Assessment and planning

Initial assessment phase

We gather quality information and develop a chronology to build understanding of oranga. This supports decision-making about the best response and appropriate level of support for te tamaiti or rangatahi and their whānau or family.

Righting the wrong: Information on working with victims

How to engage with the victim before and during the process and how to help provide closure for them.

Residential care, Youth justice, Policy

Working with tamariki and rangatahi in remand homes

Social workers and remand home kaimahi support tamariki and rangatahi when they're living in or transitioning to or from a remand home.

Practice tools

Assessment report

The assessment report records our understanding of harm, safety and protection for te tamaiti or rangatahi or their offending behaviour at a particular point in time, and what should happen next. The assessment report replaces the Tuituia report.

Interventions

Tamariki and rangatahi with Family Court orders in place

When we're working with tamariki or rangatahi and their whānau or family, we need to be aware of any Family Court orders that are in place and understand what they mean.

Assessment and planning

Determining the frequency of visits to tamariki and rangatahi in care

The needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi will determine how frequently they are visited by their social worker while in care.

Care

Higher fostercare allowance

The higher fostercare allowance (HFCA) is used when a caregiver requires additional and specific financial support to meet the special needs of te tamaiti or rangatahi in their care that is best provided through a regular higher rate of payment.

Practice approach

Physical abuse

Physical abuse involves situations where a tamaiti has an injury or was at serious risk of injury. The harm could be deliberate or unintentionally result from a deliberate action.

Interventions, Youth justice

Detaining 17-year-old rangatahi in a youth unit of a prison (section 238(1)(f))

Oranga Tamariki and the Department of Corrections can make a joint application to the Youth Court to detain a 17-year-old rangatahi in a youth unit of a prison to ensure the safety of any rangatahi in Oranga Tamariki custody.

Care, Policy

Caregiver and adoptive applicant assessment and approval

The requirements for assessment and approval of prospective caregivers (family/whānau and non-whānau) and adoptive applicants (domestic and inter-country adoption).