Practice tool
Report of concern response pathway – further action required
We undertake the core assessment phase when there is further action required (FAR) – either a child and family assessment or an investigation.
Updates made to this page
Core assessment phase – child and family assessment (CFA)
Statutory assessment may be necessary or desirable if:
- te tamaiti is experiencing (or is likely to experience) serious harm
- this is having a significant impact on their development, safety, health and wellbeing
- the cumulative effect of experiences is harmful to the current and long-term developmental needs of te tamaiti and the issues remain unresolved
- there has been no criminal offending against te tamaiti.
Core assessment phase – investigation (FAR-INV)
Choose this pathway when the actions or behaviour of a person may constitute a criminal offence against te tamaiti or rangatahi, as defined in the Child Protection Protocol (CPP), and where there is a role for Police and Oranga Tamariki.
Refer to the Child Protection Protocol (CPP) for details of the criteria.
Guidance: Child Protection Protocol (CPP)
An investigation is required to explore actions or types of behaviour that fall into 3 categories:
- physical abuse
- sexual abuse
- neglect.
Other prosecutable offences of ill treatment or harm that would fall under all or a combination of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect should also be discussed under the provisions of CPP. These include:
- child trafficking
- child forced labour (including domestic servitude)
- online sexual exploitation of children, including exploitation and harmful digital content (for the purposes of this protocol, there needs to be an identified New Zealand based victim)
- female genital mutilation
- child forced marriage
- fraudulent and illicit adoption
- exploitation of children in the context of family violence
- deliberate or prolonged concealment of a tamaiti or rangatahi.
Additional information
When we receive concerns about te tamaiti or rangatahi and we have an open case, and these are the same concerns that are being addressed and this is a new notifier, we enter this as an 'Additional Information Intake'. This allows the site to determine how best to respond to this notifier and concerns alongside the assessment mahi they are engaged with with te tamaiti or rangatahi and whānau or family.