OOHC Change Funding model

Out of Home Care (OOHC) Change Funding is short-term streamlined funding for students entering or in statutory OOHC, to counter changes that may affect their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.

OOHC Change Funding is available for staffing resources only.

Commencing from Term 4 2019, schools will no longer be required to complete an OOHC Emergency Funding application form. Instead, schools will receive OOHC Change Funding through one of two methods:

• Method 1: Externally triggered funding
• Method 2: School triggered funding

Method 1: Externally triggered funding

This funding is triggered by the NSW Department of Education receiving a Notice to School (indicating a student's entry into OOHC) or a Change of Circumstance advice from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ - formerly FACS) or its funded OOHC service providers.

The OOHC Change Funding matrix (PDF 187.28KB) has been developed to support the OOHC Change Funding model.

The department will use the OOHC Change Funding matrix to match the likely impact of entry into OOHC and/or a notified change of circumstance with a related funding tier 1-3.

The determination of likely impact is based on existing evidence about the needs of students in statutory OOHC.

Method 2: School triggered funding

Funding is available to support schools when students in statutory OOHC experience life changes (not already captured through a Notice to School or Change of Circumstance advice) that adversely impact on their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.

Schools apply directly to Child Protection Services for funding using an online OOHC Learning Impact Form (OLIF) - intranet access only. The OOHC Change Funding matrix and OOHC Change Funding framework - intranet access only support schools? decision making on appropriate levels of adjustment for students experiencing these life changes.

How to return unused funding?

Please select the following link to download the form to return unused OOHC funding.

OOHC Change Funding resources

OOHC Change Funding matrix (PDF 187.28KB) Matrix outlining Method 1: Externally triggered funding and Method 2: School triggered funding

OOHC Change Funding tiers 2019 - intranet access only Three funding tiers and associated funding amounts

OOHC Change Funding framework - intranet access only Additional support for schools in the selection of the funding tier by level of adjustment and/or characteristics of students in statutory OOHC

OOHC Change Funding flowchart (PDF 249.05KB) A step by step flowchart of the processes for both OOHC Change Funding methods 1 and 2.

OOHC Learning Impact Form (OLIF) - intranet access only Method 2: School triggered funding application (to be completed by principal/delegate only). The OLIF will be available from Week 1 Term 4 2019.

OOHC Change Funding school factsheet - intranet access only Key information and implications of the new OOHC Change Funding Model for schools

OOHC Change Funding factsheet for DCJ and its funded OOHC service providers (PDF 462.63KB) Key information and implications of the new OOHC Change Funding Model for DCJ and its funded OOHC service providers

Frequently asked questions

• What are the key changes resulting from the new OOHC Change Funding model?
• How will schools receive OOHC Change Funding?
• What actions do schools need to undertake once they receive an OOHC Change Funding Notification?
• What can OOHC Change Funding be used for?
• What should a school do if it is aware of a change in a student?s OOHC status or circumstances but has not received a funding notification from Child Protection Services?
• Can a school receive OOHC Change Funding more than once for the same student?
• How will Out of Home Care (OOHC) Change Funding be monitored and evaluated?
• Will a student transitioning to high school automatically receive OOHC Change Funding through Method 1?

What are the key changes resulting from the new OOHC Change Funding model?

We are making it easier for schools to access funding to support students in statutory OOHC. From Term 4 2019, schools will no longer be required to complete an OOHC Emergency Funding Application form.

Schools will receive OOHC Change Funding by one of two methods:

Method 1: Externally triggered funding

This funding is triggered when the NSW Department of Education receives a Notice to School or a Change of Circumstance advice from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ - formerly FACS) or its funded OOHC service providers.

Method 2: School triggered funding

NSW public schools apply directly to Child Protection Services (CPS) for funding using the online OOHC Learning Impact Form (OLIF). This funding is available to support schools when students in statutory OOHC experience life changes (not already captured in a Notice to School or Change of Circumstance advice) that adversely impact on their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.

The OOHC Change Funding matrix (PDF 187.28KB) and OOHC Change Funding framework intranet access only have been developed to support schools with the OOHC Change Funding model.

For further information refer to the OOHC Change Funding school factsheet - intranet access only and OOHC Change Funding flowchart (PDF 249.05KB).

How will schools receive OOHC Change Funding?

School principals will receive a funding notification email from Child Protection Services indicating the amount of funding allocated for a student. This means schools can immediately begin providing additional support for the student. The funding will be delivered to schools via their budget adjustment EFPT.

What actions do schools need to undertake once they receive an OOHC Change Funding notification?

Update ERN

Schools are required to update the Enrolment Registration Number system (ERN) when a student enters statutory OOHC, or when there is a notified Change of Circumstance from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ - formerly FACS) or its funded OOHC service providers.

Confidentially store the Notice to School or Change of Circumstance advice

Schools should store a paper copy of the Notice to Schools or Change of Circumstance advice in the student?s Pupil Record Card (PRC) or student file, so that it follows the student on their schooling journey through government schools. Schools may also choose to store the notice electronically in the student?s school based Learning and Support file.

Undertake or review Personalised Learning and Support Planning

Collaborative strength-based learning and support planning must be undertaken within 30 days of a school being notified that a student has entered statutory OOHC. Personalised Learning and Support Planning should be reviewed after reporting periods or whenever there is a change in the student's life that is impacting on their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.

Implement adjustments funded through OOHC Change Funding

OOHC teachers are available to support schools to identify appropriate adjustments for students in statutory OOHC; including the collaborative review of strength-based learning and support planning. The OOHC Change Funding framework - intranet access only outlines typical adjustments that may support students in statutory OOHC with their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.

What can OOHC Change Funding be used for?

OOHC Change Funding is available for staffing resources only.

• The OOHC Change Funding framework - intranet access only outlines typical adjustments that may support students in statutory OOHC with their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.
• OOHC teachers are available to support schools to identify appropriate adjustments for students in statutory OOHC; including the collaborative review of strength-based learning and support planning.

What should a school do if it is aware of a change in a student?s OOHC status or circumstances but has not received a funding notification from Child Protection Services?

If known to the school, the school can contact the student?s caseworker immediately and ask them to forward a Notice to School or Change of Circumstance advice to oohc.cps@det.nsw.edu.au so that funding is triggered and sent to the school. If the caseworker is not known, schools should work with their OOHC teacher to seek information from DCJ (formerly FACS) or its funded OOHC service providers.

Child Protection Services can also be contacted by schools for follow-up on oohc.cps@det.nsw.edu.au.

Can a school receive OOHC Change Funding more than once for the same student?

Yes. Schools will automatically receive OOHC Change Funding when the Child Protection Services team receives a Notice to School or a Change of Circumstance advice for a student; a student in statutory OOHC may have multiple Change of Circumstance advice.

Where a student in statutory OOHC experiences additional changes that impact on their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum (not already captured through a Notice to School or Change of Circumstance advice), the school may submit an online OOHC Learning Impact Form (OLIF) - intranet access only.

How will Out of Home Care (OOHC) Change Funding be monitored and evaluated?

An OOHC Change Funding Monitoring and Evaluation framework has been developed to guide this process. A number of schools involved in testing the new funding arrangements will contribute to the monitoring and evaluation process.

Will a student transitioning to high school automatically receive OOHC Change Funding through Method 1?

No, in most cases transitions to high school do not result in an externally triggered Change of Circumstance advice, as a transition to high school is a change that all year 6 students go through. However, if a school believes that a student in statutory OOHC requires additional support with a high school transition, they are able to submit an online OOHC Learning Impact Form (OLIF) - intranet access only, which will be available from Week 1 Term 4. On receipt of the form, the school will be notified directly by the department?s Child Protection Services team of the funding allocation.

Further information

Contact Child Protection Services on:

02 7814 2923 or oohc.cps@det.nsw.edu.au