Practice notes

Practice notes from the Chief Social Worker provide us with prompts around specific areas of practice as they relate to current practice trends and findings.

Adoption, Policy

Adoption – Intercountry adoption: adopting a tamaiti from overseas

This policy provides an overview of the intercountry adoption policy and process to adopt a tamaiti from overseas.

Care, Interventions, Policy

Without notice application for interim custody of a tamaiti or rangatahi

Without notice applications for interim custody of a tamaiti or rangatahi under section 78 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 can only be made in exceptional circumstances and require approval of the site manager.

Youth justice, Interventions

Orders and monitoring for the Youth Court Te Kōti Taiohi o Aotearoa

We support and monitor tamariki and rangatahi subject to Youth Court orders for offences that have been proved or not denied. We work with whānau, family and other key people supporting them to comply with court orders by meeting their plan's objectives.

Managing and responding to dangerous situations

Violence can be defined as a public or private act that engenders fear or feelings of vulnerability. It includes any act that can be perceived as threatening to ones wellbeing. Staff safety is critical to our ability to provide a quality service to children, young people and whānau or family. We each have a role to play, from informing of dangerous or potentially dangerous situations through to developing strategies and responses to dangerous situations.

Intake, Practice tools

Reports of concern about sexualised behaviour

How to decide on a response to a report of concern involving sexual behaviour of tamariki or rangatahi.

Assessment and planning

SMART planning

Good planning should follow the SMART principles: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timeframed.

— download (DOC 145 KB)

Multi-agency safety plan template

Occurs on: Assessment, Responding to non-accidental injuries – multi-agency safety planning

Every tamaiti or rangatahi admitted to hospital with a suspected non-accidental injury will have a plan that guides our current and future work with them.

— download (PDF 295 KB)

All About Me plan – template example

Occurs on: All About Me plan to meet the needs of tamariki and rangatahi, Care standards, All About Me plan, Talking with and listening to tamariki and rangatahi

Example of the template available through CYRAS.

Care, Policy

Transition to adulthood — Preparation, assessment and planning

This policy outlines how we help rangatahi prepare to transition from care or custody and become increasingly independent.