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Page URL: https://practice.orangatamariki.govt.nz/core-practice/practice-tools/other-practice-and-assessment-tools/safety-and-risk-screen/
Printed: 02/06/2023
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Last updated: 01/04/2019

Safety and risk screen

The safety and risk screen identifies if there are concerns that warrant immediate action by Oranga Tamariki to secure the safety of te tamaiti.

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 shift

What is the safety and risk screen

The safety and risk screen identifies if there are concerns that warrant immediate action by Oranga Tamariki to secure the safety of te tamaiti.

When to use it

A safety and risk screen is used when we've received a report of concern and the site has confirmed a child and family assessment or an investigation is required.

Complete the screen after you have engaged with the tamariki recorded in the report of concern, their whānau or family, and others who know them (eg professionals, the notifier, etc).

The screen must be completed within:

  • 24 or 48 hours where there is high risk and no immediate protection available
  • 10 working days for all other cases.

Decision response timeframes

Policy: Assessment

Who uses it

The social worker completing the assessment or investigation for te tamaiti.

How to use it

The safety and risk screen is found in CYRAS. It has two sections.

1 Factors associated with a child or young person being at risk

Section one includes:

  • 12 factors associated with a child or young person being at risk
  • the behaviours or conditions that raise concerns for safety and wellbeing.

The list and examples are not exhaustive — they've been designed to help you think about possible areas that could compromise the safety of te tamaiti.

In this section:

  1. Identify the relevant factors that you're worried about for each tamaiti in the whānau or family.
  2. Record brief details about the specific behaviours, conditions, and/or circumstances associated with that particular factor.
  3. Record ‘not applicable’ against each factor that does not relate to te tamaiti.
  4. Consider any specific inherent vulnerabilities in te tamaiti, eg age, repeated victimisation, or diminished psychological or physical capacity.
  5. Also consider:
    • Is there a history of self-harm, suicidal ideation or behavioural concerns?
    • Has there been prior Oranga Tamariki involvement?
    • Does the whānau or family have a history of engaging with services?
    • Does the whānau or family have the capacity to respond appropriately to te tamaiti in order to keep them safe?

2 Decision and next steps

In section 2, we use all of the information known about te tamaiti and their whānau or family to identify whether or not te tamaiti is safe.

  1. If there are care, protection or support concerns that require continued involvement with Oranga Tamariki, record that te tamaiti is not safe and outline how protection is being built while further assessment takes place. Even when you have immediately moved te tamaiti to another person's care following a first visit, still record te tamaiti as not being safe and then describe what you have done to build safety (eg arranged for them to stay with Nana for the weekend).
  2. Where a child or young person is identified as being safe, describe the strengths and protective factors that exist and how these are keeping te tamaiti safe.
  3. Where the whānau or family has needs that can be met by a community-based service or other government agency, you can refer them for a partnered response with their consent.

Assessing information from suitability checks

Assessing the home environment of applicants

Assessment interviews and hui