The approach

We know tamariki and whānau may require support from a range of sectors. Often the help they receive is fragmented, and sometimes even contradictory. This can lead to:

• children not being at the centre
• children’s voices not being heard
• children and their whānau being overwhelmed by the number of agencies involved with them
• children falling below a key agency’s threshold for support so they don’t get the help they need
• children not getting an effective, joined-up approach or integrated service response
• services delivered in a way that creates difficulties for families, such as having to find transport or childcare so they can get to appointments
• children getting short-term, inconsistent or conflicting support.

Children’s needs are multi-faceted. The team approach recognises that no single agency alone can protect children.

The approach is to provide joined-up support around our at-risk children and their whānau. There’s a focus on agencies working together and sharing information to reduce duplication and improve outcomes for children. 

We work with tamariki and rangatahi up to 18 years old, who are at significant risk of harm to their wellbeing.

This could be now or in the future, as a consequence of the environment in which they are being raised and – in some cases – due to their own complex needs, and the needs of their whānau.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• children living in homes where family violence is present
• children who have difficulty attending school or engaging when present
• children with social or behavioural problems
• children with unaddressed health issues
• whānau struggling with social or economic issues who have dependent children
• whānau with dependent children where parenting capacity needs to be strengthened
• whānau with dependent children for whom a statutory intervention may be required if concerns and risk factors are not addressed.

There are four key foundations to the way we work:

• being child-centred and family and whānau focused
• forming partnerships
• being informed by the evidence
• working together in trans-disciplinary teams.

Importantly, families must agree to be part of this approach. The child and their whānau are then supported to lead the change to improve their wellbeing.

One team working together

By working across sectors and organisations we can make sure the child gets the support they need.

This approach works across:

Governance

To prioritise existing services, resources and new ways of working to create joint responsibility for our at-risk tamariki.

Operations

To get practitioners and professionals from health, education, NZ Police, justice and the social service sector to work together, put the needs of children first and share responsibility.

Practice

To improve the capability of the children’s workforce to work in a child-centred, trans-disciplinary way in partnership with whānau.

Children's Teams were designed in response to the White and Green Papers for Vulnerable Children. These papers highlighted some weaknesses in the way we worked with children and their families, and set out a programme of change to address this.