Assessment and planning
Working effectively with whānau or families impacted by violence
Family violence is abusive behaviour that can occur across whakapapa and generations and has complex causes. To support change, we consider restorative approaches that engage the whole whānau or family, rather than focusing on individuals or incidences.
Working with Māori
Hui ā-whānau
Hui ā-whānau are a whānau gathering facilitated using Māori methods of engagement and protocols (te reo me ōna tikanga). They are initiated and facilitated by either whānau themselves or Oranga Tamariki staff to engage whānau as early as possible.
Care
Caregiver review meetings
The caregiver review meeting enables us to explore with caregivers their ongoing willingness and suitability to provide care to support the review of their approval status.
Youth justice, Interventions
Whānau or family meeting or hui ā-whānau following family group conference referrals on section 14(1)(e) grounds
A whānau or family meeting or hui ā-whānau should be held within 7 working days for each section 14(1)(e) family group conference referral intake so whānau or family can consider the initial supports and services that might reduce the risk of reoffending.
Interventions
Strengthening Families interagency meeting to support whānau or family
At a Strengthening Families coordination meeting, a whānau or family works in partnership with government and community agencies to identify what would help the whānau or family meet the needs of their tamariki and rangatahi.
Care
All About Me plan to meet the needs of tamariki and rangatahi
The All About Me plan is designed to enable us to respond to the needs of tamariki and rangatahi in the custody or care of the chief executive in line with the National Care Standards. It applies to care and protection and youth justice.
Care
Assessment interviews and hui
We support open discussion when interviewing caregiver and adoptive parent applicants. Hui ā-whānau can be used as an alternative to interviews for whānau or family caregiver applicants.
Adoption
Meeting and making a contact agreement
We encourage birthparents and adoptive applicants to meet after the birth of te tamaiti. We help them create a contact agreement that records their commitment to information sharing and ongoing contact arrangements.
Working with Māori
Whānau searching
Whānau searching connects tamariki to their whānau network and when done well may extend into hapū and iwi. It helps identify the right people to participate and be involved in whānau decision-making about tamariki wellbeing.
Interventions
Family/whānau agreement
A family/whānau agreement is an intervention that uses whānau or family strengths and resources to ensure the needs of te tamaiti are met while remaining in the care of their whānau or family.