Adoption

The social worker's court report on the adoption application

The adoptive applicants’ solicitor makes the application for an adoption order in the Family Court. Once the application is filed, the court will request a social worker's report.

Intake, Practice tools

Considerations when responding to information received

Use these prompts to gather and assess as much information as possible from the person reporting the concerns about te tamaiti.

Practice approach

Create, implement and review a written assessment and plan — guidance

I will create a written assessment and plan with each tamaiti and review them when required, in order to identify and address their full range of needs.

Adoption

Helping adoptive applicants prepare a whānau or family profile

We provide expectant parents with profiles prepared by adoptive applicants who match their preferences and their wishes for their tamaiti, and who have been assessed as able to meet the needs of the specific tamaiti.

Practice approach

Harmful behaviour

What distinguishes age-appropriate exploration from ‘harmful behaviour’ is the extent of the behaviour and the impact on te tamaiti or rangatahi.

Interventions, Youth justice

Appointing a youth advocate for an intention-to-charge family group conference – section 248A

Oranga Tamariki must appoint a youth advocate for tamariki and rangatahi referred for an intention-to-charge family group conference if any of their alleged offences could be subject to a sentence of imprisonment of 10 years or more.

— download (DOCX 145 KB)

Pre-family group conference planning meeting – template

Occurs on: Seeking solutions with families policy — Resources, Preparing for the care and protection family group conference

Areas to cover in the planning meeting before the family group conference.

Care

Assessing information from suitability checks

We need to analyse the information we get from checks, such as police, medical and referee checks. We should consider if caregiver and adoptive parent applicants and their households are suitable and safe.

Assessment and planning

Methamphetamine

We need to understand the impact of methamphetamine use on a person's ability to care for tamariki and rangatahi. When working with rangatahi who are using methamphetamine, we help them to minimise harm and risks to themselves and others.

Practice approach

Serious harm

Harm can have a varying degree of impact on te tamaiti or rangatahi. Sometimes a single traumatic event (for example, a violent sexual or physical assault) can have a significant impact on te tamaiti or rangatahi and may constitute serious harm.