Improving the health of children in out of home care in Caboolture

Brisbane North PHN is working with primary care providers across the Caboolture child safety service centre catchment to strengthen health assessment responses for children and young people in out of home care.

Funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, the Out of Home Care Project is a two-year statewide project led by PHNs that commenced in 2019.

Children in out of home care are likely to have complex health needs such as poorer physical, mental and developmental health than their peers. These children may also not be accessing the full range of options within the health service system, in part, due to placement instability combined with limited coordination and information sharing between service providers.

To date, the PHN’s Project Coordinator has been consulting with key stakeholders across the Caboolture region and conducting a survey into local service needs.

GPs and practice nurses from the local area will be invited to a training day on Saturday 18 May 2019 to learn about working with children in out of home care. They will also be invited to join a Community of Practice to share, learn, collaborate and advocate ways to improve clinical case coordination, integration and knowledge of working with children in out-of-home care.

As part of the project, the PHN will also be developing a localised pathway for children in out of home care, published via HealthPathways.

For more information about the Out of Home Care Project, or to be involved, contact Brisbane North PHN.