Interim and emergency residential arrangements

Interim Care Model (ICM)

Learn more about ICM:

• ICM Operations Guide (PDF, 904.9 KB)
• ICM Service Overview Guidelines – November 2020 (PDF, 491.1 KB)
• Form: ICM – Extension of placement (DOCX, 77.6 KB).
  

Individual Placement Arrangements (IPAs)

An IPA is a temporary fee-for-service emergency accommodation arrangement based on the individual needs of the child. IPAs should only be used after every effort has been made to place the child in a contracted OOHC placement.

Agencies providing IPAs must be accredited by the Office of Children's Guardian (OCG) to provide residential care. Financial approval from the relevant DCJ Executive District Director must be sought prior to the IPA commencing. Approval is also required when the IPA is reviewed every three months.

Learn more about IPAs:

• IPA - Initial Information, Referral, OCG and Exit Form (XLSX, 143.0 KB)
• IPA Briefing Note (BN) Input Template (DOCX, 39.0 KB)
• IPA Invoice and Quote Template (XLSX, 111.8 KB)
• Overview: HCEA Strategy Unit Process Flowchart (PDF, 106.6 KB)
• Overview: Emergency and Temporary OOHC Arrangements (PDF, 57.6 KB)
• Overview: Permanency and Placement Hierarchy March 2025 (PDF, 724.9 KB)

Special Out of Home Care (OOHC)

Special out of home care (Special OOHC) is a placement type used by Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) in very limited circumstances, when a child’s disability support needs are so specific, they are unable to be placed with a designated agency and require a specialist disability provider or health setting to meet their placement and care needs.

Clause 27 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Regulation 2022 sets out who can provide Special OOHC and the Regulation eligibility requirements. DCJ has additional eligibility requirements for Special OOHC, which will need to be met before the child can be referred to Special OOHC.

Special Care is a placement option only available to children who are case managed by DCJ.

Special OOHC documents

Below are key documents that outline key requirements for Special OOHC:

• Special OOHC service agreement (PDF, 246.8 KB)
• Special OOHC guidelines (PDF, 391.4 KB)
• Appendix A: Special OOHC meeting minutes (DOCX, 61.2 KB)
• Appendix B: Special OOHC placement checklist (DOCX, 63.7 KB)
• Appendix C: Special OOHC worker application form (DOCX, 93.7 KB).

Resources to assist service providers and their staff

• LINKS Training and Support on trauma informed care and problematic sexualised behaviour.
• Trauma informed care – PSP Learning Hub
• Positive behaviour
  
• Joint Protocol for ITC and residential care workers
• Making a child protection report – risk of significant harm and mandatory reporting
• CREATE – Snap that Stigma
• Office of the Children’s Guardian – reportable conduct fact sheet