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Care and protection resource panels
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Care and protection resource panels give advice to Child, Youth and Family staff or Police who are investigating or helping children, young people and families/whanau where abuse of children and young people has been alleged. The job is not that of a social worker, except occasionally when a panel member may be specifically asked to help a social worker. This is usually for cultural or social reasons. Panels may also undertake projects involving other community agencies or groups.
Care and protection resource panels are located throughout New Zealand, working with their local Child, Youth and Family offices. The panels are set up under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 and are funded by Child, Youth and Family.
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What do panels do?
Care and protection resource panels:
- give advice to Child, Youth and Family staff or Police who are making decisions about the care and protection of children
- bring the perspective of the local community, and of other agencies, disciplines, experiences and cultures, to care and protection decisions.
The care and protection resource panels have no direct power, but the law requires social workers, care and protection coordinators and the Police to seek the advice of a panel at critical stages in the care and protection process. Panel meetings are not open to the public; they are solely part of Child, Youth and Family’s investigation process.
Client confidentiality is crucial. Under Privacy and Official Information Act provisions, anything a panel member hears cannot be used or discussed except with the panel and other people directly involved.
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Who are the panel members?
Panels are made up of individuals from the local community who know and care about children and young people. Panel members have a varied range of professional, community and cultural knowledge and experience. Areas of expertise include:
- education, for example, teachers, school guidance counsellors
- health, for example, doctors, Plunket nurses, mental health workers
- social services, for example, domestic violence intervention workers, victim support workers
- iwi social services
- cultural advisors
- youth services, for example, youth aid workers
- Family Court, for example, lawyers.
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What qualities does a panel member need?
Commitment to the care and protection of children.
Commitment to the principle of seeking care and protection within the family/whanau and community.
A good range of experience and knowledge.
An ability to communicate their own particular area of expertise
Community knowledge of many other resources.
Ability to work cooperatively with others.
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How can I find out more about the panels?
If you have enquiries about care and protection resource panels or about the appointment process for new panel members, please contact your local Child, Youth and Family office. (Locations are listed in the Contact us section of this web site or phone 0508 FAMILY/0508 326 459.)
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