New South Wales Consolidated Acts

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS (CARE AND PROTECTION) ACT 1998 - SECT 78

78 Care plans

(1) If the Director-General applies to the Children’s Court for an order, not being an emergency protection order, for the removal of a child or young person from the care of his or her parents, the Director-General must present a care plan to the Children’s Court before final orders are made.

(2) The care plan must make provision for the following:

(a) the allocation of parental responsibility between the Minister and the parents of the child or young person for the duration of any period for which the child or young person is removed from the care of his or her parents,

(b) the kind of placement proposed to be sought for the child or young person, including:

(i) how it relates in general terms to permanency planning for the child or young person, and

(ii) any interim arrangements that are proposed for the child or young person pending permanent placement and the timetable proposed for achieving a permanent placement,

(c) the arrangements for contact between the child or young person and his or her parents, relatives, friends and other persons connected with the child or young person,

(d) the agency designated to supervise the placement in out-of-home care,

(e) the services that need to be provided to the child or young person.

(3) The care plan is to be made as far as possible with the agreement of the parents of the child or young person concerned.

(4) The care plan is only enforceable to the extent to which its provisions are embodied in or approved by orders of the Children’s Court.

(5) Other requirements and the form of a care plan under this section may be prescribed by the regulations.