Ceasing primary case responsibility

Preservation

A PSP provider ceases to have primary case responsibility:

• when the Department and the provider agree the preservation case plan goal has been achieved and
• when assessed risk of abuse or neglect falls to and remains at low or moderate and
• after the expiry of any orders to support achievement of the case plan goal, for example a parent capacity order.

Restoration

A PSP provider ceases primary case responsibility (restoration):

• after the child exits OOHC, that is, after the care order allocating parental responsibility to the Minister expires or is rescinded and
• upon expiry of a supervision order (if applicable) and
• upon expiry of an approved period of post permanency casework support.

Also see limitations to primary case responsibility. 

Guardianship and adoption

A PSP provider ceases primary case responsibility (guardianship or adoption):

• after the child exits OOHC, that is, after a new order is made:
  • placing the child in the guardianship of their carers or
  • resulting in adoption of the child to their long term carers / proposed adoptive parents, who becomes the child’s legal parents and
• upon expiry of a period of post permanency casework support approved by the Department.

Also see limitations to primary case responsibility. 

Long term care

A PSP provider ceases primary case responsibility (long term care) when the young person turns 25 years of age. Also see limitations to primary case responsibility. 

OOHC records

PSP providers retain a child’s OOHC records, including digital records and paper files, for a period of seven years from the date the provider ceases primary responsibility for the child’s placement (section 170). Thereafter the OOHC records are delivered to the Department.

Records may be delivered early to the Department, when a PSP provider ceases to operate as an OOHC provider.