Special adoptive care need code N

Representational attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Codes to be used after a 12 month assessment.

CODE 1   No additional care needs

A child who requires a level of personal, emotional and physical care consistent with that which would be expected for their age group. On a day-to-day basis, care is essentially the same as would be expected for the average, non-adopted peer of similar age in the general population.

CODE 2   Minor additional care needs

A child who requires a level of personal, emotional and physical care consistent with that which would be expected for their age group and experiences. On a day-to-day basis, care is comparable to what would be expected for their, non-adopted peers, but their adoption history may result in some irregular periods of additional care needs.

CODE 3   Moderate additional care needs

A child who requires a moderate level of personal, emotional and physical care beyond that which would be expected for their age group.

This additional care, will usually be confined to one specific area of need, such as:

• Child (on an ongoing basis) requiring abnormal amounts of attention and affection, high levels of routine and structure due to trauma/relationship trauma; displaying (on an ongoing basis) aggressive behaviours, enuresis and encopresis; stealing; sleeping difficulties
• Child (beyond usual age expectations) requiring assistance with dressing, bathing, toileting, feeding, mobility
• Regular physical therapy of up to 1 hour per day
• Regular medication for a diagnosed condition that requires skill and training to administer, or is needed to allow significantly improved day-to-day functioning
• Medical need for special dietary restrictions
• Frequent hospital or specialist appointments, or
• Ongoing high support special education programs.

CODE 4   Substantial additional care needs

A child who requires a considerable level of personal, emotional and physical care beyond that which would be expected for their age group.

This additional care, beyond that required of those with moderate care needs, will usually include a combination of two or more specific areas of need, such as those outlined under moderate additional care needs:

• Child (on an ongoing basis) requiring abnormal amounts of attention and affection, high levels of routine and structure due to trauma/relationship trauma; displaying (on an ongoing basis) aggressive behaviours, enuresis and encopresis; stealing; sleeping difficulties
• Child (beyond usual age expectations) requiring assistance with dressing, bathing, toileting, feeding, mobility.
• Physical therapy of up to 1 hour per day and regular medication requiring skill and training to administer
• Need for special diet, frequent hospital appointments, ongoing special education programmes.

CODE 5   Extensive additional care needs

A child who require a consistently high level of personal, emotional and physical care beyond that which would be expected for their age group.

This additional care beyond that required of those in other categories of level of need will usually include a combination of two or more specific areas of need, such as:

• Extreme attention seeking behaviour; frequent smearing of faeces; extreme hyperactivity requiring constant supervision; frequent aggression; extreme difficulty with schooling
• Child requires physical therapy 1 – 2 hours a day
• Specialist care techniques required (e.g. bathing, administering medication)
• Child unable to walk and/or talk
• Child needs constant attention
• Frequent hospital appointments and/or treatment.

Source and reference attributes

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Relational attributes