Guidance
Full assessment phase
Our continued building and deepening of understanding in this phase is used to inform a family group conference and support quality planning for and with te tamaiti or rangatahi.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 full phase of assessment
The purpose of our assessment in the full assessment phase is to develop a deepened understanding of:
- the full range of needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi (including long-term physical and psychological safety)
- whānau or family capacity and capability, and how they might be supported to meet those identified needs
- how te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family describe their aspirations for oranga and what support may be required to get there.
This information informs the whānau or family at the family group conference and supports quality planning for te tamaiti or rangatahi.
How to undertake the full assessment phase
1 Deepen understanding
This phase of assessment builds on the understanding obtained in the core assessment phase and deepens our shared understanding of te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family. In the full assessment phase, we:
- continue to relate with te tamaiti or rangatahi to get a deeper understanding of their needs and strengths and incorporate these into the assessment – a picture of the connection te tamaiti or rangatahi has to their culture, whakapapa and whanaungatanga networks
- continue to relate with whānau or family and others and use hui ā-whānau or family meetings to gather and exchange information, seek whānau or family solutions, and inform and support understanding and planning
- use Te Toka Tūmoana and engage kairaranga ā-whānau or specialist Māori advice to support continued engagement with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau Māori, using tikanga practices to deepen awareness and connection to the resources that sit within the whānau, hapū and iwi to provide support for te tamaiti – extending whānau searching to whakapapa research will support tamariki, rangatahi and whānau decision-making, and provide tamariki and rangatahi with access to important cultural connections to enhance their sense of belonging, wellbeing and identity
- use Va'aifetū and seek the support of a Pacific cultural advisor to provide guidance for how to establish family connections for Pacific children
- work in relational and inclusive ways with core professionals working with the whānau or family, and seek advice from relevant ethnic community and/or spiritual leaders, bringing them together to share information and professional views
- include specialist assessment information and information from other professionals to inform our analysis, including gateway assessments (where the family group conference is convened for care or protection concerns) and any specialist assessment specific to identified needs for te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Organising my Practice helps us structure our mahi and gain a complete understanding of the needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
The assessment report articulates our built understanding, explains our analysis and sets out a well-reasoned pathway for what should happen next. The report helps us capture a comprehensive picture of the needs and strengths relating to our involvement of te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family.
2 Remain alert to changes in safety for te tamaiti or rangatahi
A safety plan will be in place to support the whānau or family to safely care for te tamaiti or rangatahi until a family group conference plan is developed.
Ensure the safety plan is reviewed on a regular basis with all the people involved in the plan, including te tamaiti or rangatahi, whānau or family and professionals. These reviews are integral as they allow us and the whānau or family to assess the safety and changing needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi, and the ability and willingness of whānau or family members to work with an agreed plan.
Review with the whanau or family how the plan is going, whether there are any changes that impact on the safety and wellbeing of te tamaiti or rangatahi and how the plan may need to be modified. Remain alert to changes in safety for te tamaiti or rangatahi, and work with the whānau or family to address any issues.
Consider using Tiaki Oranga to support understanding and build a picture of current safety needs.
Protect and support the development of tamariki and rangatahi within healthy whānau and families
3 Share your understanding
Assessment mahi is collaborative so it is important that we build our understanding with te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family. We should share our understanding with involved professionals as our analysis is taking shape. Listen to their views and seek to develop a shared understanding of oranga needs, strengths and opportunities for te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family.
Share the relevant content of our assessment report with te tamaiti or rangatahi, whānau or family and involved professionals. Seek and note their views as part of the assessment analysis.
Remember: the purpose of this phase of assessment is to support us and the whānau or family to understand the full range of oranga needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi, the ability of the whānau or family to meet those needs, and other sources of support that may be needed. This ensures the whānau or family have the best opportunity to develop good plans that achieve enduring safety and promote wellbeing for te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family.