167Permanency objective

167 Permanency objective (1) A case plan must include one of the following objectives (a ***permanency objective***) to be considered in the following order of preference as determined to be appropriate in the best interests of the child— (a) family preservation—the objective of ensuring a child who is in the care of a parent of the child remains in the care of a parent; (b) family reunification—the objective of ensuring that a child who has been removed from the care of a parent of the child is returned to the care of a parent; (c) adoption—the objective of placing the child for adoption under the **Adoption Act 1984**; (d) permanent care—the objective of arranging a permanent placement of the child with a permanent carer or carers; (e) long-term out of home care—the objective of placing the child in— (i) a stable, long-term care arrangement with a specified carer or carers; or (ii) if an arrangement under subparagraph (i) is not possible, another suitable long-term care arrangement. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c) to (e), it is to be preferred that a child is placed— (a) with a suitable family member of the child or other person of significance to the child; or (b) if a placement under paragraph (a) is not possible, with another suitable carer or carers. S. 167(3) amended by No. 8/2016 s. 3(1). (3) For the purposes of this section, a permanency objective of family reunification would be appropriate if the child has been in out of home care for a cumulative period of less than 12 months and the safe reunification of the child with a parent is likely to be achieved. (4) For the purposes of this section, a permanency objective set out in subsection (1)(c) to (e) would be appropriate if— S. 167(4)(a) amended by No. 8/2016 s. 3(2)(a). (a) the child has been in out of home care for a cumulative period of 12 months and there is no real likelihood for the safe reunification of the child with a parent in the next 12 months; or S. 167(4)(b) amended by No. 8/2016 s. 3(2)(b). (b) except in exceptional circumstances, the child has been in out of home care for a cumulative period of 24 months. S. 167(5) inserted by No. 8/2016 s. 3(3). (5) Section 287A(4) applies to the determination of a cumulative period under this section. S. 168 substituted by No. 61/2014 s. 97.