The Regulation of Out-of-Home Care

The regulation of out-of-home care in Australia has become increasingly formalized and detailed, partly driven by a recent wave of audits of abuse in foster-care. The emergence and possible consequences of this increased regulation are examined, with a particular focus on relative care. A pluralist–...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The British journal of social work 2007-02, Vol.37 (2), p.209-224
Main Author: Tilbury, Clare
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Audits
Australia
Caregivers
Caring
Child care
Child welfare
Child welfare services
Foster Care
Foster children
Foster home care
Government regulation
Kinship
Public policy
Regulation
Regulation compliance audits
Regulatory legislation
Social sciences
Social work
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Summary:The regulation of out-of-home care in Australia has become increasingly formalized and detailed, partly driven by a recent wave of audits of abuse in foster-care. The emergence and possible consequences of this increased regulation are examined, with a particular focus on relative care. A pluralist–democratic approach to accountability would involve a regulatory regime linked to other quality strategies, with the emphasis on improved quality and outcomes rather than compliance with policy and procedures. The concentration on expanding the regulatory regime is contrasted with more limited efforts to improve carer support—an essential ingredient of an effective foster-care system.
ISSN:0045-3102
1468-263X
DOI:10.1093/bjsw/bcl012