Non-Placement Support

Non-Placement Support Services

Non-Placement Support Services (NPSS) is a fee for service program offering a range of services including Supervised Birth Family Contact and Transport, Youth Mentoring, Respite and staffing for Alternative Care Arrangements.

Pathfinders is an approved provider for these services through the Department of Communities and Justice Casework Support Scheme (CSS). Each of these services are for children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) and their families through individual client agreements.

The aim of the program is to enable children and young people aged between 0-18 years to interact with their families in a safe and encouraging environment. NPSS also provides support for carers through transport to appointments, preschool, respite placements and changes of placement.

If you would like to access any of our services, please email npss@pathfinders.ngo and our team will provide you with a quote.

Mentoring

Pathfinders’ qualified support workers can provide mentoring for children and young people in OOHC. Our mentors work with them on specific goals identified by their caseworkers.
Mentors are matched to the particular needs of the child or young person, which can cover a wide range of topics. They can provide support with everyday living skills, budgeting, shopping, meal preparation, employment skills, learning to drive, connecting to culture, future planning, confidence and self-esteem building, sport or leisure activities, homework or any other areas of education that need attention. Mentors are great listeners and provide the child or young person with a positive, non-judgemental relationship to support them in their everyday lives.

Mentors are great listeners and provide the child or young person with a positive, non-judgemental relationship to support them in their everyday lives.

Supervised Contact

Pathfinders support supervised contact visits as an opportunity for families to maintain healthy relationships in a safe environment.

Trained and qualified support workers facilitate positive and meaningful contact between a child or young person and their family by:

supervising visits in a child-focused and compassionate manner
organising a suitable location and time for the visit
offering guidance to parents and significant others on parenting strategies
making sure the contact arrangements are in the child’s or young person’s best interest
networking with agency caseworkers and area coordinators to ensure that support workers have all the
necessary information
providing detailed and professional reports for all supervised contacts.

Supervised Transport

Children or young people might require supervised transport for many different reasons, including for contact visits, attending appointments, attending court, placement changes or attending camps.

Pathfinders will provide a suitable support worker to transport a child or young person and ensure their safety and needs are met by:

making suitable transport arrangements
using an acceptable vehicle and age-appropriate seating in accordance with Service NSW regulations
conducting transportation in line with the direction provided by the caseworker
networking with caseworkers and area coordinators when required.

Alternative Care Arrangements (ACA)

Pathfinders’ support workers can provide respite care for families inside or outside of the home. Respite can be arranged as ongoing support or as a one-off, depending on the needs of the family and the child or young person. This could include a support worker supervising the child or young person in the home while the carer attends an appointment or assisting a child or young person in alternative accommodation while they await a new placement. Support workers can provide 24-hour care to children and young people as needed.