Recording decision responses

Update made to this guidance

We've updated this content to include a sentence on after hours communication for tamariki in care and an explanation of the intake (no further action - NFA) decision response.

Upcoming changes for this content

This content will be strengthened so it more completely reflects our commitment to practice framed by te Tiriti o Waitangi, based on a mana-enhancing paradigm for practice, and drawing from ​Te Ao Māori principles of oranga to support mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga. We each need to consider how we can apply these principles to our practice when reading this content. The following resources provide support:
Practice for working effectively with Māori
Our practice approach

Tamariki in care

All information received about tamariki in care must be communicated to the allocated social worker through a CYRAS reminder and a two-way conversation with the social worker or their supervisor regardless of whether the information results in further action being taken.

During after hours when social workers are unavailable, an email should be sent in place of the two-way conversation in addition to the CYRAS reminder.

Contact record (no further action – NFA)

A contact record is used by the national contact centre (NCC) to record an NFA, advice or information is provided.

Tamariki with an open case

Information must not be entered only as a casenote – where 'new' information identifies concerns that are different from the previous concerns or are the same as previous concerns but have occurred at a different time, this information must be considered using the decision response tool.

A casenote is used to record information for open cases.

A casenote is appropriate if the 'new' information is the same as the concerns (both in the nature and the timeframe of the concerns) being assessed or investigated in the open case, or in the context of the work with te tamaiti. The new information can be used to contribute to the Tuituia assessment, leading to a potential change in case direction.

Intake (no further action - NFA)

When the initial assessment undertaken by the national contact centre (NCC) finds that no further Oranga Tamariki action is required, it is recorded as NFA in an intake.