Emergency & temporary care 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:

• Overview: Emergency and Temporary OOHC Arrangements  (PDF, 172.9 KB) (PDF, 172.9 KB)
• IPA ACA - Initial information, Referral, OCG and Exit form (XLSX, 150.0 KB) 
  
• IPA and ACA Briefing Note (BN) Input Template (DOCX, 39.0 KB) 
• ACA IPA Invoice and Quote Template (XLSX, 95.7 KB) 
• ACA Placement Panel Report (DOCX, 23.8 KB) 
• Overview: IPA and ACA Process Flowchart for NGOs (PDF, 112.5 KB) (
• Overview: Permanency and placement hierarchy (PDF, 232.8 KB)

Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs)

An ACA (PDF, 172.9 KB) is an emergency and temporary fee-for-service arrangement for a child in, or entering, statutory or supported out-of-home care (OOHC) after every effort has been made to place them with relatives/kin, a foster carer, or contracted OOHC placement (e.g. accredited PSP provider).

Learn more about ACAs:

• IPA ACA - Initial information, Referral, OCG and Exit form (XLSX, 150.0 KB) 
  
• IPA and ACA Briefing Note (BN) Input Template (DOCX, 39.0 KB) 
• ACA IPA Invoice and Quote Template (XLSX, 112.1 KB) 
• ACA Placement Panel Report (DOCX, 23.8 KB)
• Overview: IPA and ACA Process Flowchart for NGOs (PDF, 112.5 KB) 
• Overview: Emergency and Temporary OOHC Arrangements (PDF, 172.9 KB) 
• Overview: Permanency and placement hierarchy (PDF, 232.8 KB)
  

For DCJ case managed ACAs:

• DCJ Alternative Care Arrangements service agreement (PDF, 620.6 KB)
• DCJ Code of Ethical Conduct

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