Navigating the barriers to supporting neurodevelopmental disorders in children in out-of-home care

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders are currently overrepresented in the out-of-home-care (OOHC) system. This overrepresentation has created an increasing need for staff and carers to be equipped to handle the complexities these conditions entail. The aim of the present study was to gather information to understand the current service needs, practices, and knowledge within a private provider of OOHC services in Queensland. This included identifying barriers to the implementation of the Australian National Clinical Assessment Framework, which aims to facilitate appropriate screening, assessment and intervention provision for children and young people in OOHC. Twenty-five staff and 15 caregivers participated in an online survey. Results demonstrated that both staff and carers felt they needed additional training in understanding and supporting children with neurodevelopmental disorders and identified a number of barriers to accessing services. Barriers included: insufficient access to information (e.g., lack of training, health records missing or incomplete and lack of appropriate pre-placement consultation) and lack of available resources (e.g., extensive wait times for services due to reliance on public health system and ‘red tape’ systemic issues). The results also highlighted the level of unmet physical, developmental and psychological needs for children and young people in care, with a third of carers reporting concerns. Overall, the current study provides critical recommendations for future implementation strategies and interventions to better meet the needs of children and young people in the Queensland OOHC system.