Policy

Adoption – Working with expectant parents

What we must do when expectant parents are considering adoption.

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Adoption – Facilitating an adoption placement

This policy outlines the steps to facilitate an adoption within New Zealand when birthparents have decided to place their tamaiti permanently with Oranga Tamariki-approved adoptive applicants.

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Adoption – Intercountry adoption: adopting a tamaiti from overseas

This policy provides an overview of the intercountry adoption policy and process to adopt a tamaiti from overseas.

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Adoption – Responding to relative intercountry adoption proposals

Use this policy when whānau or family members want to adopt a tamaiti who is related to them from another country.

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All About Me plan

The All About Me plan describes how we will meet the needs we have identified for te tamaiti or rangatahi. This policy defines when the plan is needed and how we develop, maintain and use it.

Allegations of harm (ill-treatment, abuse, neglect or deprivation) of tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody

How to respond to allegations of ill-treatment, abuse, neglect or deprivation ('harm') of tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody, including keeping them safe, carrying out the child and family assessment or investigation and managing the outcome.

Allegations of harm towards rangatahi aged 18 and above by transition caregivers

When there is an allegation of harm (abuse or neglect), we work closely with rangatahi aged 18 and over, transition caregivers and the Police to share information and provide support and advice to rangatahi and transition caregivers.

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Assessment

Assessment is an ongoing process of gathering information to build and deepen understanding, requiring critical thinking and analysis. This ensures informed decision-making with whānau or family and responds to the oranga needs of tamariki and rangatahi.

Care arrangements

We must provide tamariki or rangatahi in the care or custody of the Oranga Tamariki chief executive with a safe care arrangement that responds to their needs and nurtures and advances their oranga (wellbeing).

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Caregiver advertising

This policy applies when we are advertising for caregivers.

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Caregiver and adoptive applicant assessment and approval

The requirements for the assessment and approval of prospective caregivers (family/whānau and non-whānau) and adoptive applicants (domestic and inter-country adoption).

Caregiver support

The requirements for providing support to Oranga Tamariki approved caregivers (whānau or family and non-whānau or family).

Caregivers – Review of caregiver approval

The requirements for the review of a caregiver's approval status.

Case recording

Case recording helps us uphold the mana and understand and tell the story of those we work with, including tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau or family. It also helps us understand our engagement with wider networks including hapū and iwi during a case.

Casework responsibilities when our work involves more than 1 site

When our casework involves more than 1 site, we must uphold the right of tamariki, rangatahi, their whānau or family, and caregivers to a continuous and easily accessible social work service, where all relevant information is communicated.

Domestic and overseas travel

We must ensure the oranga (wellbeing, health, safety and security) of tamariki and rangatahi we have responsibilities for while they are travelling within New Zealand or internationally.

Escorting tamariki and rangatahi

What we must do when we organise and carry out escorted travel for tamariki and rangatahi when it's needed to ensure the oranga of te tamaiti or rangatahi, other tamariki or rangatahi, escort kaimahi or the public.

Enrolling tamariki in KiwiSaver

Caregivers who are legal guardians under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 can enrol tamariki in their care in KiwiSaver without consulting with other guardians, including parents.

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Ensuring a safe, stable and loving home for tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody

This policy sets out the requirements to ensure tamariki in care have a safe, stable and loving home if they are unable to have their long-term care needs met by their parents or usual carers. This policy replaces 'Noho ake Oranga'.

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Family Court

We must present and conduct ourselves in a professional and respectful manner when engaging with the Family Court. We must prepare and file clear and outcomes-focused protection applications, court plans and reports.

Family group conferences for care or protection concerns

We support tamariki and their whānau or family to create their own solutions to address care or protection concerns through the family group conference process, from referral to review, including when a family group conference is reconvened.

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Managing serious and imminent harm by tamariki and rangatahi

We aim to prevent situations involving serious and imminent harm by tamariki and rangatahi we work with. When these situations arise, we aim to de-escalate where possible. Physical restraint of te tamaiti or rangatahi must only be used as a last resort.

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Participation of tamariki – providing information, ensuring understanding and incorporating their views

We must ensure tamariki have the information and support they need to freely express their views and actively participate in the work we do together.

Professional supervision

Professional supervision is a formal, ongoing process, vital to child-centred practice, relationship enhancement, and professional development and wellbeing.

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Rangatahi in care or custody driving a vehicle

Rangatahi in care or custody need to be supported to gain a driver licence like all rangatahi in Aotearoa need support. We ensure rangatahi and vehicle owners understand the implications, responsibilities, and the support available from Oranga Tamariki.

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Reports to the Ombudsman – section 47

We must provide a report to the Ombudsman where te tamaiti or rangatahi is in the custody of the chief executive by way of a section 39, 40 or 42 warrant and is released from that custody within 5 days without being brought before the Family Court.

Safe sleep

All tamariki under 2 years of age who are in the care or custody of the chief executive must sleep in a safe, age-appropriate bed at all times.

Sharing information

Sharing information is a key part of a practitioner’s role when working with tamariki and rangatahi and their whānau or family to ensure we're keeping tamariki and rangatahi safe. We respect the mana and dignity of the people the information is about.

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Smoking and vaping

We must endeavour to provide tamariki and rangatahi in the care or custody of the Oranga Tamariki chief executive with a smoke and vape free environment.

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Subsequent child

This policy advises what we must do when we become aware that the subsequent child provisions of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (sections 18A to 18D) may apply to a parent and their tamaiti.

Support for tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody

This policy outlines our support obligations to address the needs of tamariki and rangatahi in the care or custody of the chief executive.

Transition to adulthood — Preparation, assessment and planning

This policy outlines how we help rangatahi prepare to transition from care or custody and become increasingly independent.

Transition to adulthood — Entitlement to remain or return to live with a caregiver

This policy sets out our obligations to eligible rangatahi and caregivers when rangatahi wish to remain with, or return to live with, a caregiver.

Transition to adulthood — Advice and assistance

This policy provides key information to help ensure our advice and assistance meets the needs of eligible rangatahi and helps them move towards independence.

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Transition to adulthood — Maintaining contact

We must maintain contact with eligible rangatahi who have left care or a youth justice residential placement when a transition worker isn’t available through a local provider.

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Transitions within care

We must support a positive and successful transition when tamariki and rangatahi come into care or custody, move to live with a new caregiver, move into, between or out of a residence, return home or live permanently with a new whānau or family.

Using Family Court orders to respond to tamariki who offend – section 14(1)(e)

Applications for care or protection orders on section 14(1)(e) grounds are made by enforcement officers. Offending by tamariki aged 10 to 13 years is managed through a youth justice process but is primarily a care and protection concern.

Visiting and engaging with tamariki and rangatahi in care

This policy sets out the purpose and requirements of visiting tamariki and rangatahi in the care or custody of the chief executive.

Without notice application for interim custody of a tamaiti or rangatahi

Without notice applications for interim custody of a tamaiti or rangatahi under section 78 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 can only be made in exceptional circumstances and require approval of the site manager.

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Working with disabled tamariki who require a specialised out-of-home care arrangement

This policy outlines the ways to provide support for disabled tamariki with high and complex needs and may require a specialised out-of-home care arrangement.

Working with tamariki and rangatahi in remand homes

Social workers and remand home kaimahi support tamariki and rangatahi when they're living in or transitioning to or from a remand home.

Working with tamariki and rangatahi in residences

This policy outlines what we must do while working with tamariki and rangatahi in residences.

Working with tamariki and rangatahi in supervised group homes

This policy sets out requirements to support tamariki and rangatahi in, or transitioning to or from, a supervised group home.

Working with tamariki and rangatahi who are missing, or whose absence is unauthorised

This policy outlines our responsibilities and the process to follow when one of our tamariki or rangatahi is missing or their absence is unauthorised.

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Youth Court

When we are involved with the Youth Court, we need a good understanding of the court processes and how they relate to us and the people we work with.

Youth justice family group conference – convening the conference

When convening family group conferences, we support tamariki, rangatahi, their whānau or family, and victims of offending through a restorative justice process to uphold the mana of all involved.

Youth justice family group conference – holding the conference

We support tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, family and victims of offending through a restorative process, in the least intrusive way possible, to uphold the mana of everyone involved.

Youth justice family group conference – supporting, monitoring and reviewing the plan

We support tamariki, rangatahi, whānau or family to implement their youth justice family group conference plan. We also monitor progress, review the plan as agreed and determine when it is completed.