welfare concerns

child abuse

Child abuse includes:

• emotional abuse
• physical harm, including excessive discipline
• neglect – not providing for a child’s basic needs
• sexual abuse.

If you suspect or are aware that a child is being abused

You must refer the case to Oranga Tamariki if you believe any child has been, or is likely to be:

• harmed (physically, emotionally or sexually)
• ill-treated
• abused
• neglected, or
• deprived.

Discuss the situation with a manager and/or the MSD Family Violence Response Coordinator. Decide whether making a Report of Concern is the appropriate next step. You can also seek advice from the Oranga Tamariki National Call Centre at 0508 326 459.

If the decision is that a Report of Concern is the appropriate next step, then it must be completed within 24 hours.

Ensure the report is signed by your manager and sent to your MSD Family Violence Response Coordinator. The Report of Concern should then be emailed to Oranga Tamariki at contact@ot.govt.nz.

You will also need to complete the ART task.

Task category: Issues Management

Task type: Report of Concern to Oranga Tamariki.

If appropriate, provide the young person with advice and/or support regarding family violence services for themselves and their children. And remember, that you can do this even if abuse is not evident.

For more information on reporting concerns about the safety of a child, please refer to the Oranga Tamariki website.

Learn more

Report of Concern to Oranga Tamariki template | Youth Service providers

What is child abuse? | Child Matters

Indicators of child abuse | Child Matters

Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children

family violence

If family violence is suspected or disclosed to you you should assess the safety of the young person and their children immediately.

If their immediate safety is of concern, you should contact either the Police or local Women’s refuge then notify YSSU via ART that you have done so.

You can also use the Family Violence Information Line on 0800 456 450. The Family Violence Information Line can put you in touch with organisations in your area that can help. It is available seven days a week, from 9am-11pm.

You are also able to access the Work and Income Family Violence Intervention Programme.

Each Work and Income region has a Family Violence Response Coordinator.

They can provide advice to you on appropriate referral pathways including family violence intervention providers and networks to support the young person. Family Violence Response Coordinator's primary role is to:

• provide MSD staff and stakeholders with the right training, support, expertise, and advice to enable them to deliver the Family Violence Intervention Programme effectively to young people
• ensure that appropriate referral pathways are established and supported by effective relationships with family violence intervention providers and networks
• ensure when young people disclose family violence, they are supported and encouraged to take the appropriate steps to improve their circumstances
• strengthen community capacity and capability by working strategically with family violence networks and stakeholders.

Family violence support services for young people 

When a young person discloses family violence, you need to make appropriate referrals to a broad range of service providers.

In the first instance, these referrals should be made to family violence service providers who provide “Approved Family Violence Programmes”.

For agency listings, refer to the family services directory.

Family Services Directory