|
Barnardos > Services > Service Philosophy
 How Barnardos Structures its Services
Barnardos is the foremost children’s charity working in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Our welfare goal is to find permanent workable solutions for children whose families are experiencing difficulties.
Our services are constantly subject to evaluation, auditing and modification based on the latest research outcomes.
Barnardos' Vision, Mission and Principles guide our work.
General Service Philosophy
Barnardos believes that services should be delivered to children in their own communities. Services are also best managed so that a flexible range is offered to meet the changing needs of children and their families.
At Barnardos we are:
- Committed to social justice. Child abuse, youth homelessness and entry into care are highly correlated with the social and economic circumstances of children.
- Acting as an advocate for children and families and services supporting them. Such services have a low priority in society and Barnardos believes that 'welfare on the cheap' can lead to damaging intervention in people’s lives.
- Committed to the family as the appropriate place in which to raise children (as a source of identity and stability).
- Committed to understanding the position of women and children in our society.
- Committed to promoting the importance of the rights of an individual.
Permanency Planning Principles
Barnardos' children's services are based on permanency planning principles. Since the 1960s, children's welfare services in many countries were seen to be 'failing' the children. For many, there were no clear case-plans. They stayed too long in care, moving from placement to placement too frequently, losing contact with their families and ultimately their identities. In their distress and pain, those children were becoming very difficult to assist and the welfare system became characterised by placement breakdowns and children showing emotionally disturbed behaviour.
Permanency planning offers a range of services that is designed to achieve a balance between prevention, restoration of a child to their parents and permanent fostercare and adoption. Children are kept in the least intrusive type of service so as not to be moved further away from their family’s care than necessary.
Advocacy
Foster Care & Adoption
Family Support
Childcare
Counselling
Mentoring & Tutoring
Adolescent
Disability
Homelessness
Crisis
Community Development
Aftercare
|
