Visiting and engaging with tamariki in care

Ngākau whakairo

How will I make sure that the rights of tamariki and rangatahi to be informed, participate in decision-making, express their views and have them taken into account are respected at every visit?

Ngākau whakairo practice framework domain

Whai mātauranga

What knowledge am I drawing on to understand the cultural identity of te tamaiti or rangatahi? How will I make sense of what te tamaiti or rangatahi is telling me? How will I value their knowledge alongside the knowledge I learn from others?

Whai mātauranga practice framework domain

Whai oranga

How can I support te tamaiti or rangatahi to freely express their views and needs during my visit? In what ways will I support te tamaiti or rangatahi to understand information, explore options and contribute to or influence decisions about them that support their oranga?

Whai oranga practice framework domain

Whai pūkenga

What skills and behaviours do I use to meaningfully relate with this tamaiti or rangatahi in a way that considers their age and ability to understand? How will I meaningfully relate with tamariki or rangatahi who are non-verbal or require support to communicate, to ensure I understand what needs they are communicating?

Whai pūkenga practice framework domain

Whai ākona

As a tamaiti or child, who were the adults I was comfortable talking with and why? What made some adults easier to talk with than others? What role did trust in the adult play? How can I apply this to my mahi?

Whai ākona practice framework domain

There is separate policy and guidance about engaging with tamariki who we are working with via a family group conference, family/whānau agreement or through the Transition Support Service.

Policy: Family group conferences for care and/or protection concerns

Policy: Seeking solutions with families

Family/whānau agreement

Transition to adulthood

Visits are an opportunity to:

• build a relationship, by spending quality time engaging with tamariki
• support tamariki to share their thoughts and feelings
• listen to any concerns tamariki have
• check with tamariki that they are receiving their entitlements, including their pocket money and the clothing they need
• involve tamariki in decisions that affect them, including discussing any need to share information about them
• engage with the caregiver or residence staff about how te tamaiti in their care is doing, and seek their views on whether the plan is meeting the needs of te tamaiti.

Policy: Review of caregiver approval

See and engage tamariki

Consulting about sharing information

If the key social worker can’t visit te tamaiti

If the key social worker of te tamaiti can’t visit, the social worker’s supervisor must arrange for someone suitable to carry out the visit.

If te tamaiti is in a residence and their social worker can’t physically visit, a video call, such as through Skype can be used to complete the visit or engagement.

Visits with tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody

Policy: Working with tamariki and rangatahi in residences

The frequency, as well as the rationale for that frequency, must be:

• determined in consultation with te tamaiti, the caregiver for te tamaiti and the caregiver social worker
• agreed by a supervisor and the approval recorded in the supervision phase casenotes
• recorded in the All About Me plan for te tamaiti.

Policy: All About Me plan

Wherever possible the views of whānau should also be considered.

The frequency of visits must be reviewed regularly, or if there has been a change in the circumstance or needs of te tamaiti. The plan must be updated if the frequency is altered, this ensures it reflects the needs and wishes of te tamaiti.

A change in circumstance or needs may require an immediate increase in the frequency of visits. This frequency can be increased without a formal reassessment of visiting frequency and supervisor approval, in order to meet the immediate needs of te tamaiti. Consideration of visiting frequency must occur at each visit.

A formal reassessment of visiting frequency must occur once the circumstances or needs of te tamaiti have stabilised, taking into account the recent events. The frequency of visiting must not be decreased without a reassessment and supervisor approval.

We must ensure their plan is on track and effective by:

• going over their All About Me Plan with them — use the Tamariki All About Me version where it's appropriate taking into account the age of te tamaiti
• looking at whether actions or commitments agreed to in the plan are happening
• talking with te tamaiti about how well they think the plan is working to achieve the identified outcomes
• talking with te tamaiti about the support and opportunities they have to develop, maintain and strengthen positive relationships with their family, whānau, hapū and iwi, and considering whether anything needs to be done differently
• exploring whether circumstances or needs have changed and whether anything needs to be done differently.

Policy: All About Me plan

All About Me plan to meet the needs of tamariki

Tamariki All About Me plan — child friendly version

Consulting about sharing information

If te tamaiti is unable to talk to us verbally because of their young age, development, language barrier or disability, we must ensure we communicate effectively with te tamaiti, including through the use of:

• observation
• specialist tools to support communication
• specialist professionals and
• talking to caregivers and others in their household.

Visits with tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody 

We must also record and take appropriate action if any allegations are made during a visit.

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