Permanency consultation

Permanency consultation is a process of consultation convened and facilitated (and recorded) by a Permanency Coordinator and involving the participation of departmental and PSP provider practitioners.

During a permanency consultation, facts and evidence brought to the consultation by practitioners, are considered. Specialist advice is provided and recommendations are made (and recorded) in relation to permanency decision making.

Permanency consultation aims to:

• explore a child or young person’s physical, relational, cultural and legal permanency and identity ways to improve wellbeing outcomes
• assist practitioners to navigate the service system and access services, to prevent unnecessary entries to OOHC or facilitate exit from OOHC
• provide direction, guidance, and support skill development in permanency work for PSP provider practitioners
• facilitate the achievement of better outcomes for children, their parents and family/kin through collaboration between the Department and PSP providers.

Permanency consultation is widely used in PSP for a range of purposes including:

• to discuss any challenges in achieving a child’s case plan goal, before proposing a change to the case plan goal
• considering a proposal for the Department to change a child’s case plan goal
• providing advice about appropriate PSP service packages, to help achieve a child’s case plan goal.

Also see Permanency Coordinators.