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

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

Last updated: 22/03/2022

Practice framework prompts for this policy

Our practice framework helps us make sense of and organise our practice so it is framed in te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), 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.

Ngākau whakairo

How will I ensure that the right to participate and express their views in decisions that affect them is upheld for disabled tamariki and rangatahi I work with?  

Ngākau whakairo practice framework domain

Whai mātauranga

Who will I work in partnership with and whose knowledge, including cultural knowledge, will I draw on to ensure that the decisions about the care arrangements for te tamaiti or rangatahi are appropriate to realise oranga?

Whai mātauranga practice framework domain

Whai oranga

How do I understand from this tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family what oranga looks like for them?

Whai oranga practice framework domain

Whai pūkenga

How do I build relationships and connections with people in a way that is inclusive for those with disabilities? In what ways do I adapt my behaviour to ensure my relationship is respectful and upholds mana?

Whai pūkenga practice framework domain

Whai ākona

What have I learnt through my own encounters with people with disabilities? Do I make assumptions about the capabilities of disabled people, which prevents me from gaining a broader understanding of their strengths?  

Whai ākona practice framework domain

Who this policy applies to

Tamariki who have high and complex disability needs and may require a specialised out-of-home placement.

What is a specialised out-of-home placement

The needs of te tamaiti are high and complex, which requires caregivers or service providers to have disability expertise and, in some cases, environmental adaptations.

Tamariki with high and complex disability needs who come to our attention

Disabled tamariki have exactly the same rights to safety, protection, care, love and being supported to achieve to their full potential as non-disabled tamariki. Standards of care must be the same as for non-disabled tamariki.

If a tamaiti who has high and complex disability needs comes to our attention we must:

ensure their immediate safety, if required
contact a regional disability advisor for advice
work with te tamaiti, their whānau or family, NASC and other agencies early to provide wrap-around supports to keep te tamaiti at home, if appropriate
ensure the experiences of te tamaiti and their whānau or family are positive and lead to good outcomes for te tamaiti.

Where you think a family group conference may be needed to provide assistance to address the wellbeing needs of disabled tamariki, consult with your regional disability advisor in the first instance.

If a specialised out-of-home placement is being considered for te tamaiti with high and complex disability needs, we must ensure the pathway used to support their placement is in the best interests of te tamaiti and their whānau or family. Consider less intrusive care arrangements before seeking any court order.

Regional disability advisors will work with you to provide advice tailored to the individual needs of each tamaiti.

Assessment of needs relating to any disability