• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Part A - Information about Family Relationship Services
  • 1. FRS Overview
    • 1.1 Eligibility
    • 1.2 Selection
    • 1.3 Consortia and Subcontracting
    • 1.4 Funding
    • 1.5 Reporting and Assessment
  • 2. Service Delivery Components of the Program
    • 2.1 Program/Sub-program
  • 3. Responsibilities, Accountabilities and the Way we Work with the Sector
    • 3.1 Departmental Responsibilities and Accountabilities
    • 3.2 Funding Recipient Responsibilities and Accountabilities
  • 4. Performance Management and Evaluation
    • 4.1 Performance Measurement
    • 4.2 FRS Performance Framework
    • 4.3 Performance Recognition and Improvement
    • 4.4 FRSP Online
    • 4.5 Quality Assurance and Risk Management
    • 4.6 Service Assessments
    • 4.7 Site Visits
    • 4.8 Financial Accountability
    • 4.9 Evaluation and Research
  • 5. Privacy and Confidentiality
    • 5.1 Freedom of Information
    • 5.2 Security of Information
  • 6. Complaints
• Part B - Information about the Family and Parenting Services (FPS) and Family Law Services (FLS) Streams
  • 7. Program Management and Service Delivery Details
    • 7.1 Participants/ Clients/Recipients
    • 7.2 Funding
    • 7.3 Program Links with Other Agencies and Services
    • 7.4 Eligible Activities
    • 7.5 Approved FRS Services
      • 7.5.1 Family and Parenting Services – Prevention and Early Intervention
      • 7.5.2 Family Law Services – Information and Post-separation
    • 7.6 Information Technology
    • 7.7 Information Technology Support
  • 8. Contact information
• Appendix A. FRS Administrative Approval Requirements
• Appendix B. FRSP Online Protocols
• Appendix C. Operational Framework for Family Relationship Centres
  • Part One
    • Role of Family Relationship Centres
    • Assistance provided by Family Relationship Centres
    • Client Service Delivery Principles
    • Staffing, Training And Competency
    • Facilities
    • National Network
    • Principles for Engagement with Community and Other Organisations
  • Part Two - Guidelines
    • Guidelines Relating to Referrals from the Child Support Agency
    • Guidelines for Access to Centrelink
    • Guidelines on Client Service Delivery
    • Guidelines on Safety Policies, Procedures and Critical Incidents
    • Guidelines for working with the Family Relationship Advice Line
    • Guidelines for Engagement with the Community and Other Organisations and Individuals
    • Referral Guidelines for Family Relationship Centres and the Family Relationship Advice Line
    • Guidelines for Referrals to Legal Advice by Staff in Family Relationship Centres
    • Service Charter and Complaints
    • Service Charter Template
• Appendix D. Supporting Children after Separation Program - Description and Operational Requirements
• Appendix E. National Find and Connect Service for Forgotten Australians and former child migrants -Service Description
• 9. Glossary

Family Relationship Services Guidelines

• Previous: Appendix C
• Next: Appendix E

Appendix D. Supporting Children after Separation Program - Description and Operational Requirements

Role of the Supporting Children after Separation Program (SCaSP)

The Supporting Children after Separation Program aims to support children, within the context of their family, to manage and enhance their relationships during and after family separation.

Description

SCaSP assists children from separated or separating families who are experiencing issues around family relationships. The services help children and young people deal with issues arising from the breakdown of their parents’ relationship and the circumstances in which they find themselves.

SCaSP services provide a range of age appropriate interventions that meet the individual needs of the child as they experience issues related to the breakdown in their parent’s relationship, offer opportunities for children to participate in decisions that impact on them in relation to the separation of their parents and have the capacity to respond to emerging issues for children from separated families in the local community.

In order to provide the most effective intervention for a child, the entire family may require family relationship services. While SCaSP is only for children, an important element is the development of links between other services and strong referral pathways within the local service system to ensure family members also receive services. As a result of engaging with a parent when providing a service to a child, SCaSP services may refer parents and/or carers to complementary services that assist them to focus on the interests and needs of their children.

Target Group

The target group is children under 18 years from separated or separating families, who are experiencing issues around their family relationships.

Client centred Service Delivery

SCaSP must promote an organisational culture that is child friendly, safe and welcoming to children and their families. Children must be the centre of service delivery at all times, ensuring that the child’s best interests are the primary consideration.

Assisting Children through their family

SCaSP recognises that children may have a range of relationship issues and that children will ideally be seen within the context of their families. Where appropriate, and in the best interests of the child, feedback about the child’s perspective and needs may be provided to parents so they are better able to focus on the needs of their children.

Client Activities

SCaSP services provide information and referral, education and courses and family counselling. Family Counselling under the Family Law Act 1975 includes processes (such as counselling and therapeutic intervention or group work) by which a family counsellor helps persons, including children, who are affected by separation or divorce to deal with personal and interpersonal issues and issues relating to the care of children (Section 10B Definition).

SCaSP services may use a range of interventions to support children. Interventions must be developmentally appropriate and take into consideration the family and the community context of the child. Services may be delivered at an early stage in the relationship issue eg a group program to assist children to understand the process of separation and how it may affect their family, or for children with more complex needs eg a child who is demonstrating behavioural difficulties due to changes in their family relationships and who could be assisted by individual counselling. Interventions must be provided from a strengths based approach and avoid stigmatising children eg to avoid isolating children from separated families, interventions provided in schools may provide generalised education to children about healthy relationships in intact as well as separated families.

Approaches used to support children may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Child consultation as part of another intervention (eg family counselling)
• Child inclusive practice component as part of another intervention (eg family dispute resolution)
• Culturally appropriate strategies for Indigenous children such as yarning, culture camps
• Culturally specific groups or events for children
• Groups for teenagers whose parents are separated or separating to assist them to understand and manage the emotional consequences of family breakdown
• Individual counselling
• Intake and assessment
• Provision of information and referral to other services
• School holiday camps or other activities where education and/or support is provided to children experiencing separation from a parent
• Therapeutic interventions for young children using child friendly techniques (for example art, play therapy, drama, story telling)
• Use of resources such as books, computer programs, internet sites
• Work in schools with groups of children that promotes healthy relationships including understanding grief and loss issues around separated families

Services are not intended for cases where the primary issues are the responsibility of state governments under child protection legislation. SCaSP is not designed to deal with the high and complex needs of children such as mental health, family violence, and drug and/or alcohol misuse.

Premises and co-location

SCaSP venues must be tailored to suit the needs of children by being welcoming to children, accessible by children and their parents and where the layout and size of rooms, fittings and access to toilets are suitable for children, ensuring the safety and security of clients and staff

Engagement with other organisations in the community

SCaSP services must have a thorough knowledge of the local community and a strong referral network with other agencies. This includes other FRS services such as Counselling, Family Relationships Centres, Family Dispute Resolution, Parenting Orders Program, Children’s Contact Services, Post Separation Cooperative Parenting and Early Intervention services, as well as schools, early childhood services, medical practitioners, other family support and health services and State Government agencies.

Working relationships with other agencies may include the development of a memorandum of understanding or joint guidelines around the program aim, referral protocols, client confidentiality and mandatory reporting requirements.

Supporting Children after Separation Program

Model

• Previous: Appendix C
• Next: Appendix E

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