For organisations that deliver Care Services, the policy now refers to recent changes to screening requirements for kinship care usual household members and the introduction of the Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme.
Recent changes include:
- Commencing February 2024, Working with Children Checks need to be conducted for usual household members residing in a kinship placement, in line with foster care households.
- Commencing July 2024, Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme replaced the former Disqualified Carer Check and Carer Register processes. Organisations are no longer required to register carers but must conduct a Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme (WCES) database check through the Social Services Regulator before engaging a foster carer or residential carer.
For further information visit https://providers.dffh.vic.gov.au/safety-screening-policy