| Brief History | When the Welstat (national welfare statistical collection) definitions were applied in 1979, there were a range of other facilities, operated either by the Department or non-Government agencies, which were defined as “Other Homes for Children”. Wanslea was included in this category. Such a definition referred to “a residential child care establishment that is mainly for children aged under 15 and/or still at school, and that consists of either a single dwelling that is not a family group home, or two or more dwellings that share cooking and eating facilities” and which were not (detention) Institutions or Hostels.
By 1988, Wanslea offered Family Day Care, Community Care and Cottage Care programs.
Following on from a review of the agency in 1987, a new administrative structure and staff were in place by 1989.
In 1991, Wanslea was “made responsible for the Temporary Foster Care (TFC) Service to young people [under] the age of 14 and their families.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Services, June 30th 1991).
1994 Out of Home Care funded services included:
o Emergency foster care “in up to 30 assessed foster homes for children 0-14 years.”
o 0-12 years crisis care (family care worker model) – two cottages in Mosman Park
o Other services included:
o In home services
o Family support, counselling, etc.
(Out of Home, Preventative and Alternative Care Services Review, “Terms of Reference”, Family and Children’s Services, 1995).
In its funding agreement with the Department in 1998 Wanslea was described as providing 34 Emergency/crisis places in the metropolitan area at service level one. The priority age group was children 0-12 years. The service was available to non Aboriginal children and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. (Service Agreement with the Department for Family and Children’s Services).
In 2003 Wanslea was still providing 34 emergency/crisis places for children aged 0 to 12 years. The service agreement specified that the placements may be up to a maximum of eight weeks but was usually four weeks on average. The service was available on a 24 hour basis. Wanslea was able to provide short term care for a maximum of 10 children to allow continuity of care for some children whose circumstances required a period of care longer than eight weeks. (Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development).
Other services include a Grandparents Service and several family support services.
A limited chronology of the major events at Wanslea, including admissions and discharges, is included in Table 62.
The three year Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development which commenced on 1 April 2006 enables Wanslea to provide emergency foster placements for up to 34 children aged up to 12 years. The duration of the placement may be up to a maximum of eight weeks, but is usually four weeks on average. The service is available on a 24 hour basis. Each foster carer will care for one child or sibling group at a time.
In the best interests of the child, an extension of placement may be negotiated on a case by case basis for a maximum of 10 children at any one time, to allow continuity of care for some children who circumstances require a period of care longer than eight weeks and up to a maximum of four months.
Children aged between 0 and 12 years may be referred by other agencies or their family for respite or emergency care. When placement exceeds two weeks in continuous care or one month of cumulative care in a six month period, Wanlsea is to advise the Department of Child Protection which will assess the child’s circumstances, suitability of the placement and any future role for the Department.
The three year Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development for a professional foster care service Spectrum commenced on 1 February 2004. The service has available four professional foster carers who provide a total number fo four to sixteen placements for children in the CEO’s care aged up to 12 years who display extremely high risk or difficult behaviours. The service also has the capacity to provide a home setting for large sibling groups.
While Wanslea is the lead agency, the service is provided in partnership with Anglicare.
The three year Service Agreeement with the Department for Community Development which commenced on 1 April 2006 enables Wanslea to provide a tertiary family preservation service for an average of 60 families each year in the Perth metropolitan area. Service provision to outer new and emerging suburbs is considered on a case-by-case basis. An average of 100 hours of service over an average period of four months is provided to each family.
The aim is to assist families at imminent risk of the children entering care or placement due to a high risk of harm or neglect, referred by the Department for Child Protection. Priority of access is for families with children under five years of age.
Service provision is to reflect, where appropriate, the cultural make-up of the target group.
The three year Service Agreement with the Departmetn for Community Development which commenced on 1 April 2006 enables Wanslea to provide a tertiary family preservation service for an average of 60 families each year in the Perth metropolitan area. Service provision to outer new and emerging suburbs is considered on a case-by-case basis. An average of 100 hours of service over an average period of four months is provided to each family.
The aim is to assist families at imminent risk of the children entering care or placement due to a high risk of harm or neglect, referred by the Department for Child Protection. Priority of access is for families with children under five years of age.
Service provision is to reflect, where appropriate, the cultural make-up of the target group. |