Licensing and accreditation of Life Without Barriers

Just as you have been screened and assessed as a suitable carer, we are assessed and monitored by the Government to ensure we are a suitable organisation to care for children. You might hear this process referred to as licensing, accreditation, registration, or certification.

Service Standards

The criteria for the licensing of a foster care service vary between states, but mainly focus on the ability to

• Provide information to children, particularly about accessibility, policies and procedures, complaints, and appeals processes
• Ensure children participate in decisions affecting them, and are involved in services they receive
• Uphold the rights of children
• Keep children connected to family, and involve families in their children’s lives
• Keep children connected to their culture and identity
• Comply with standards for care environments
• Recruit, assess, train, approve, support, monitor, and supervise carers
• Manage children’s records
• Maintain records about carers, employees, contractors, and volunteers
• Maintain reporting systems, particularly breaches of standards and incidents involving harm to children
• Meet guidelines relating to financial management