If we determine suicide or concerning or harmful sexual behaviour, we must create a person characteristic to record this.
CYRAS handbook – Creating a Person Record (staff resource)

Page URL: https://practice.orangatamariki.govt.nz/our-work/care/
Printed: 26/03/2025
Printed pages may be out of date. Please check this information is current before using it in your practice.

Care

Care standards

Caregivers

Assessing and approving caregivers and adoptive parents

We need to build engagement and trust with people wanting to care for tamariki and support them through assessment and approval.

Support for caregivers

It's important that our caregivers are valued and supported so they can provide the best possible care for tamariki.

Reviewing caregivers

All our caregivers (including section 396 provider caregivers) must have a regular review of their approval status and support needs.

Allegations of harm to tamariki by caregivers

The safety and oranga of te tamaiti is our first concern when an allegation of harm is made against a caregiver or there are concerns for oranga. We are respectful, fair, transparent and sensitive to caregivers’ needs during the assessment/investigation.

Caring for tamariki in care

All About Me plan to meet the needs of tamariki and rangatahi

The All About Me plan is designed to enable us to respond to the needs of tamariki and rangatahi in the custody or care of the chief executive in line with the National Care Standards. It applies to care and protection and youth justice.

Visits with tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody

We need to visit tamariki and rangatahi as often as they need us to so they can participate and influence decisions about their safety, care and wellbeing needs.

Financial support for tamariki and rangatahi in care

Oranga Tamariki supports tamariki and rangatahi in care to ensure their assessed needs are met. A financial plan sets out the financial support required to meet those needs. We plan proactively and consider the full range of support needs.

Supporting tamariki and rangatahi with their health needs

Good health is essential to oranga and positive life outcomes. We need to support tamariki and rangatahi to access health services, both to maintain their good health and to meet any health and disability needs.

Supporting tamariki with their education and training needs

We support tamariki to access education services both to maintain their learning and to meet their specific educational needs. Good education outcomes are essential to good life outcomes.

Support for play, recreation and community activities

We must ensure that support is provided to tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody to meet their needs for play, recreation and participation in community activities, including supporting, and assisting caregivers to promote these activities.

Culture, belonging and identity

The oranga of tamariki is supported when they have a strong sense of culture, including ethnicity, sexuality, gender (including gender diversity), age, disability and faith, identity and belonging.

Supporting whānau connections

We need to support tamariki to establish, maintain and strengthen safe connections with their whānau or family (including siblings), hapū, iwi, marae and family group, and anyone else they or their whānau or family identify as important.

Maintaining a record of important life events

We have a significant role in supporting all tamariki across care or protection and youth justice so that important events in their life are collected, recorded, maintained and made available.

Explaining rights and entitlements to tamariki and rangatahi

Under the National Care Standards, every tamaiti and rangatahi is entitled to receive information about what they can expect when they are in care, and be supported to raise any concerns they have.

Right to personal belongings

Tamariki have a right to have their personal belongings with them. We need to ask them what personal belongings are special to them and make sure they remain in the possession of te tamaiti and are looked after.

How we work with tamariki and rangatahi who are missing or whose absence is unauthorised

There are triggers and risk factors that can signal that tamariki and rangatahi may be considering running away. This guidance may help us deal with this situation.

Breastfeeding – caring for and nurturing a pēpi

Breastfeeding connects pēpi and their mother spiritually and emotionally, as well as providing physical nourishment. We ensure breastfeeding and access to breast milk, and the physical connection of pēpi to their parents and whānau or family, is supported

Allegations of harm in care or custody

The safety and oranga (wellbeing) of te tamaiti or rangatahi in care or custody is our first concern when there are allegations of harm or concerns for oranga.

Finances and wills for tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody

Tamariki and rangatahi may have personal finances, which could include their pocket money, their earnings and any other income. There are several options to help them manage their finances – and to create a will – if they want to.

Care arrangements for tamariki and rangatahi

When tamariki and rangatahi can't live at home, we support their right to a safe and stable home, to feel connected to family, whānau, hapū, iwi and community and to know where they belong.

Care agreements

Sections 139 and 140 of the Oranga Tamariki Act provide for tamariki and rangatahi to enter care through a voluntary agreement with the parents, guardians or person having care of them. The period of time depends on their age and the type of agreement.

Housing support for whānau or family

Secure and stable housing helps whānau and families care for their tamariki and rangatahi and support oranga. We advocate for them and provide information about the Fast Track process when tamariki and rangatahi are in the custody of the chief executive.

Maintaining whānau or family relationships when te tamaiti or rangatahi is living away from home

We establish, maintain and strengthen relationships between tamariki, rangatahi and their family, whānau, hapū and iwi when they are living away from home. For court-directed contact, we provide robust information to guide decision-making.

Using de-escalation to respond to risk for tamariki, rangatahi, self and others

Sometimes the emotional distress or actions of te tamaiti or rangatahi can put them or others at risk. It is important that we respond in ways that will de-escalate risk and support the safety and oranga of those involved.

Search and seizure as part of managing serious and imminent harm

There are strict limitations to when kaimahi can search tamariki or rangatahi and seize harmful or unlawful items outside of section 396 residences.

Transitioning between placements or out of care

When tamariki and rangatahi move between care arrangements

We support te tamaiti or rangatahi effectively as they enter care, move to live with a new caregiver, move into or out of a residence, return home or live permanently with a new whānau or family.

Use of legal orders to support a safe, stable and loving home for tamariki in permanent care

Legal orders for permanent care can support security and stability for tamariki who have been in our care or custody and their caregivers.

Support for permanent caregivers

The permanent caregiver support package provides permanent caregivers and tamariki with support after their care becomes permanent and custody orders in favour of the chief executive are discharged. We help plan the supports for permanent caregivers.

Ensuring a safe, stable and loving home when tamariki or rangatahi are living with non-whānau caregivers

Primary responsibility for caring for and nurturing tamariki and rangatahi lies with family, whānau, hapū, iwi and family group. Plans need to respond to the circumstances and care needs of each tamaiti or rangatahi in the care of non-whānau caregivers.

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