Next steps
Child Safety is responsible for approving carers. If you are approved as a kinship carer, you will care for a specific child for a set period of time. Once the child leaves your care, you will no longer be a kinship carer.
To become a kinship carer, you will be assisted to complete the following forms and interviews:
- Application for initial approval form. This gives Child Safety information to complete personal history checks for you and your adult household members. This includes consideration of criminal and child protection history, domestic violence and traffic history.
- Blue card application. This must be completed by you and any other adult members of the household. Child Safety can help with this process.
- Household safety study. This will be completed by the person making the assessment and includes mandatory safety requirements that must be met prior to you being approved as a carer.
- Health and wellbeing questionnaire. This questionnaire will be completed with the help of the person making the assessment.
- Required interviews. These will be conducted by the person making the assessment. You, your children (depending on their age), any adult household members and significant others will be interviewed.
If your application is approved by Child Safety you will:
- receive a letter confirming that you have been approved as a kinship carer
- receive a Certificate of Approval as a kinship carer; this is for an initial 12 months and requires renewal every 3 years thereafter, upon application and approval
- work with Child Safety and your non-government kinship care service to develop a placement agreement detailing support available you may require to help fulfil your role
If your application is not approved by Child Safety you will receive a letter stating the reasons for the decision and your right of review.