Key information
- Our priority is to keep children safely at home whenever possible.
- If home isn鈥檛 safe, we help children find a safe, stable place to live, while staying connected to family, culture and community.
- We make decisions with families and Care Teams to support safety, stability and healing.
- sets out our purpose, vision and principles, and shows how people and services work together to provide safe, consistent and culturally responsive support.
- Below is video that explains how we work in an easy-to-understand way.
Who we are
Services for Children, Young People and Families is committed to keeping children and young people safe from harm and supporting families to care for their children at home.
When families need extra help, we can connect families to services and support.
If a child or young person isn鈥檛 safe at home, we provide care and support until it is safe to return home again, or to live in a safe alternative.
Services for Children, Young People and Families is part of the 91黑料.
The video below explains in an easy-to-understand way.
Putting Children First: Our Child Safety Approach
Putting Children First: Our Child Safety Approach explains how we will deliver child-centred, rights-based and culturally responsive services to children, young people, families and carers.
It sets out our purpose, vision and principles. It shows how we make decisions, plan and engage with children, young people, families and carers.
Our Child Safety Approach also explains the roles of carers, families, Key Workers and Care Teams, and how we can work together to keep children and young people safe.
The goal is simple: to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place, from the right people.
Our vision
Our vision is that all children and young people are safe, loved and thriving in their families鈥� care, and their voices are heard and rights upheld in every decision.
Our principles
We work in ways that are:
- Child-centred and rights-based 鈥� children鈥檚 voices guide decisions.
- Safe, stable and well 鈥� Care is safe and supports wellbeing.
- Family and community as partners 鈥� families are involved early and supported to keep children safe.
- Aboriginal self-determination 鈥� Aboriginal families and organisations lead decisions about Aboriginal children.
- Connected 鈥� children maintain links to family, culture, school and community.
- Accountable and responsible 鈥� decisions are transparent and reliable.
- Trauma transformative 鈥� we understand trauma and create environments that support healing.
Our services
We provide support across the continuum:
- Intake, screening and referral 鈥� first contact for concerns about safety or wellbeing by calling 1800 000 123 (currently called the Advice and Referral Line).
- Safety and risk assessments 鈥� understanding what is happening and planning next steps.
- Family preservation 鈥� helping families address worries early and keep children at home.
- Care 鈥� arranging safe, stable Care when home is not safe.
- Restoration 鈥� supporting children to return home when it is safe.
- Leaving Care 鈥� helping young people transition to adulthood with housing, education and life skills.
Who are the key people
- Birth families are central to identity and belonging. Where it is safe, they join planning and decisions. Children keep contact with parents and siblings.
- Carers provide day鈥憈o鈥慸ay Care and create safe, stable and nurturing homes. They support trusted relationships. They help maintain links to birth family, siblings, school and culture.
- Every child or young person in Care has a Key Worker (also known as a Child Safety Officer). This is a consistent practitioner who knows them well. They coordinate support, lead planning, visit regularly and uphold their voice and rights.
- The Care Team is the group around the child or young person. It includes the child or young person, family, carers and professionals. Members may come from education, health, housing and community services. The team meets, plans and reviews progress together.
Working together
We partner with non-government organisations and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations to deliver services statewide. Independent oversight by the Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Independent Regulator ensures safety, rights and accountability.
Working with families
Our first point of contact is usually over the phone. We may suggest a home visit and will make a time to visit a family to talk about any worries they may have.
If a Child Safety worker makes a visit to a family鈥檚 home they will:
- introduce themselves and provide their Tasmanian Government identification
- explain what they do and why they鈥檙e visiting
- talk about the family鈥檚 situation, their strengths and things that may affect a child鈥檚 safety and wellbeing
- help create a plan for a child鈥檚 safety and wellbeing
- spend time with a child or young person in the family
- talk about options for referrals and support.
There could be more follow-up home visits and phone calls, and meetings with everyone important to the child, young person or family (known as family group conferences).
Want to know more?
- Read the full
- Read the .
- Watch this short video, which explains in plain language.
- Listen to audio of young people with a lived experience of Care.
- 91黑料 at upliftingcare@decyp.tas.gov.au
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