THE COMPASS SERVICES

Residential Care for Young People with Intensive Needs

Background

In 1991 the Government established an enquiry into the provision of out-of-home care in New South Wales. Following recommendations from the enquiry the government closed its own out-of-home-care centres, entrusting the care of young people to non-government agencies under contract.

Marists opened its first contracted services - Freehill and Greentree - in 1994.

Programs

In 2005 MYC entered into a new contract to provide care for twenty-two young people in twelve houses across western Sydney. These young people all require specialized individual programs. While programs vary in detail according to the needs of the young people in residence, the services will all provide:

• Contribution to individual assessment undertaken by DoCS
• Day to day casework according to individual case plan
• Safe, stable and nurturing environments in the least intrusive setting possible
• Supportive, caring relationships
• Support in establishing and maintaining family connections
• Support in establishing appropriate links with the community
• Support in meeting juvenile justice commitments
• Support in educational and vocational needs of individuals
• Structured skills development programmes
• Outside referral for specialist professional services

The intended outcome of the services is to improve all aspects of the development of the young people including:

• Progressive ability to function with decreasing formal supports
• Progress towards acquiring age-appropriate developmental skills and competencies
• Progress towards age-appropriate developmental education and vocational goals
• Reduction to risk posed to themselves and others by their behaviour
• Transition to maturation and independent living

Each Unit will be under the immediate supervision of a Coordinator who is responsible to a manager covering several units.

Partnership

Compass programs are conducted in partnership between Marists and the Department of Community Services. The department will retain responsibility for:

• Referrals and initial assessment
• Case management
• Case Reviews involving all parties

To provide additional protection for the young people, all services in the network will be visited by Community Visitors

Compass Units currently operate in the following areas:

• Castle Hill
• Emu Plains
• Greystanes
• Parramatta
• Windsor
• Westmead
• North Rocks
• Colyton
• Toongabbie
• Winston Hills
• Stanhope Gardens

The Compass Research Project

This three year contract will offer the agency the opportunity to pursue research into the aspects of caring for this group of young people, many of whom have been moved around in the welfare system for years, some also having been involved in the juvenile justice system.

MYC is currently finalizing the research model in partnership with the Australian Catholic University to plan the Compass Research Project.