Award of Specialised Residential Care Services for Children and Young People with Complex Needs

About

DCSSDS awarded a contract to Bravehearts Foundation Limited for specialised services and support providing four places across a minimum of two locations at any one time for children and young people with complex support needs.

The service model includes a minimum of one worker to two children and young people at all times across each location, comprising awake support 16 hours per day plus an 8-hour sleepover shift, 7 days per week.

The service aims to improve personal safety, cultural identity and connections, social and community connections, life skills, stable and secure living arrangements, education and/or employment opportunities, and access to services for children and young people in and/or leaving residential care placement services.

For children and young people placed within non-family based services, the goal is to work toward achieving the most appropriate permanency option, either family reunification or an alternative long-term care option.

The service must partner and build linkages with Government and non-government stakeholders, including Child Safety Service Centres, to support coordinated needs-based intervention, and must provide culturally safe services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people to ensure their cultural identity and connection to family, kin, culture and Community is assisted, supported and maintained.

The service may be required to support children and young people with disability support needs and to work collaboratively with other service providers to implement any National Disability Insurance Scheme supports.

The contract value is AUD 3,861,350, procured via limited method under the Social Services category.