The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a research report, A national comparison of carer screening, assessment, selection and training and support in foster, kinship and residential care, that examines carer recruitment, training and support policies and processes in place across Australia.
The report fits with the research theme of institutional responses (i.e. how should institutions respond once child abuse has occurred?). The report identifies that significant attention is being paid to the vulnerability of children living in out-of-home care through carer screening, assessment, training and support, and notes that recent systematic improvements will strengthen protections and better meet the needs of children and young people in care. The report states that while there is a strong focus currently on developing trauma-informed care models, this is an “area under development”. Queensland’s Hope and Healing Framework, developed by PeakCare in association with Encompass Family and Community and Paul Testro Consultancy Services in 2015, is cited as setting out a foundation for supporting and working with children in residential care in a way that considers and responds to trauma, and is therapeutic in approach.
The main barriers to high quality out-of-home care were found to be difficulties in attracting and retaining foster carers especially in rural and remote areas, a limited pool of residential care workers, and high staff turnover.