It is our responsibility to ensure that children and young people in the child protection system are cared for in a safe and accountable way. This involves:
- Statement of standards - foster and kinship carers are required to provide a level of care which is consistent with this statement, as outlined in section 122 of the Child Protection Act 1999. The statement provides a way to measure the quality of care provided and is the basis for assessing whether a care environment is acceptable. The standards are interpreted with consideration to the needs of each individual child or young person.
- Statement of commitment between the Department of Child Safety, foster care services and the carers of Queensland - reflects the importance of sharing our responsibilities and respecting each other's rights in providing the necessary services that keep children and young people safe from harm and promote their well-being.
- Charter of rights for a child in care - as outlined in schedule 1 of the Child Protection Act, describes the core rights that apply to every child or young person who is subject to the custody or guardianship of our department. Each child or young person who is placed in out-of-home care must be told about the charter of rights.
- Reporting missing or absconding children to the Department of Communities: A guide for non-government organisations - This guide supports service providers to appropriately report a missing child or young person to the Department of Communities. This guide has been developed for all placement service providers.
The Child Protection Act outlines the appropriate standards for providing quality care. Foster and kinship carers and service providers have a duty to comply with the Act. For further information, refer to Child protection legislation.
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