We provide a range of services to support children with a disability and their families. These include foster care, respite care, community access, in-home personal care, accommodation support, and supporting children with complex and extreme needs with specialised interventions and case management.

UnitingCare Community Disability operates a Shared Care and Family Support program (SCAFS) which provides specialist foster care placements for children and young people who have a disability, including those with very high support needs.

Shared Care

The Shared Care program supports children and young people who require additional support or who are no longer able to live with their own families. Volunteer Foster Carers and Host Families are recruited to provide care for children, young people and adults to include them in their family life.

Family Support

We provide supports that enhance the ability of the family and carer to continue in their role of primary care provider for a person with a disability, and to sustain the total family unit and/or caring relationship. We work with each family to develop a specific plan that meets the identified needs of the family. Supports may include: 

• Providing respite services that meet the social, recreational and developmental needs of the person with a disability. 
• Supporting the families of adults with disabilities to network and form links with appropriate services.
• Holiday support for individuals and their families.
• Providing domestic assistance to allow a family increased opportunities for quality time with the adult with a disability.
• Assisting with home modifications.
• Resourcing and purchase of equipment.
• Assisting individuals and their families to get access to appropriate health and community services.
• Assisting individuals to access employment opportunities.

Foster Care

Our Family Support program tailors support to the family home by working with families who have a child with a disability living at home. We can provide a variety of supports (including respite care and support workers) that are individually personalised to meet the needs of the child, young person or adult. Our program delivers support to families affected by these difficulties in order to help avert a family breakdown and to strengthen family ties.

Respite

Respite Carers offer a much deserved rest for primary carers as well as providing a break for the individual who may find their new surroundings overwhelming. Respite Carers help maintain primary placements by giving carers regular breaks, and provide another social network and range of interests for the individual. Respite Carers work in close collaboration with the Primary Carers to ensure a consistency in routine.

Children and Adolescent Support Program Access Service – CASPAS

CASPAS is a program for children whose parent/s have a psychiatric disability. CASPAS provides youth groups, individual support for young people and family support.

The program has several goals: 

• Enhance the overall wellbeing of children where parent/s have a psychiatric disability.
• Encourage and support a lifestyle as is enjoyed by other children and families within the community. 
• Advocate and encourage existing services to improve supports for the family.
• Increase the education and awareness of children, families and the broader community in relation to the effects of mental illness and psychiatric disability.
• Minimize the role of children as carers for family members.