for personal or family distribution only and will not be published. |
Consenting to day excursions within Australia undertaken by tourism operators involving high and very high risk activities (where guardianship is with Child Safety) | Day excursions in Australia involving high and very high risk activities undertaken by tourism operators, including those organised by the school where guardianship is with Child Safety. Refer to Seek approval for high or very high risk activities. |
Consenting to sport and recreational activities of low to moderate risk | Participation in sporting and recreational activities not involving high or very high risk activities. If the activity is considered to be high or very high risk, refer to Seek approval for high or very high risk activities. |
| Sporting and recreational activities involving high and very high activities undertaken by clubs (for example, Scouts, Girl Guides and sporting clubs) where guardianship is with Child Safety | |
| Take a child on family outings that do not conflict with family contact arrangements or the case plan | |
| Travel | |
| Day trips | |
Travel with you by car, bus, or train within Queensland for up to 3 nights | Up to 3 nights in Queensland and not in conflict with the case plan or family contact arrangements. |