The ITC program provides greater therapeutic care to young people unable to live at home who require the most complex support, allowing them to step down to less intensive placements – such as foster care – as they heal.
The aim of the program is to reduce the length of time children and young people spend in intensive out of home care services, such as residential care, and provide clear pathways to permanency.
MacKillop is working in partnership with Anglicare (NSW South, West and ACT) to deliver ITC services in Blacktown, Liverpool and Queanbeyan. MacKillop delivers ITC services solely in the Lismore region.
MacKillop and Anglicare share a commitment to providing therapeutic, trauma-informed services, supported by the Sanctuary Model as our therapeutic framework. Sanctuary provides us with a shared language and common understanding of trauma, its impact on behaviour and how to respond.
Both agencies are approved Permanency Support Program providers offering the full range of Prevention and Permanency services for children, young people and their families. For more information on the Permanency Support Program, visit www.facs.nsw.gov.au/psp. A full listing of ITC services is below:
Intensive Therapeutic Transitional Care (ITTC)
- Young people are assessed for up to 13 weeks while living in an ITTC approved residential property – this is the first step in support where MacKillop and Anglicare staff, along with FACS, determine the most appropriate placement option. MacKillop delivers ITTC services in Liverpool, Lismore and Queanbeyan. Marist180 delivers ITTC services in Blacktown.
Intensive Therapeutic Care Homes (ITCH)
- Time limited, intensive therapeutic care in a safe and home-like environment with a dedicated in-house team. Maximum of four young people in an ITCH home. MacKillop delivers this service in Blacktown and Lismore. Anglicare delivers this service in Blacktown, Liverpool and Queanbeyan.
Therapeutic Home Based Care (THBC)
- A tailored and flexible placement option for children and young people to enable their step down from more intensive-support homes. Care is provided by authorised live-in carer/s in a house maintained by MacKillop. THBC carers must meet minimum qualification requirements. MacKillop delivers this service in Lismore, Grafton, Blacktown and Queanbeyan. Anglicare delivers this service in Liverpool and Queanbeyan.
Therapeutic Sibling Option Placement (TSOP)
- Foster care placement for a minimum of three siblings or related groups of children and young people. Care is provided by authorised live-in carer/s in a house maintained by MacKillop. The key objective is to successfully support sibling/related groups of children and young people to reside together as a family unit, requiring intensive support. MacKillop delivers this service in Lismore, Grafton, Blacktown and Queanbeyan. Anglicare delivers this service in Blacktown, Liverpool and Queanbeyan.
Therapeutic Supportive Independent Living (TSIL)
- A placement option and supports for young people aged 16 – 17 years of age to successfully acquire living skills to prepare for a successful transition to independent living. MacKillop delivers this service in Blacktown, Lismore and Queanbeyan. Anglicare delivers this service in Blacktown, Liverpool and Queanbeyan.
How to access this service
Intensive Therapeutic Care is available by referral only through the NSW Department of Family & Community Services. For further information please contact your local FACS office in Lismore, Blacktown, Liverpool or Queanbeyan.
