Adoption Benchmark Policies

The OCG has developed benchmark policies for each of the NSW Adoption standards. These benchmark policies make explicit both the policy areas and content that adoption service providers will need to address when applying for accreditation.

You can download a copy of the NSW Adoption standards here: NSW Adoption Standards

To view a policy please click the policy number or to download a policy in the format of your choice right-click the corresponding Word or PDF icon and choose “save target as” (if using Internet Explorer) or “save link as” (if using Netscape).		Download      PDF
Introduction
	Statement of Contemporary Adoption Practice
Section 1: Casework Practice
1.1	Assessment, access and referral
1.2	Case planning
1.3	Casework with parents considering adoption
1.4	Placement meets the needs of children
1.5	Transition to adoption
1.6	Casework with the child
1.7	Intrafamily adoption
1.8	Participation in decision making
1.9	Supreme Court applications
1.10	Liaison with overseas countries
1.11	Monitoring care and placements and reviewing case plans prior to the adoption order
Section 2: Management of potential and prospective adoptive parents
2.1	Recruitment, approval and selection of adoptive parents
2.2	Education and training of adoptive parents
Section 3: Care to be provided in pre adoptive and adoptive placements
3.1	Care environment for the child
3.2	Identity and cultural heritage
3.3	Life experiences prior to adoption
3.4	Children with special needs
Section 4: Rights, confidentiality and complaints
4.1	Rights of children, their birth families and adoptive applicants and parents
4.2	Confidentiality and privacy
4.3	Complaints and appeals
4.4	Conflict of interest
Section 5: Adoption records
5.1	Management of the adoption record system
5.2	Content of adoption records
5.3	Adoption information
Section 6: Post adoption order services
6.1	Post adoption support
6.2	Adult information and support
Section 7: Working with other agencies and liaison with the community
7.1	Knowledge of community needs and resources
7.2	Liaison with other service providers
7.3	Service visibility and publicity
7.4	Knowledge of the overseas countries’ services
Section 8: Organisational management
8.1	Organisational accountability
8.2	Teamwork and cooperation
8.3	Financial and administrative systems
8.4	Management information systems
8.5	Premises and equipment
Section 9: Planning, evaluation and service development
9.1	Planning processes
9.2	Evaluation
Section 10: Human resource management
10.1	Employment, recruitment, selection and appointment
10.2	Supervision and support
10.3	Training and development
10.4	Work satisfaction
10.5	Personnel systems
10.6	Occupational health and safety
10.7	Student placements and volunteer management
10.8	Management bodies and governing structures