Listen to this policy:
Policy
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.Updates made to this policy
Minor updates have been made to this policy to refine wording and streamline some of the content.
Supporting practice
Our practice is supported by our practice standards, practice framework, practice models, tools and resources.
Who this policy applies to
This policy applies:
- to all tamariki and rangatahi with whom we work
- across the continuum of our work, from intake to case closure
- across all service lines – care and protection, youth justice, transitions, adoptions and care services.
What is assessment
Assessment is a continual and collaborative process used to build and deepen understanding about harm and risk of harm, safety, protection and offending behaviours of tamariki and rangatahi, their parents or caregivers and their whānau or family, within the context of oranga.
Assessment is central to every part of our work and requires critical thinking and analysis of all information gathered throughout our involvement, including visual information (such as photos).
Assessment enables us to articulate our social work position and provides a pathway for what should happen next. It:
- helps us work with tamariki and rangatahi, their family, whānau, family group, hapū, iwi, marae and other professionals involved in their lives
- informs quality decision-making and planning
- provides the focus for strengthening oranga
- allows us to build a holistic and balanced understanding of the situation.
Requirements of assessments
All assessment work must be planned and guided by our relational practice process:
- relating with
- understanding with
- planning with
- acting with, and
- reflecting with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau or family and others.
We must have a written assessment. This is a clear and well-reasoned articulation of the understanding we have been building about harm and risk of harm, safety, protection and offending behaviour. The report sets out and explains our social work position and a well-reasoned pathway for what should happen next.
Through the assessment, we must:
- engage directly with te tamaiti or rangatahi, and seek and reflect their views, wishes and feelings
- identify and relate with parents or caregivers and significant members of the wider whānau or family and family group, including hapū and iwi where relevant – it requires thorough whānau searching at an early stage to widen the network of whānau who can contribute to the assessment and be involved in making good decisions for their own tamariki and rangatahi
- ensure all engagement is guided by tikanga, and takes into consideration an understanding of the culture, worldview and prior experiences of the whānau or family (mana-enhancing paradigm for practice)
- consult with the care and protection resource panel, where required
- include consultation with other professionals working with te tamaiti or rangatahi and their family, whānau, hapū, iwi and family group
- identify the strengths and immediate and long-term needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi
- identify the current circumstances, strengths and protective factors of the immediate and wider family, whānau and family group and consider these alongside historical information
- assist te tamaiti or rangatahi to express their views and be supported if they have difficulty doing so
- ensure te tamaiti or rangatahi is aware of progress and any timeframes we are working towards in a manner appropriate to their age, development, language or any disability-related needs
- ensure that our quality assessments give effect to the Oranga Tamariki practice standards and, where appropriate, the National Care Standards.
Practice standard: See and engage tamariki
Care and protection resource panel
Practice standard: Work closely in partnership with others
Building and deepening understanding
The social worker, in conjunction with their supervisor, is responsible for planning mahi to ensure there is a continual process of gathering and analysing information to support decision-making. The Organising my Practice resource is used to take an organised, intentional approach to our mahi.
We should build our understanding according to:
- the reason for our involvement
- the nature of the presenting issues
- the unique circumstances of te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family
- the context of our engagement with them.
Using the frame within a frame concept supports us to:
- build and deepen our understanding of harm, risk of harm and safety in the context of oranga
- apply critical thinking and analysis about harm and risk of harm, or youth offending, occurring within context (ecological analysis)
- explore assumptions and bias.
The scope of a section 18A assessment of a parent of a subsequent child is only to assess whether the parent is unlikely to inflict, or allow to be inflicted, on the subsequent child the kind of harm inflicted on a previous child or young person.
For tamariki and rangatahi who offend, all the static and dynamic risk factors must be explored.
Underlying causes of offending behaviour – Static and dynamic risk factors
Recording the assessment
The allocated social worker must:
- complete an assessment report in CYRAS when we reach a point where we need to articulate our built understanding of harm and risk of harm, safety, protection and offending behaviours of tamariki and rangatahi in the context of oranga
- ensure the content of each report is tailored to the purpose of the assessment
- use this articulation to prompt decision-making and planning for the short and long term to support sustained oranga.
Where te tamaiti or rangatahi has more than one allocated Oranga Tamariki social worker and/or residential case leader, they must work together to ensure that, when an assessment report is completed, it is current and relevant and fully reflects the circumstances for te tamaiti or rangatahi. Organising my Practice can be used to help gather the views of all kaimahi involved.
Report of concern
When completing the initial assessment and determining whether further assessment is necessary, we must:
- follow the intake decision response guidelines to determine the appropriate pathway and timeframe for response to a report of concern – this will include assessing all information gathered and received after the initial report of concern, including visual information such as photos
- record the rationale for each decision on CYRAS and have it approved by a supervisor.
The initial assessment must be completed by social workers with more than 12 months experience as a registered and practising social worker.
Overview of the intake decision response tool
Even when there are other proceedings in the Family Court (for example, Care of Children Act proceedings or Adoption Act proceedings), we must still consider the report of concern and the need for us to complete a child and family assessment or investigation.
When a written assessment is required
The following outlines when we must complete an assessment report to articulate our understanding and have it approved by a supervisor.
Care and protection assessments
We must complete an assessment report to articulate our built understanding in each of the following circumstances:
- when undertaking an investigation or child and family assessment
- when undertaking a section 18A assessment of a parent of a subsequent child
- when a section 19(3) request for an investigation is received from a care and protection coordinator when referring for a care and protection family group conference – with the assessment and content of the report updated with information gathered in preparation for the conference
- when a decision is made to seek a custody order for te tamaiti or rangatahi
- as soon as practicable and no later than 6 weeks after te tamaiti or rangatahi enters the care or custody of the Oranga Tamariki chief executive
- when making decisions about where te tamaiti or rangatahi is to live, such as their return home or a move to a new care arrangement
- when a social work report and plan is required in the Family Court
- when reviewing a plan (via court, a family group conference or family/whānau agreement) and not less than once every 6 months
- when new information indicates the needs or circumstances of te tamaiti or rangatahi have changed
- when referring for a residential or high needs care arrangement (hub referral) – with the information updated and the content of the report written for this purpose
- before admission to or discharge from a residence or group home or high needs care arrangement – this is a major change in circumstances for te tamaiti or rangatahi and requires the assessment of their needs, strengths and risks to be current, formally recorded and used to inform the next step
- before case closure if this is outside the cycle of a plan review.
Our report must be shared with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau or family, and their views should be included in the assessment report.
The assessment report must be approved by a supervisor.
Youth justice assessments
We must complete an assessment report and have it approved by a supervisor:
- before a youth justice family group conference for all tamariki aged 10 to 13 years
- before a youth justice family group conference for tamariki or rangatahi placed on section 238(1)(d) custody for a period of at least 72 hours
- before a youth justice family group conference for tamariki or rangatahi who also have current care and protection involvement
- for any other tamariki or rangatahi where the pre-family group conference case consultation considers it necessary – this decision is recorded in the offending profile
- when a social work report and plan is required for a Youth Court order
- when a progress report (section 308C) for a Supervision or Supervision with Activity Order to the Youth Court is required
- on entry to a residence under a section 311 Supervision with Residence Order
- prior to discharge from a residence (other than custodial remands).
Custody of child or young person pending hearing – section 238 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
Progress reports – section 308C of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
Supervision with residence order – section 311 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
Undertaking a care and protection assessment
We must undertake a child and family assessment or an investigation when a report of concern involves an allegation that the care, safety or wellbeing of te tamaiti or rangatahi is being significantly compromised, thereby creating risk of serious harm for te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Our child and family assessment or investigation must reach a finding of whether abuse or harm has occurred. This finding must be based on analysis of all relevant information obtained during the child and family assessment or investigation process. This includes any alternative explanations provided about how the harm may have occurred and any explanations provided by the person alleged to have caused the harm, whether provided by the person themselves or through a third party such as Police.
We must undertake an assessment of a subsequent parent when the conditions of section 18A(1) are met.
See the section 'Undertaking a section 18A assessment of a subsequent parent' below.
Consultation with the care and protection resource panel must occur as soon as practicable after a child and family assessment or investigation has commenced.
Care and protection resource panel
Undertaking a child and family assessment
We undertake a child and family assessment when the report of concern involves an allegation that the care, safety or wellbeing of te tamaiti or rangatahi may be at risk but doesn't indicate abuse which may constitute a criminal offence.
Undertaking an investigation
We undertake an investigation when the report of concern indicates abuse that may constitute a criminal offence.
When undertaking an investigation we must follow the Child Protection Protocol.
Child Protection Protocol (CPP)
Timeframes for the child and family assessment or investigation
If the outcome of the initial assessment phase is either a child and family assessment or an investigation, then we must complete the core assessment phase within 20 days.
Where the outcome of the core assessment phase is that te tamaiti or rangatahi is in need of care or protection, you must make a referral for a care and protection family group conference and complete the full assessment phase within 20 days.
Assessment of safety, harm and risk
Te tamaiti or rangatahi referred for a child and family assessment or investigation must have Tiaki Oranga completed within the specified decision response timeframe.
Face-to-face engagement with te tamaiti or rangatahi and their parent or caregiver is essential to ensure a robust assessment of safety. Te tamaiti or rangatahi should be encouraged and assisted to participate to a degree appropriate for their age and maturity and given reasonable opportunities and support to freely express their views. Social workers must seek the consent of their parents or guardians before engaging te tamaiti or rangatahi unless doing so places te tamaiti or rangatahi or others at risk of harm, either directly or indirectly.
Seeking consent to talk with tamariki and rangatahi
Where further assessment is required following the completion of Tiaki Oranga, safety must be built around te tamaiti or rangatahi. Tiaki Oranga should be completed more than once across the practice continuum for all service lines, whenever we need to understand current safety, harm and risk.
When te tamaiti or rangatahi is in hospital with a suspected non-accidental injury
When a report of concern is received about a tamaiti or rangatahi who has been hospitalised with a suspected non-accidental injury we must work collaboratively with whānau or family and involved professionals, including Police and medical staff, to understand and meet the immediate needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi and keep them safe from further harm during their stay, and after leaving hospital.
We must:
- commence a collaborative and multi-disciplinary process for decision-making and planning within 24 hours of te tamaiti or rangatahi being admitted to hospital
- engage whānau or family as early as possible
- ensure that contact and supervision arrangements are made which reflect and address the safety and trauma-related needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi
- develop a plan with te tamaiti or rangatahi (where appropriate), whānau or family and professionals prior to discharge which outlines:
- who will care for te tamaiti or rangatahi
- how safety will be addressed and health needs responded to
- the provision of required support
- roles and responsibilities of professionals
- the process for monitoring and review.
When the perpetrator of a suspected non-accidental injury is unknown, agreed safety arrangements for keeping te tamaiti or rangatahi safe must be established with this at the forefront of planning. While efforts to build safety should be in collaboration with whānau or family they may also include consideration about whether an immediate application for a Place of Safety warrant or other legal order is necessary to secure the safety of te tamaiti or rangatahi. The decision will be made in consultation with a supervisor and/or practice leader, site solicitor and appropriate health representative.
Multi-agency safety planning template (DOC 145 KB)
Protect and support the development of tamariki and rangatahi within healthy whānau and families
Child Protection Protocol (CPP)
Undertaking a section 18A assessment of a subsequent parent
We must undertake a section 18A assessment of a subsequent parent when:
- it is established that a parent meets the criteria of section 18B and has, or is going to have, day-to-day care of a subsequent child, and
- there has been no previous section 17 investigation, or section 18A assessment of a previous subsequent child that has found no care or protection concerns.
The purpose of a section 18A assessment is only to assess whether the parent is unlikely to inflict, or allow to be inflicted, on the subsequent child the kind of harm inflicted on a previous child or young person.
Guidance: Subsequent child – section 18A assessment by social worker
Tamariki and rangatahi in care, custody or sole guardianship of the chief executive
Tamariki and rangatahi in the care, custody or sole guardianship of the Oranga Tamariki chief executive have specifically identified needs that must be covered as we continue to build our understanding.
Your assessment report must reflect the following areas of need along with what is required to meet those needs and by the National Care Standards.
The areas of need are:
- identity and culture
- connection with family, whānau, hapū, iwi and family group
- safety
- behavioural development
- play, recreation and community
- emotional
- education and training
- health related
- disability related
- frequency of visits to te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Your assessment report must also reflect the wishes, aspirations and strengths of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Assessing the needs of tamariki in care
Practice when working with disabled people
Assessing safety needs for tamariki in care
Determining the frequency of visits to tamariki and rangatahi in care
Care transitions
When tamariki or rangatahi are about to have a change in their care arrangement, we must understand what they need to make the transition a positive experience. The assessment report must support the transition of care arrangement until the new care arrangement is stable for te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Transitioning between placements
Policy: Transitions within care
Assessing life skills
We must understand the knowledge and experience of life skills needed for independent living for all rangatahi under 18 for whom section 386A of the Oranga Tamariki Act applies.
We must:
- understand the support they need to become and remain independent after they leave care
- consider their development and any cultural and disability-related needs they may have
- record their identified needs in their assessment report.
Supporting rangatahi to develop their life skills
Transition Support Service life skills tool (PDF 418 KB)
Policy: Transition to adulthood – Preparation, assessment and planning
Health and education assessments
Gateway assessments help us understand the health and education needs of tamariki and rangatahi for whom there are care and protection concerns.
Education screens and health and education assessments are used for tamariki and rangatahi who have been referred for a youth justice family group conference.
Care and protection – gateway assessments
We must make a referral for a gateway assessment within 10 working days for all tamariki or rangatahi who enter care under sections 78, 101, 102 or 140 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 unless:
- discussions with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education determine they are already well engaged with services and would not benefit from a gateway assessment
- we can't obtain consent for the gateway assessment to be completed.
We must consider making a referral for a gateway assessment for:
- tamariki and rangatahi already in the care or custody of Oranga Tamariki but who have not yet had a gateway assessment
- tamariki and rangatahi who are referred for a care and protection family group conference.
Youth justice – education screens and health and education assessments
We must complete an education screen for all tamariki or rangatahi referred for a youth justice family group conference.
The youth justice family group conference coordinator must:
- seek consent from te tamaiti or rangatahi, if the screen recommends further assessment, to make a referral for an education assessment completed by an educational psychologist from Group Special Education
- seek consent from te tamaiti or rangatahi to make a referral for a health assessment to be completed by an approved youth justice health assessor
- seek consent from parents or guardians.
The youth justice coordinator must seek the support of a family member for te tamaiti or rangatahi during the assessment process.
When tamariki or rangatahi who offend are brought into the care or custody of the chief executive under sections 78, 101, 102, 139 and 140 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 prior to the family group conference being held, the decision to proceed with either a gateway assessment or health and education assessments will be made at the pre-family group conference case consultation. We must implement the most appropriate course of action to meet the needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi.
Offending profile
The offending profile is an initial screen and recording tool for tamariki and rangatahi who have offended. It helps to decide if further assessment is required.
We must complete an offending profile and record it on CYRAS:
- the first time te tamaiti or rangatahi is referred or directed for a youth justice family group conference
- if te tamaiti or rangatahi reoffends and the offending profile is 3 or more months old.
The youth justice coordinator must ensure that the offending profile is:
- prepared for and completed at the pre-family group conference case consultation
- made available to the youth justice supervisor, social worker (where allocated), residential case leader (where te tamaiti or rangatahi is in residence) and others as required by the circumstances of te tamaiti or rangatahi, prior to the pre-family group conference case consultation.
Youth justice family group conference case consultation
A pre-family group conference case consultation must be held for every tamaiti or rangatahi referred for a youth justice family group conference.
We must:
- bring the offending profile and other relevant information about te tamaiti or rangatahi to the case consultation
- complete the case consultation within 5 working days after the referral or direction for the family group conference is received
- plan our assessment if it is decided at the case consultation that one is required.
The youth justice coordinator must record that decision and any other outcomes of the case consultation in the offending profile on CYRAS.
Child/young person and family consult
The consult supports decision-making at any point when we are relating, understanding, planning, acting and reflecting with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau or family and others.
The consult must be used:
- during the care and protection assessment (child and family assessment or investigation) to inform the analysis and next steps
- at the completion of a section 18A assessment of a subsequent parent to inform the decision about whether the parent is unlikely to inflict, or allow to be inflicted, the kind of harm inflicted on a previous tamaiti or rangatahi
- for all tamariki (aged 10 to 13 years) who offend
- for all tamariki (aged 14 to 17) who offend and who have a care and protection intervention which is current or has been active within the last 3 months
- when removal from or return home is considered
- as the framework for the professionals meeting held when returning te tamaiti or rangatahi home.
Hui ā-whānau and family meetings
Hui ā-whānau and family meetings help us work collaboratively with tamariki and rangatahi, their whānau or family and family group and support their participation in assessment.
Hui ā-whānau or family meetings must be used:
- across the continuum of assessment and at the earliest opportunity to build and deepen our understanding with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau or family and others
- to share information with whānau about concerns for tamariki and rangatahi and seek their views
- to involve wider whānau or family support networks and build understanding of whānau or family strengths and needs
- to do safety planning for and with tamariki and rangatahi
- to prepare for family group conference.
Suicide, psychological distress and substance abuse (SKS) screens
We use the Kessler screen for psychological distress, the Substances and Choices Scale (SACS) for substance abuse and the suicide screen to assess whether te tamaiti or rangatahi has active thoughts of suicide. Together these screens are known as SKS and must be used at any point we become worried about suicide for te tamaiti or rangatahi.
We must use the SKS screens when:
- mental health, suicide and/or substance use are potential concerns
- significant events, trauma, behaviours and/or risk factors are present
- te tamaiti or rangatahi is held in police custody
- te tamaiti or rangatahi enters a residence, and at any time during the residential stay when mental health is identified as a concern or potential concern.
The use of these screening tools is not required where:
- a recent assessment has been undertaken by a mental health or alcohol and drug service provider that details the current level of assessed risk of suicide and/or self-harm, and
- this assessment has been recorded on CYRAS, and
- there has been no significant change to the circumstances for te tamaiti or rangatahi since that assessment was completed.
Even in these instances, we must still consult with a Towards Wellbeing advisor and record the results on CYRAS.
The screens are designed for use with tamariki and rangatahi aged 12 years and over. If you have concerns about suicide for a tamaiti under 12, or a tamaiti or rangatahi with an intellectual disability, talk to your local Towards Wellbeing advisor before applying the screens.
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
How will I ensure the right of whānau or family to participate in informed whānau decision-making as we work together to develop a shared understanding of the harm impacting oranga?
Whai mātauranga
What knowledge am I drawing on in my approach to building a shared understanding with this whānau or family and others about what has been happening? How will I understand the situation of te tamaiti or rangatahi through the mana-enhancing paradigm for practice and in the context of their whakapapa?
Whai oranga
How will an oranga framing support me as I intentionally build and check my understanding of what is happening for te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family? How will the selected practice model support change to occur?
Whai pūkenga
What skills do I need to facilitate a relational, inclusive and restorative relationship with this tamaiti, rangatahi, whānau or family? How am I working with whānau or family from the beginning to ensure that all whānau or family can contribute?
Whai ākona
How would I feel if it was my whānau or family involved in this process? What would support me to engage in the process? How can I reflect this within my own practice?