Guidance
Core assessment phase
The core phase of assessment builds on the initial phase to deepen our understanding of oranga, establishing a picture of the safety, strengths, vulnerability and needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family.Updates made to this guidance
Changes have been made to a number of pages on the Practice Centre to align with the practice approach. Specific changes include:
- Tiaki Oranga replaces the safety and risk screen, and is now being used throughout the life of a case, across service lines whenever we need to understand current safety.
- All references to the Tuituia domains and subdomains have been removed and we now promote the use of Te Puna Oranga and our models, tools and resources to build and deepen our understanding.
- The Tuituia report has been replaced with the assessment report.
Purpose of the core assessment phase
The purpose of the core assessment is to work with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau or family and others to build and deepen our understanding. We are working to:
- understand current and future oranga, including safety and harm or the likelihood of harm to te tamaiti or rangatahi
- determine whether te tamaiti or rangatahi has needs that require addressing, and if so who is best to provide those services
- inform the decision about future involvement by Oranga Tamariki, such as a family group conference, no further action (NFA) or referral to other services.
Apply our models, tools and resources to understand impacts on oranga that cause harm, or risk of harm, to make a decision on whether or not the threshold for section 14 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 is met.
If met, this requires us to refer to a family group conference.
Planning in the core assessment phase
We use Organising my Practice to plan our mahi to ensure we are focused as we build and deepen our understanding according to the purpose of assessment at this phase.
We plan to ensure we have sufficient information to identify whether te tamaiti or rangatahi is suffering, or is likely to suffer, serious and/or ongoing harm and to determine the best response to concerns impacting on their oranga.
The core assessment should build on the information and analysis summarised in the pathway rationale casenote from the initial assessment. This casenote provides the reasons for decisions and the key areas of concern that the assessment needs to explore further.
As we build and deepen our understanding, we use our social work thinking and professional judgement alongside our models, tools and resources to analyse and understand new information as we gather it. Analysis is a constant process that guides our mahi.
When the core phase of assessment is covered by the Child Protection Protocol (CPP)
The purpose of the core phase of assessment does not change even if the CPP is being followed. The decisions at this point don’t depend on the completion of the Police investigation or court outcomes.
The CPP acknowledges the discrete roles of Police and Oranga Tamariki and states what activities Oranga Tamariki is responsible for during the core phase of assessment. These are:
- addressing the immediate safety of tamariki and rangatahi, together with Police
- completing an assessment of harm and the severity of this
- taking action to ensure the ongoing safety of tamariki and rangatahi
- facilitating and assisting tamaiti and rangatahi victims and their whānau or family to engage with support services, together with Police.
How we undertake the core assessment
1 Plan
Planning is critical to a quality assessment. We use Organising my Practice as a tool to support our mahi. This will ensure that we are building and deepening our understanding of:
- te tamaiti or rangatahi and their needs, vulnerabilities and strengths in the context of oranga
- the strengths, needs and resources within the whānau or family
- te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family within the wider system
- the aspirations of te tamaiti or rangatahi and whānau or family.
2 Relate with te tamaiti or rangatahi
The way we relate with te tamaiti or rangatahi is critical to building and deepening understanding. We need to have face-to-face engagement with te tamaiti or rangatahi to:
- share with them the process of building and deepening understanding, and the timeframes of our work
- establish their safety
- hear their views and understand what they are experiencing
- build a picture of their oranga, including vulnerabilities, needs, strengths and resources, aspirations, and their whakapapa and whanaungatanga relationships – frame within a frame
- talk with them about what we are seeing and thinking and how we might proceed at the end of this phase of assessment.
Think about how we can support this engagement – where it might best take place, who may be able to assist, what tools or resources may support engagement and how to consider factors such as age and developmental level.
3 Relate with whānau or family
Early and ongoing engagement with whānau or family is critical to building and deepening understanding. Tamariki, rangatahi and whānau or family are inherently connected. An assessment of the oranga needs and vulnerabilities, including safety, of te tamaiti or rangatahi cannot be understood in isolation of their whānau or family. We want to work with the whānau or family to deepen and strengthen their understanding of, and opportunity to, respond to any concerns for the care or safety of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Key aspects of working with whānau or family in this phase of building and deepening our understanding include:
- using Te Toka Tūmoana and involving our kairaranga ā-whānau or specialist Māori advice to support relating with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau Māori
- using Va'aifetū and seeking advice from Pacific cultural advisors and other relevant ethnic cultural or spiritual leaders
- using hui ā-whānau or family meetings to:
- support and enhance the rights, participation and decision-making of tamariki and rangatahi and their family, whānau, hapū, iwi and support network as early as possible
- broaden or deepen our understanding of the harm or risk of harm impacting oranga to inform the assessment and safety planning for te tamaiti or rangatahi
- hear and understand the whānau or family views about the harm, or risk of harm, impacting the oranga of te tamaiti or rangatahi, including how they view the concerns held by Oranga Tamariki
- understand the vision and aspirations the whānau or family has for their tamaiti or rangatahi
- seeking to understand te tamaiti or rangatahi in the context of their whānau or family – we need to:
- broaden and deepen our understanding of te tamaiti or rangatahi within their whānau or family – talk with te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family about who they are, where they are from, who and what they feel connection to, what significance is held in the name given to te tamaiti or rangatahi, what whānau or family experiences and stories they have that help you understand their journey as a whānau or family and what is important to them
- continue to relate with parents/caregivers/whānau and observe their interactions with te tamaiti or rangatahi
- seek understanding through observations and information from whānau or family, friends and neighbours that may provide vital insights into the workings of the whānau or family
- supporting, strengthening and assisting whānau or family to:
- establish who the whānau or family wants to be involved, who they see as resources for them, who they believe can help Oranga Tamariki understand, and who can help them to provide safety and meet the needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi
- explore with whānau or family how to make the process work for them, and what the whānau or family needs to work with Oranga Tamariki
- actively participate in decision-making about how to address concerns for their tamaiti or rangatahi
- co-working with non-statutory agencies, kaumātua or key cultural advisors to help facilitate involvement with whānau or family.
Take into account the diversity of whānau or family life and households. We ensure the assessment explores both maternal and paternal whānau or family, partners, and sibling relationships.
4 Relate with other professionals
We work with others to understand the perspectives and insights of others working with te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family are important. We should:
- identify multi-agency involvement which may need to be coordinated so it’s easier for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau or family
- build an understanding of the views of others who know or work with te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family to build understanding of their perspective of the concerns being raised – for example, schools, early childhood education, health professionals, iwi and community organisations
- include professionals in the child/young person and family consult and visits to whānau or family, when appropriate – work with the whānau or family to identify who is meaningful to them and who would assist engagement and understanding
- consult with the care and protection resource panel for local advice and knowledge – we should consult as soon as practicable to support a widely informed and coordinated approach to our child and family assessment or investigation.
Care and protection resource panel
5 Undertake safety planning
Complete Tiaki Oranga to understand the current safety of te tamaiti or rangatahi. Tiaki Oranga identifies if there are concerns that warrant immediate action by Oranga Tamariki and others to establish the safety of te tamaiti or rangatahi while the assessment of their longer-term safety continues.
Hui ā-whānau or family meetings allow the whānau or family to share their perspectives on how harm is impacting oranga and how they see any concerns being managed. Hui ā-whānau or family meetings provide the whānau or family with an opportunity to use their strengths to build safety around te tamaiti or rangatahi and address any concerns – either by themselves, with support from other professionals/agencies, or while a family group conference is convened to develop a future plan for te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family. Remember, the whānau or family does not have to agree that abuse has occurred, but they must be willing to develop and work with a safety plan to ensure future harm does not occur.
If Tiaki Oranga does not identify any concerns for the safety of te tamaiti or rangatahi, then a safety plan is not needed. However, if a family group conference is required, but there is enough safety to keep te tamaiti or rangatahi at home until the conference is held, then a safety plan needs to be put in place. Use the safety plan template located under the Tiaki Oranga record in CYRAS to record the safety plan that has been developed with the whānau or family.
Protect and support the development of tamariki and rangatahi within healthy whānau and families
6 Analyse information and determine next steps
When discussions with te tamaiti or rangatahi, whānau or family and professionals have concluded and hui ā-whānau or family meetings have been held, we work with the whānau or family to determine next steps and formulate the outcome. Analysis of the information gathered should lead to an understanding about:
- whether harm or abuse has occurred and if they are safe
- the needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi
- how well the parents, family, whānau, hapū and iwi of te tamaiti or rangatahi are able to meet these needs within their current social context.
The options for the outcome of the core assessment phase are:
- no further action (NFA)
- refer to services
- family group conference.
Making a finding of whether harm or abuse has occurred
Before we reach a finding of whether harm or abuse has occurred and determine the next steps, we need to be able to demonstrate that we have sought and considered all relevant information throughout our mahi. This includes the views of te tamaiti or rangatahi, their whānau or family, and professionals (including any other allocated Oranga Tamariki kaimahi).
Consider whether we should engage with the person who is alleged to have caused harm – consider whether they are someone significant in the life of te tamaiti or rangatahi and seek guidance around engaging with them from relevant policy and the Police if the Child Protection Protocol (CPP) applies.
All information needs to be considered in the context of what we may already know about te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family and take into account the context within which the concerns have been raised, including what we may know about the person alleged to have caused the harm.
This phase of our mahi requires us to use our social work reasoning developed through building and deepening our understanding to make a professional judgement. Determining whether harm or abuse has occurred is not always easy, especially in the face of contradictory or unclear information. This can be particularly difficult where Police or the criminal court is involved. Remember our decision about whether harm or abuse has occurred needs to take into account the information held by Police, but does not have to wait for or rely on an outcome of the Police or criminal court.
Our decision needs to reflect our analysis and professional reasoning and understanding, taking into account all of the information that we have gathered, about whether on balance, we believe harm or abuse has occurred. It is important that we use our professional supervision and case consultation processes to help us, and that we clearly record the rationale for our findings and decisions made and the information we have relied on to inform this judgement.
A finding of abuse or harm should be informed by the definitions of abuse, neglect and harm. These descriptions can be used to help us clearly describe why we have reached a finding of harm and provide specific examples to support us to determine the right finding to select. In some cases, a single incident could lead to a finding of more than one abuse type.
Definitions of abuse, neglect and harm
A finding of harm or abuse does not necessarily mean we will continue to be involved with te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family. If the whānau or family have acted protectively and are supporting the oranga of te tamaiti or rangatahi, there may be no need for our ongoing involvement.
Serious harm and the family group conference
A key consideration is determining whether te tamaiti or rangatahi has suffered, is suffering or is likely to suffer serious harm. And if so, whether they are in need of care or protection. If they are in need of care or protection, then a referral for a care and protection family group conference must be made. If not, then it is important to work with the whānau or family to identify if there are other supports that they may need to help them strengthen and maintain their ability to protect and provide safe, effective care of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Determining whether te tamaiti or rangatahi has suffered, is suffering or is likely to suffer serious harm and whether ongoing statutory involvement from Oranga Tamariki is required can be complex. There are several factors that require consideration. Take time to explore your thinking with others, discuss in supervision and ensure you involve te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau in seeking to understand the impact on te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Serious harm – forming a belief
Wellbeing concerns
If, following an assessment, the social worker determines that te tamaiti or rangatahi is not at risk of serious harm, then we need to consider whether there are identifiable risks or wellbeing concerns that should be addressed through other pathways.
Support and assistance for tamariki and rangatahi not in need of care or protection
7 Share our understanding with others
We should be continuously sharing our developing understanding with te tamaiti or rangatahi, whānau or family and involved professionals. This enables us to test our analysis and supports the development of a shared understanding of the issues impacting on the oranga of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Advise notifiers of assessment outcomes.
The primary decision is whether there are current or future concerns that may impact on the oranga, including safety and wellbeing, of te tamaiti or rangatahi that meet the threshold for section 14 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 and the requirement for a family group conference, or whether the whānau or family can meet and provide sustained safety for te tamaiti or rangatahi with non-statutory supports, if needed.
8 Complete the assessment report
It is important that we clearly record the rationale for our decision-making, including what informed our decision about whether harm or abuse has occurred, and the outcome of building our understanding. If during the course of the child and family assessment or investigation, we have been provided information from the person alleged to have caused the harm (either from them directly or through a third party such as Police, another family member or professional), we need to ensure this is carefully recorded and considered in our assessment, whether or not it is deemed to be accurate.
If our child and family assessment or investigation has determined that harm has not occurred, this should also be recorded and the information or evidence to support this.
We use the assessment report to articulate our built understanding about harm and risk of harm, safety and protection of tamariki and rangatahi in the context of whakapapa with oranga as the frame. In the report, we outline the models, tools and resources we have used to deepen our understanding and clearly explain our social work position and a well-reasoned pathway for what should happen next.