How does Junction work with foster carers?

What type of Foster Care does Junction provide?

Junction supports Specific Child Only (SCO) Care and General Foster Care placements in the greater metropolitan Adelaide region and the Fleurieu peninsula.

In 2020, we will expand our services to recruit carers for generalist foster care.

Will I get reimbursed as a foster carer?

As a foster carer, you will receive a reimbursement designed to help cover the day-to-day costs of caring for a child.

The payment is not classed as an income and does not need to be listed in:

– Tax returns
– Commonwealth benefits applications
– Loan applications

Carers may be eligible for an additional payment to help with the extra costs of caring for a child with special needs.

Can I access other services and programs provided by Junction?

Referrals to other Junction services, programs and initiatives can be made at any time. Just speak with your Support Worker for help or more information.

Will Junction be available after hours if I need advice or support?

Yes. We have an On Call Service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including public holidays. Our After Hours number is 0400 999 001.

I am a Junction foster carer. Who will be in my support team?

Your support worker will be a key source of support for you and your child. They will help develop and maintain positive and transparent communication lines within the care team, as well as provide practical advice, assistance, support and education as you need.

As mentioned above, through our partnership with Inspired Psychology, you will also have access to therapeutic specialists. Specially trained and experienced Inspired Psychology staff have a deep understanding of the impact of trauma to the brain and help us to respond to behaviours associated with this in ways that are supportive to the child or young person’s development.

Together we work closely with the child’s DCP Case Worker to ensure the child continues to receive support and resources to thrive and grow.

What experience and knowledge does Junction have with working with children with trauma?

Junction has been supporting young people since 1979, starting out as a youth homelessness service in Adelaide’s southern suburbs. About 20 years ago we started our own counselling program with a focus on supporting young people, as well as families.

In 2005, Junction became the State’s first non-Government provider of residential care for children under guardianship. We now have 11 houses across the metropolitan area with staff providing 24/7 care for children and young people under guardianship as part of our Therapeutic Support Service (TSS) program.

Out TSS carers work closely with our service partner, Inspired Psychology. Inspired Psychology provides external expert advice and education to help our carers better understand the reactions and behaviour of children and young people who have experienced trauma, so they can be as best placed as possible to support and respond to the needs of the children.
Inspired Psychology will also be a valuable and accessible resource to our foster carers in the community.

How does Junction work with foster carers?

Collaboration is one of our organisation’s key values. This extends to our foster carers – as the most important part of the care team for the child they have opened their home – and heart – to.

We see our role as being as supportive to our carers as possible, with the child’s health and wellbeing our shared priority.
This includes helping foster families provide a safe and stable environment for the child and providing education and resources to carers to give the child or young person opportunities to maximise their potential.

Importantly, we work with carers to build connections within the child’s community to strengthen lifelong bonds.

What are the types of Family Based Care?

It is always the hope that a child will live with their biological family or where possible, transition back to them over a period of time, when it is safe for this to happen. Where this is not possible, a child will need care until they turn 18 years or beyond.

Caring for a young person in Family Based Care will be different depending on their needs. Short term can range from a few days to a few months; long term can be from months to several years, or could even become permanent.

What is Family Based Care?

Family Based Care provides a child or young person, who is unable to live with birth parents, a different family who will provide them with a safe, secure and caring home free from abuse and neglect.