Policy
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.Updates made to this policy
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.
Practice framework prompts for this policy
Our practice is framed in te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), based on a mana-enhancing paradigm for practice and draws from te ao Māori principles of oranga within the context of our role in statutory child protection and youth justice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our practice framework helps us make sense of and organise our practice.
Ngākau whakairo
What will I do to ensure everyone's right to fairness, transparency and safety is upheld while also ensuring te tamaiti or rangatahi, their whānau or family, and caregiver feel heard?
Ngākau whakairo practice framework domain
Whai mātauranga
How will following the mana-enhancing paradigm help me to work in a restorative way while carrying out the child and family assessment or investigation and managing the outcome?
Whai mātauranga practice framework domain
Whai oranga
How will I work with others to support tamariki, rangatahi, whānau or family while we develop a shared understanding of oranga?
Whai oranga practice framework domain
Whai pūkenga
How do I ensure that I am sharing information honestly, appropriately and transparently while respecting the privacy of tamariki and rangatahi, their whānau or family, and the caregiver?
Whai pūkenga practice framework domain
Whai ākona
How can I as a supervisor support kaimahi through challenging aspects of their mahi? How am I exploring my own responses, views and assumptions about the situation and the work of the kaimahi in my own supervision?
When this policy applies
This policy applies when there has been an allegation of harm made for tamariki and rangatahi in the care or custody of the Oranga Tamariki chief executive.
For all allegations of harm of tamariki and rangatahi in care, we must complete a child and family assessment or an investigation.
Practice tool: Considerations when developing a decision response
This includes the disclosure of new information about historical harm and concerns raised about current safety.
When this policy doesn't apply
This policy doesn't apply to feedback or complaints or where the allegations are about other types of criminal behaviour.
Dealing with complaints about caregivers
Allegations of criminal behaviour by caregivers other than abuse, neglect or harm of tamariki
Report of concern
An allegation that te tamaiti or rangatahi in care or custody is being, or is likely to be, harmed must:
- be recorded as a report of concern
- identify in the report of concern that te tamaiti or rangatahi is in our care or custody and the name of the caregiver.
All information received about tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody must be communicated to the allocated social worker through an email to the caregiver social worker and a 2-way conversation with the social worker or their supervisor regardless of whether the information results in further action being taken.
Child and family assessment or investigation
The process for understanding and resolving the concerns must:
- be prompt and thorough
- be transparent and unbiased
- include early engagement with tamariki and rangatahi
- include early engagement with whānau or family
- include engagement with the lawyer for child
- have regard to mana tamaiti (tamariki), the whakapapa of tamariki and rangatahi Māori and the whanaungatanga responsibilities of their whānau, hapū and iwi
- demonstrate fairness, accountability and consistency to all parties.
We must practise in accordance with the principles of the Act, working in ways that consider the oranga and best interests of te tamaiti or rangatahi within the context of the family, whānau, hapū and iwi.
Who completes the child and family assessment or investigation
The child and family assessment or investigation must be allocated as soon as practicable to a social worker.
If te tamaiti or rangatahi is living in a different location from the site that holds casework responsibility, the report of concern will be referred to the site nearest to where te tamaiti or rangatahi is living. The site receiving the new report of concern has the responsibility to complete the child and family assessment or investigation.
Policy: Casework responsibilities when our work involves more than 1 site
Before deciding who to allocate the case to, the person responsible for allocation must arrange a case consult with the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi, the caregiver social worker and their supervisor (if allocated) and any other relevant staff member to discuss who would be best to complete the child and family assessment or investigation.
Allocation must be in the best interests of te tamaiti or rangatahi and consideration must be given to:
- who will be the key and co-workers
- the quality and nature of the relationship between the social worker and te tamaiti or rangatahi, their whānau or family and caregiver
- the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi being allocated as an investigating social worker. If the allegation of harm of te tamaiti or rangatahi is against their caregiver, the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi can only be allocated as a co-worker.
The investigating social workers must consult with their supervisor, the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi (if they are not an investigating social worker), the caregiver social worker and the caregiver social work supervisor, to help develop an investigation plan – regular consultation must continue throughout the child and family assessment or investigation.
Allocating a key worker and co-worker
Timeframes for the completion of the child and family assessment or investigation
The child and family assessment or investigation should be completed within 20 working days. However, if the matter is complex or further time is needed to engage with the caregivers, the assessment or investigation must be completed within 40 working days.
Child Protection Protocol (CPP)
We use the Child Protection Protocol (CPP) to identify when the Police must be informed of the allegation. If in doubt, refer the allegation for a CPP consultation. The supervisor must ensure that the Police are informed of the timeframe for Oranga Tamariki to complete the investigation.
We must follow the CPP when working with the Police, by:
- keeping lines of communication open at all times
- using the escalation process when needed.
Child Protection Protocol (CPP)
If our investigation is completed before the Police investigation
The interests of te tamaiti or rangatahi and the person who the allegation is against are best served by a timely response from Oranga Tamariki.
There will be instances when our investigation will be completed before the Police complete their criminal investigation into the allegation. We must take timely, appropriate action based on the outcome of our investigation and ensure we communicate with Police.
Keeping te tamaiti or rangatahi informed and providing support
Throughout the child and family assessment or investigation, we must:
- support te tamaiti or rangatahi
- keep te tamaiti or rangatahi informed
- continue to build and deepen our understanding of the oranga of te tamaiti or rangatahi
- encourage and support te tamaiti or rangatahi to participate and freely express their views about decisions that affect them
- take their views into account, while also considering their oranga.
In some limited situations (for example, if they are very young), we may decide that it is not appropriate to keep te tamaiti or rangatahi informed of progress. If this is the case, the reasons must be recorded in CYRAS.
Allegations of harm in care or custody
All About Me plan to meet the needs of tamariki and rangatahi
Working with tamariki when allegations of abuse, neglect or harm are made against their caregiver
Advising parents of an allegation of harm
We must advise parents and/or guardians of an allegation of harm. This must be done as soon as possible unless we believe that doing so will put te tamaiti or rangatahi, the caregiver or another person at risk of harm.
Parents must be informed if te tamaiti or rangatahi will remain in their current care arrangement, or move to live in an alternative care arrangement, and the reasons for this decision.
The investigating social workers, the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi (if they are not the investigating social worker) and the caregiver social worker (when the allegation is against a caregiver) must discuss how and when the parents will be informed about the allegation and living arrangement decisions, taking into consideration any safety concerns for the caregivers, tamariki or rangatahi or another person.
Timing of when to advise the parents
The site manager or youth justice manager must be told if we believe that advising a parent about the allegation as soon as possible poses a risk to te tamaiti or rangatahi, the caregiver or another person.
The site manager or youth justice manager, in consultation with an Oranga Tamariki solicitor and only for the purpose of ensuring safety, may decide to withhold information for a specified period of time about an allegation and/or change of living arrangement from a parent.
If we decide not to advise the parents of the allegation of harm at the time of the child and family assessment or investigation, we must:
- record the reasons for the decision in CYRAS
- record who was involved in the decision-making
- inform the regional manager
- review this decision regularly and agree when the parents will be informed.
Securing safety – making a plan for te tamaiti or rangatahi
When an allegation of harm is made, our foremost concern is the oranga of te tamaiti or rangatahi with a focus on safety, and any other tamariki and rangatahi who may be at risk of harm. This includes making a report of concern for other tamariki and rangatahi when required.
We must:
- develop and implement a plan to ensure the immediate safety of te tamaiti or rangatahi and any other tamariki or rangatahi who may be at risk of harm
- work in consultation with te tamaiti or rangatahi, their whānau or family, their caregiver and their support network using hui ā-whānau or family meetings, as appropriate
- review the plan throughout the child and family assessment or investigation to increase the oranga of all impacted tamariki and rangatahi with a focus on safety
- update the All About Me plan.
Deciding whether or not to move te tamaiti or rangatahi to ensure oranga
We must consider whether it's in the best interests of te tamaiti or rangatahi to remain where they are living or to be moved to an alternative living arrangement during the child and family assessment or investigation. The social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi must make this decision, using Tiaki Oranga to understand current safety, harm and risk in the context of oranga.
If it is in the best interests of te tamaiti or rangatahi to remain where they are living, we must record a clear rationale for this decision and provide support so this can occur. This decision must be reviewed regularly during the child and family assessment or investigation, using Tiaki Oranga as required, to ensure this decision remains in the best interests of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Wherever it is safe to do so, we must support, strengthen and assist the whānau or family to care for their tamaiti or rangatahi and prevent the need for them to be moved to an alternative living arrangement. We must always consider the potential impact the decision to move te tamaiti or rangatahi could have on their stability, sense of belonging and significant connections, including sibling relationships.
When safety cannot be established and te tamaiti or rangatahi must move
If the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi decides to move them to increase oranga, with a focus on safety, they must:
- record the specific transition steps in the All About Me plan
- have the decision approved by their supervisor
- inform the caregiver social worker
- record the reasons for the decision in CYRAS
- communicate the decision to te tamaiti or rangatahi, their parents, the lawyer for child and, where relevant, their caregiver and care partner (care partners were previously known as section 396 providers).
Preference must be given to an alternative living arrangement within the family, whānau, hapū, iwi or family group of te tamaiti or rangatahi who can meet their needs. We must engage and work with whānau or family and consider any changes that they have made, both in their circumstances and available resources.
If te tamaiti or rangatahi has a relationship with the person who is alleged to have caused them harm, we must consider a plan for contact to occur between te tamaiti or rangatahi and the person during the child and family assessment or investigation. Any contact must be in the best interests of te tamaiti or rangatahi and consider the views of te tamaiti or rangatahi and the quality and duration of the relationship. If we determine that contact should not occur, we must record our reasons for this.
When safety has been established and te tamaiti or rangatahi can remain
When safety has been established and the decision has been made that te tamaiti or rangatahi can remain in their usual care arrangement, the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi must:
- have the decision approved by their supervisor
- record the reasons for the decision in CYRAS
- record the plan for keeping te tamaiti or rangatahi safe where they are living
- communicate the decision to te tamaiti or rangatahi, their parent, the lawyer for child and, where relevant, their caregiver, the caregiver social worker and care partner.
The caregiver social worker must review the caregiver support plan to ensure it supports the plan to keep te tamaiti or rangatahi safe.
Review of decision to move te tamaiti
It is the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi who makes all care arrangement decisions.
If at any time during the child and family assessment or investigation, the investigating social workers believe that the initial safety considerations for te tamaiti or rangatahi have changed, the decision about where te tamaiti or rangatahi should live must be reviewed. Tiaki Oranga supports us to understand current safety, harm and risk in the context of oranga and will support considerations around care changes.
To make the decision that te tamaiti or rangatahi can safely return to their parent or caregiver, the investigating social workers must:
- discuss their built understanding of oranga and their decision with the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi and the caregiver social worker (if allocated)
- seek the agreement of their supervisor and the supervisor for the caregiver social worker that a return can be considered
- record the reasons for the decision in CYRAS.
The social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi may decide during the child and family assessment or investigation that te tamaiti or rangatahi will not return to their previous care arrangement – for example, if te tamaiti or rangatahi moves to live with whānau during a child or family assessment or investigation and it is in their best interests to remain there. They must update the All About Me plan, including any safety or transition plans.
Despite any decisions about where te tamaiti or rangatahi will live, the child and family assessment or investigation must still be completed.
Decision to return te tamaiti or rangatahi during the child and family assessment or investigation
If te tamaiti or rangatahi is to return to the care of their parent or caregiver while the child and family assessment or investigation is ongoing, the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi must:
- have the decision approved by their supervisor
- record the reasons for the decision in CYRAS
- record the plan for keeping te tamaiti or rangatahi safe
- share the plan and communicate the decision to te tamaiti or rangatahi, their parent, whānau or family, the lawyer for child and, where relevant, their caregiver and care partner
- develop a transition plan in the All About Me plan that takes into account the impact of the recent events on both te tamaiti or rangatahi and their caregiver and their relationship
- notify the caregiver social worker – the caregiver social worker reviews the caregiver support plan.
Policy: Transitions within care
Transitioning within placements
Protect and support the development of tamariki and rangatahi within healthy whānau and families
Advising te tamaiti or rangatahi of the outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation
Te tamaiti or rangatahi must be advised of the outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation.
We must advise te tamaiti or rangatahi that they can have a support person available such as their social worker, caregiver, parent, whānau or family member or VOYCE Whakarongo Mai. Te tamaiti or rangatahi must be given the choice about who they want to support them.
Talk to te tamaiti or rangatahi about:
- the findings of the child and family assessment or investigation in a manner appropriate to their age, development, language or any disability-related needs
- what actions were taken to investigate or assess the allegation and how we will provide any ongoing support they may need
- whether any further action will be taken and likely timeframes.
Details of this conversation must be recorded on the CYRAS record for te tamaiti or rangatahi.
If te tamaiti or rangatahi has not been advised of the outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation, the reasons for this must be recorded in CYRAS. Apart from age considerations, the rationale for not advising te tamaiti or rangatahi should only be made in exceptional circumstances.
When the allegation is against a caregiver (whānau and non-whānau)
When the allegation of harm of a tamaiti or rangatahi in care or custody has been made against a caregiver approved by Oranga Tamariki or a care partner, additional steps must be followed:
- Escalate the allegation.
- Advise the caregiver(s) of the allegation, and where relevant the care partner.
- Support the caregiver(s) during the child and family assessment or investigation.
- Complete an outcome report.
- Undertake a caregiver review.
- Recording requirements.
Escalate the allegation
We must advise the site manager or youth justice manager of all allegations of harm, and the Caregiver Recruitment and Support manager, when the allegation of harm is against an Oranga Tamariki caregiver or care partner. This will then be escalated through management lines in accordance with the serious events notification procedure.
Advise the caregiver(s) of the allegation
We must provide the caregiver(s) with the following information as soon as practicable, verbally and, where practicable, in writing in a manner and language that the caregiver understands:
- detailed and specific information about the allegation and all relevant concerns (including historical or cumulative concerns) likely to be considered, unless we are asked by the Police not to share this information at this stage (if this is the situation, we must inform and explain to the caregiver the reason for this) – we must share as much information as we can about any action we take or decision we make
- the child and family assessment or investigation process and timeframes
- that they will be advised of the outcome at the completion of the child and family assessment or investigation
- that their caregiver status will be reviewed at the completion of the child or family assessment or investigation
- that they can access support through the Critical Support Service at Caring Families Aotearoa (0800 693 278)
- that Oranga Tamariki caregivers can access support through the Caregiver Assistance Programme.
Caregivers must be provided with the following Caring Families Aotearoa resources before the child and family assessment or investigation interview, so they have an opportunity to put supports in place.
Allegation support for caregivers: information sheet | Caring Families Aotearoa
Advise care partner
Oranga Tamariki must tell the care partner about an allegation against one of their caregivers or care staff before we contact their caregiver or care staff. (Care staff are employees of the care partner who have a role in providing care.)
We must also tell the caregiver that the care partner has been informed of the allegation and will be informed of the draft and final outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation.
We must seek legal advice if we are uncertain about how much information we can disclose to the care partner.
Allegations involving section 396 providers
Shared Care Service Specification (PDF 950 KB)
Other parties we must advise if the allegation involves a care partner
If the allegation involves a care partner, Oranga Tamariki must also tell the following people and organisations when the allegation is received and again at the outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation:
- regional Social Service Accreditation Assessor
- regional Partnering for Outcomes manager
- operations manager, Te Kāhui Kāhu.
If the matter has been referred to Police
The caregiver must be advised if the matter has been referred to Police. The supervisor of the investigation and their Police counterpart must discuss:
- the level of detail to give to the caregiver(s)
- when to tell the caregiver(s) – Police may request that full details of the allegation are not disclosed immediately if this may jeopardise their criminal investigation
- regularly review with Police if and when we are able to share information that has been withheld
- how to tell the caregiver(s) about the allegation.
Support for caregivers
While the oranga of te tamaiti or rangatahi is our paramount consideration, we must preserve the mana, integrity and oranga of the caregivers and their whānau or family.
When a caregiver is the subject of an allegation of harm, they must be supported during the child and family assessment or investigation by:
- their caregiver social worker if they are an Oranga Tamariki caregiver
- their provider agency if they are a care partner caregiver or care staff.
For Oranga Tamariki caregivers, requests for financial support must be approved by the site or youth justice manager.
Support from the caregiver social worker
The caregiver social worker is not part of the child and family assessment or investigation into the allegation but will be there to offer support to the caregiver(s). Support can be offered by:
- explaining the process of child and family assessment or investigation and any Police processes
- ensuring the caregiver receives the required resources from Caring Families Aotearoa and is able to access support
- checking how the caregiver and their whānau or family are feeling and coping throughout the process
- offering practical assistance
- being available to the caregiver to answer questions about the process and what happens next.
Oranga Tamariki staff must not provide support for caregivers during child and family assessment or investigation interviews because this is a potential conflict of interest.
Support from Caring Families Aotearoa
Oranga Tamariki has a contract with Caring Families Aotearoa to deliver support, information and advice to caregivers who are the subject of an allegation of harm.
When they are advised of the allegation, caregivers must be:
- provided with written information about the allegation support service offered by Caring Families Aotearoa
- encouraged to make contact with Caring Families Aotearoa on criticalsupport@caringfamilies.org.nz or 0800 693 278 as soon as they learn of an allegation.
Caring Families Aotearoa has a lawyer who can advise caregivers if this is needed.
Allegation support | Caring Families Aotearoa
Other forms of support
Caregivers can talk with their support person or others about the allegation but must not talk about te tamaiti or rangatahi, including naming them, the person who made the allegation or any Family Court process.
The need for support by a person of the same culture must be considered and facilitated if possible. An interpreter must be offered if required.
There is a Caregiver Assistance Programme available through Benestar:
Phone 0800 360 364
Email counsellingsupportnz@benestar.com
Outcome report
When the child and family assessment or investigation is complete, the investigating social workers must write an outcome report that documents the allegations, the child and family assessment or investigation process, and the outcome. The investigating social worker must consult with the caregiver social worker regarding the draft outcome report. The findings in the outcome report will inform the caregiver review that follows.
This report must outline:
- the nature of the allegations
- details of the child and family assessment or investigation, including relevant background information on te tamaiti or rangatahi and the caregiver
- the understanding and analysis of the information gathered
- the findings of the child and family assessment or investigation for each allegation.
The report must not name te tamaiti or rangatahi or contain identifying information or any other information that breaches the privacy of te tamaiti or rangatahi, including information about court process or orders.
The report may include general, non-identifying information about te tamaiti or rangatahi, such as the length of time te tamaiti or rangatahi has lived with the caregiver and challenges the caregiver has had.
Outcome report – template (DOCX 46 KB)
The draft outcome report must be approved by the supervisor and given to the site manager or youth justice manager for agreement.
Providing caregivers or care staff with the draft outcome report
We consider who is the most appropriate person to communicate the draft outcome report to the caregiver or care staff. We must provide a copy of the draft outcome to the caregiver or care staff in the manner that they have requested (email, post, courier, hand delivery) and may verbally communicate the outcome to them, if requested. This must occur within 5 working days from the time the child and family assessment or investigation has been completed.
If the caregiver or care staff is being supported by Caring Families Aotearoa, they can consent to a copy of the draft outcome report being provided directly to Caring Families Aotearoa.
If the caregiver has been approved by a care partner or is care staff, we inform the care partner of the outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation. A copy of the draft outcome report can only be provided to a care partner with the permission of the caregiver or care staff.
The caregiver or care staff must be given the opportunity to provide comment and feedback on the draft outcome report once they’ve reviewed it. When the supervisor provides the caregiver or care staff with the report, they must also provide:
- the contact details of the person the caregiver or care staff can provide feedback to – this can be in a meeting, by telephone or in writing, depending on the caregiver's preference
- the date that feedback is required by.
Finalising the outcome report
The investigating social worker(s) must:
- consider the caregiver or care staff’s feedback
- record how it has been accounted for
- finalise the outcome report.
The report must then be:
- approved by the supervisor of the investigating social worker(s)
- signed off by the site manager or youth justice manager.
This must occur within 15 working days from the date the child and family assessment or investigation was completed. The timeframe may be extended if the caregiver needs more time to consider the draft report and provide feedback.
Once finalised, the outcome report must be provided to:
- the caregiver
- the caregiver social worker (for Oranga Tamariki caregivers)
- the social worker for te tamaiti or rangatahi
- Caring Families Aotearoa (if the caregiver has consented to this)
- the Regional Commissioner
- the Caregiver Recruitment and Support manager
- the regional Partnering for Outcomes manager, if applicable.
If the caregiver has been approved by a care partner, inform the care partner of the outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation and of any additional processes arising (for example, criminal charges). A copy of the outcome report can only be provided to a care partner with the permission of the caregiver or care staff.
We also inform the regional Te Kāhui Kāhu assessor of the outcome of the child and family assessment or investigation. A copy of the outcome report can only be provided to the regional Te Kāhui Kāhu assessor with the permission of the caregiver.
The outcome report for Oranga Tamariki caregivers must be recorded on the caregiver's CGIS record by the investigating social worker.
The outcome report of care partner caregivers or care staff will be held on file by Partnering for Outcomes.
Timeframes for the outcome report
From the day the report of concern is received:
- the child and family assessment or investigation must be completed within 20 working days – in specific circumstances, the child and family assessment or investigation may require a full assessment which must be completed in 40 working days
- the draft outcome report must be approved and provided to the caregiver within 5 working days of the completion of the child and family assessment or investigation
- the outcome report must be finalised by the investigating social workers and approved by their supervisor and the site manager or youth justice manager within 10 working days of the draft outcome report being provided to the caregiver.
| Timeframes from date of the report of concern | Action required | |
| Child and family assessment or investigation: total working days |
Child and family assessment or investigation (if complex or further time required): total working days |
|
| 20 | 40 | Complete child and family assessment or investigation |
| 25 | 45 | Supervisor approval sought and draft outcome report provided to caregiver |
| 35 | 55 | Outcome report finalised and approved |
Caregiver review
Once the outcome report is approved, the caregiver must have their caregiver approval status reviewed.
This will be completed by:
- the caregiver social worker for Oranga Tamariki caregivers
- the care partner for care partner caregivers or care staff. They must provide a copy of their review report to their regional Te Kāhui Kāhu assessor.
The caregiver review report must:
- be informed by the findings of the child and family assessment or investigation
- include recommendations regarding the caregiver's approval status
- outline any support needs for the caregiver, including those specific for te tamaiti or rangatahi and/or actions required to be completed by the caregiver.
If the recommendation is for a caregiver's approval status to continue following a review of approval where there has been a finding that the caregiver has abused, neglected or harmed a tamaiti or rangatahi, special consideration approval will be required.
Policy: Review of caregiver approval – Review following allegations of abuse, neglect or harm of tamariki by a caregiver
The caregiver review report may also make recommendations about who the caregiver can continue to provide care for and if there are any restrictions regarding:
- the age of tamariki or rangatahi
- numbers of tamariki or rangatahi
- specific needs of tamariki or rangatahi.
The caregiver social worker must review and update the caregiver support plan.
Where te tamaiti or rangatahi remains with, or returns to, the caregiver, their social worker must also be consulted about the specific needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Providing the review report to the caregiver
Within 10 working days after the date the outcome report was approved, the caregiver social worker must:
- communicate the outcome of the caregiver review to the caregiver verbally, and/or
- provide a copy of the draft caregiver review report to the caregiver in the manner that they have requested (for example, email, post, courier, hand delivery).
If the caregiver is being supported by Caring Families Aotearoa, they can consent to a copy of the draft caregiver review report being provided directly to Caring Families Aotearoa.
The caregiver must be given the opportunity to provide comment and feedback on the draft caregiver review report. When the caregiver social worker provides the caregiver with the report, they must also provide:
- the contact details of the person the caregiver can provide feedback to – this can be through a meeting, by telephone or in writing, depending on the caregiver's preference
- the date that feedback is required by.
Finalising the caregiver review report
Once the caregiver's feedback has been received, the caregiver review report must be finalised within 15 working days of the date the outcome report was approved. The timeframe can be extended if the caregiver needs more time to consider the draft report and provide feedback.
The caregiver's CGIS record must be updated to reflect the outcome of the caregiver review.
For Oranga Tamariki caregivers, the Caregiver Recruitment and Support manager must provide them with a letter confirming the outcome of the review within 5 working days of receiving the finalised caregiver review report.
The Caregiver Recruitment and Support manager can extend timeframes for the review in exceptional circumstances. In such cases, the caregiver must be informed about the delay and the reasons for the delay and provided with a reasonable timeframe to expect the review to be completed.
Post-review actions
If the allegation was substantiated and the caregiver remains approved
A copy of the caregiver review report must be provided to the Caregiver Recruitment and Support manager and the Regional Commissioner.
If the caregiver's approval status does not change but they have actions to complete
The caregiver social worker must monitor and record the completion of these tasks and ensure they are completed within the expected timeframe.
If additional support is to be provided to the caregiver and/or te tamaiti
This plan will be clearly recorded and monitored by both the caregiver social worker and the social worker for te tamaiti to ensure the support is provided and is adequate to meet the needs of the caregiver and/or te tamaiti.
If the caregiver is reassessed by a care partner
The care partner is responsible for ensuring that any tasks and additional support are put in place and that a copy of the caregiver review report is provided to their local Social Service Accreditation Assessor. The Social Service Accreditation Assessor is responsible for ensuring that any identified tasks are completed. The social worker for te tamaiti may also ask the provider for confirmation that the identified tasks have been completed or are underway.
Recording requirements when the allegation is against an Oranga Tamariki caregiver
The caregiver social worker must:
- change the caregiver's status to 'under investigation' on their CGIS record when the allegation is received
- record the caregiver review report and the letter confirming the outcome of the review on the caregiver's CGIS record and paper file
- change the caregiver's status to reflect the final outcome of the review.
The investigating social worker(s) must enter a casenote on the CYRAS record of te tamaiti stating that the outcome report for:
- Oranga Tamariki caregivers is on the caregiver's CGIS record
- care partner caregivers or care staff is held on file by Partnering for Outcomes.
Include in the casenote the name of the caregivers and, for care partners, caregivers or care staff, the name of the care partner.
Care partners must provide Oranga Tamariki with a copy of the review report for their caregivers. This will be held on file by Partnering for Outcomes.