Out of Home Care

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SOME OF THE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY OUT OF HOME CARE INCLUDE:

  • A “supported” living situation where a young person is more likely to develop the skills for living independently in the community
  • A flexible and individualised form of care
  • A safe and stable living environment within which the young person can work on their chosen goals
  • Reducing disruption to the young person’s life and allowing them to keep in contact with their support networks as the care is provided locally.

The right to a life that offers opportunities. We inspire HOPE.

ENTRY CRITERIA

  • A young person is suitable for out-of-home care if he/she:
    • Is aged between 12 and 18 years in out-of-home care
    • Is referred by DCJ– either court-ordered care or under the care of the Minister
    • Is prepared to participate in setting positive goals such as gaining education or employment and work with a case manager to achieve them
    • Is prepared to participate in appropriate day-time activities

    We acknowledge that working with young people within their existing networks can result in the best outcome. We will also assist young people willing to develop networks in the Northern Beaches.

    We specialise on supporting children and young people with low to medium needs.

SUPPORTED FAMILY GROUP HOME (SFGH)

SFGH is a program for children and young people aged 12 – 17 years who live with a carer who provides a nurturing home environment.

The SFGH supports the young person towards their identified life goals.

It provides a realistic setting allowing the needs of young people to be thoroughly assessed. The potential for a supported restoration with their family is always explored. Case managers provide intensive support to community carers, young people and their families. An on-call service for young people and carers is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

SFGH is not a substitute family or institutional care.

We are always looking for Carers, if you are keen or know somebody who might be suitable click here.

Our Inner West Office is at Addi Road in Marrickville
Supporting young people towards independence

Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Supported Independent Living (SIL) options are available for young people in out-of-home care.

The entry age is between 16 to 18 years old and the young people have the opportunity to stay up to their 20th birthday while working towards independent living.

A Case Manager is available to support the young people.

To find out more about our SIL programme please view our brochure here.

staffed care home

Whilst every child and young person should be cared for by their family or a consistent key adult living within a home, there are times when this is not appropriate or viable. Our staff care home model ensures we have capacity to provide a home-like environment to more children and young people whilst we work to identify a primary carer or look for other step down options, such as our Supported Independent Living program.

Each staffed care home have a dedicated and professional youth work team, led by an experienced team leader to provide a therapeutic, safe and supportive home-like environment. Every home is designed around the needs of the child/young person and there can be up to 4 young people in each home.

Offering a range of accommodation options for young people across Sydney
Out of home care services with The Burdekin Assocation

Interim Care Model

Interim Care is a short term interim accommodation model for children and young people who between 9 to 15 who would otherwise be at risk of entering emergency placements.

The objective is to find a longer term solution such as restoration to family, foster care or other appropriate housing options.

Interim Care aims to provide short-term care that is holistic, individualised, and takes a team-based approach to the complex impacts of abuse, neglect, separation from families and significant others, along with other forms of severe adversity.

This is achieved through the provision of a care environment that is evidence driven, culturally responsive and provides positive, safe and healing relationships and experiences to address the complexities of trauma, adversity, attachment and developmental needs.

About the Department of Communities & Justice

The services are funded by the Department of Communities and Justice.

On 1 July 2019, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) brought together the former departments of Family and Community Services (FACS) and Justice.

Out-of-home care information for children and young people in care and for their parents, including types of care, rights, case planning, restoration and leaving care can be found here: https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/out-of-home-care.

For more information about the work of the Department visit: https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/

complaints

Click here for the Complaints and Appeals Information Sheet. As a client of The Burdekin Association, you have the right to complain about the services you receive from us. This information sheet is provided to you upon entry to our service and each time you make a complaint.

Click here for the Complaint Form.  As a client of The Burdekin Association, you have the right to make a complaint. You may wish to submit your complaint using this form.

Contact Us

If you’d like to find out more, please contact us on (02) 8976 1777 and talk to the referral intake worker.

Monday to Friday between 9 am – 5 pm.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal people of the Cadigal and Gayamaygal Clans. We acknowledge the Country on which we live, work, and gather as being Aboriginal land.

We acknowledge the lands, waterways and skies that are connected to Aboriginal people. We honour them and pay our deepest respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

We respect their rightful place within our communities, and we value their ancient cultural knowledge and practices.

Aboriginal Flag
Torres Straight Island Flag

We deeply respect that this will always be Aboriginal land and we will honour and follow the first peoples’ values in caring for the Country and for preserving their culture.

We deeply value that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest living culture in the world and we will continue to work with their peoples and communities to ensure their cultures endure and remain strong.