Care

Ensuring a safe, stable and loving home when tamariki or rangatahi are living with non-whānau caregivers

Primary responsibility for caring for and nurturing tamariki and rangatahi lies with family, whānau, hapū, iwi and family group. Plans need to respond to the circumstances and care needs of each tamaiti or rangatahi in the care of non-whānau caregivers.

Practice approach

See and engage tamariki

I will see and engage with each tamaiti I am working with, in order to understand their needs, build their trust and ensure they have a say in decisions.

Assessment and planning

Towards Wellbeing suicide prevention programme

Towards Wellbeing provides advice to social workers who work with tamariki and rangatahi who may be suicidal (including thoughts/ideation/plans/suicide attempts and those who have died by suicide).

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.

Intake, Practice tools

Recording decision responses

We use contact records, casenotes, or reports of concern to record decision responses. For tamariki and rangatahi in care, we also talk directly with the allocated social worker or their supervisor.

Care

Assessing the home environment of applicants

The oranga (wellbeing) of te tamaiti must be at the centre of decision-making that affects them. This includes addressing their need for a safe, stable and loving home. When assessing applicants’ homes, we must mitigate or manage any safety risks.

Practice approach

Keep accurate records — guidance

I will document my key actions and decisions for each tamaiti I am working with, in order to ensure significant decisions are clearly evidenced and transparent.

— download (DOCX 137 KB)

Referral for residential services and high-needs placement – form

Occurs on: Specialist placements for tamariki and rangatahi with high needs

Information to help us understand the needs of the rangatahi and match them with a suitable care arrangement.

Assessment and planning

Responding to concerns involving extremism or radicalisation

What we need to focus on when we respond to oranga, care, protection or youth justice concerns for tamariki or rangatahi who are or may be engaged with or connected to extremist or radical groups or ideology where violence or threats of violence feature.

Interventions

Support and assistance for tamariki and rangatahi not in need of care or protection

We can provide support and assistance to address risks or wellbeing concerns for a tamaiti or rangatahi even if they are not in need of care or protection.