This is a fee-for-service foster care program for children aged up to 12, who have particularly high care needs or difficult behaviours.
The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the Perth metropolitan area.
Referrals
Support
Respite
Training
Subsidy
Becoming a Carer
Referrals
Referrals are only accepted from the Department for Child Protection during office hours. Children are admitted into the program in a planned and structured way.
Spectrum does not accept crisis referrals.
Support
Spectrum workers are available to provide support to carers and children 24 hours a day. We visit the carer’s home and keep in regular telephone contact. We aim to provide practical assistance according to the carer’s needs.
Respite
Spectrum recruits respite carers who can offer care for children on weekends and school holidays. This gives the full time carer a break and the child the opportunity to get to know another carer family.
Training
Caring for children with high needs or difficult behaviours is challenging work. All our carers must commit to training. Preparation training is compulsory and must be completed before fostering commences. A further series of training modules covers a range of issues carers may face.
Spectrum carers have usually had previous experience in fostering or other relevant professional experience.
Subsidy
Spectrum carers are required to provide a high level of supervision for children in their care and to handle significant behavioural difficulties and high emotional needs. To acknowledge this responsibility, Spectrum carers are paid a weekly carer subsidy plus a subsidy for each child placed with them.
Contact us for more information or call us during business hours on (08) 9245 2441.