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Specialist Program

Out-of-Home Care Program

Specialist support for young people under 18 living in a home away from family.

At Hikma House, our Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) services are dedicated to providing exceptional care for children and young people under 18 who are unable to remain in their home environment. We collaborate closely with DFFH and NDIS to offer safe, nurturing, and supportive accommodation that prioritises their well-being and development. 

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About the program

Our Out of Home Care (OOHC) program supports young people under 18 who cannot live with family and need a structured, staffed home environment to be safe and well supported. Referrals come through DFFH, Support Coordinators, or both, depending on the young person’s funding pathway and circumstances.

Funding arrangements vary between young people. We work within each person’s approved funding pathway, whether that involves NDIS, DFFH, or a combination of both.

Decisions about whether an Out of Home Care arrangement is right for a young person are made by DFFH, the NDIS, families, and the professionals involved in their care. We don’t weigh in on those decisions or advise on whether a placement should happen. Once the arrangement is in place, our responsibility is to support the young person day to day and work closely with everyone involved.

The Support Model Behind Every Home

Our Out of Home Care (OOHC) program operates through a structured support model designed to provide stability, accountability, and continuity. Each young person has a clear support framework around them, with defined roles, communication pathways, and oversight.

1. Oversight & Coordination

Every young person in the program has a dedicated Housing Coordinator overseeing their supports. The Housing Coordinator is involved from before the placement starts, aligns the team, attends care team meetings, contributes to Looking After Children planning and records, and stays the reliable point of contact throughout.

3. Structured Support & Escalation

Housing Coordinators provide support during business hours. An after-hours line operates outside those hours. Night Supervisors are present across our homes overnight, so there is always experienced oversight in place. DFFH after-hours contact protocols are followed as required.

5. Governance & Reporting

Supports are documented through ShiftCare. Weekly data reports go to Care Teams covering behaviour trends, incidents, and how supports are landing day to day. Incident reporting follows a structured process with leadership review where required. Where restrictive practices are in place, we operate as a registered implementing provider.

2. Staffing & Capability

Every young person has a consistent roster of the same support workers. Workers are matched based on skillset, experience, cultural fit, and personal suitability. All hold current Working With Children Checks. Training is completed before a worker begins, with ongoing development tailored to the young person they support. This may include trauma-informed practice, autism, behaviour support, mental health, and other areas depending on individual need.

4. Cultural Planning

Understanding a young person’s identity, relationships, culture, and community connections is part of our planning from the beginning. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, we place particular focus on supporting connection to culture, community, and Country in partnership with the people and communities important to them.

6. Education

Education is coordinated actively. Housing Coordinators work with schools, communicate with education staff, and support the routines that allow the young person to attend, engage, and be supported around their learning.

Continuity Into Adult Services

Turning 18 is a significant transition. For young people in this program, it often involves changes to funding, service systems, and where they live.

Planning starts well before 18. We work with the young person, their family or representatives, DFFH, and the Support Coordinator to think through what adult life looks like. This might mean transitioning into one of our adult Supported Independent Living homes, or moving into a different service model if that is the better fit for them.

01
Before 18

Planning with the young person, family, DFFH and Support Coordinator.

02
Transition

A planned move into adult life and the right support model.

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03
Adult SIL

Familiar Housing Coordinator, workers and routines continue where appropriate.

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Who We Work With

DFFH Case Managers

We participate in care team meetings, provide regular updates, and contribute to Looking After Children planning and records. Information sharing follows the arrangements agreed for the young person. Where restrictive practices apply, we manage them through our registration as an implementing provider. Handovers when a young person moves in, moves on, or transitions to adult services are structured and documented.

Support Coordinators

The Housing Coordinator is your consistent point of contact. Reporting and documentation are structured so the evidence you need for plan reviews is available. When something needs your attention, we bring it up early rather than at the last minute. Transition planning for adult services begins well before 18.

Families and Representatives

Contact arrangements are followed as set. Where family involvement is part of the care plan, we support it in the ways agreed. Where specific limitations are in place, we respect them. Day to day, our focus is on giving the young person a stable, safe home.

Our Partners

Our Intake Process

Every referral goes through a proper assessment before a decision is made.

1. Initial Conversation

We always begin by asking questions and getting to know the young person. Behaviour history, current situation, funding pathway, previous placement history, family and cultural context, and any specific arrangements already in place.

2. Internal Assessment

We look at what the young person actually needs day to day, what level of support is required to meet those needs consistently, and whether the home being considered is the right setting for them. We also factor in cultural and family context where relevant, and make sure the support arrangement is financially sustainable before we come back to you.

3. Clear Response

We come back with a clear answer, including whether we can support the young person and the factors considered in our review, usually within one to two business days.

4. Transition Planning

If we proceed, the Housing Coordinator is involved early. This includes attending care team meetings, engaging with DFFH and the Support Coordinator, and building familiarity before day one.

What We Provide

Specialised Care

Tailored support for children and young people, ensuring their safety and fostering personal growth.

Safe and Nurturing Homes

Comfortable and secure environments that cater to the specific needs of each child or young person.

Educational and Developmental Support

Focus on personal development, education, and achieving NDIS goals.

Collaborative Approach

Working in partnership with families, caregivers, and relevant agencies to provide holistic care.

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Don't Just Take Our Word for It

Here’s what our awesome community have to say about working with us:

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If you would like to discuss a referral or learn more about our Out of Home Care (OOHC) program, our team can help you understand the next steps.

When making a referral, it helps to have:

  • Behaviour Support Plan (if in place)
  • DFFH case plan or care team information
  • Funding pathway
  • Previous placement history
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Frequently Asked Questions

Out of Home Care provides a safe and supportive living environment for children and young people under 18 who cannot live at home due to various circumstances. It ensures their well-being, education, and personal development in a nurturing setting. 

Children and young people under 18 who are unable to remain in their family home, often due to safety or welfare concerns, are eligible. This care is provided in collaboration with the Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing (DFFH) and the NDIS.

OOHC offers a range of supports including daily care, emotional support, educational assistance, skill development, and access to therapeutic services. Our goal is to provide a stable and secure environment that promotes the child’s overall well-being.

The length of stay in OOHC varies based on the individual situation. Some children may be placed temporarily, while others may stay long-term until they can return home or transition to another permanent care arrangement.

Care is provided by trained staff and carers who are experienced in supporting children and young people. They ensure a nurturing, safe, and structured environment to support each child’s growth and development.

Families remain involved in their child’s life as much as possible. Depending on the situation, family reunification is often a goal, and we work closely with families to support this process.

We carefully consider the child’s individual needs, preferences, and background to ensure they are placed in the most suitable and supportive environment.

Yes, education is a key part of OOHC. We work to ensure that children in care continue their schooling, receive support with their studies, and have access to educational resources.

OOHC includes various types of care, such as residential care, where children live in small group homes with trained staff. Foster care involves children being placed with a family. Both are forms of OOHC but differ in the living arrangements and types of care provided.

When a young person turns 18, we work with them to plan their transition into adulthood, which may include pathways to independent living, further education, employment, or accessing other support services through the NDIS.