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Who’s who in child protection and what we do
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The following information is taken from Let’s stop child abuse together – An interagency guide to breaking the cycle which is available as a PDF file in the Related Information box on the left-hand side of this page.
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Child, Youth and Family social workers
Child, Youth and Family social workers are employed by the government to carry out the legislative requirements of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989. This means that their primary function is to provide care or protection for children who are found to be in need. Child, Youth and Family social workers should have had training in all areas of child protection and family dynamics and will have knowledge of family systems, including family violence. The social worker will be used to talking to children about abuse or will know when they need to get specialist help in this area. There are some issues you need to know about when talking to children.
Talking to children
If a child or young person discloses abuse or you suspect something has happened, it is essential that you do not interview the child or young person about the disclosure or your concerns. Instead, listen carefully to what the child says, and later write this down, word for word if possible, noting the date and time you heard the child disclose. Don’t make promises you cannot keep, especially in regard to issues such as confidentiality. Reassure the child that you have heard what they said and that you are going to get help for them.
Further interviewing should be left to appropriately skilled staff of Child, Youth and Family or the Police. Some Child, Youth and Family areas employ psychologists and therapists to assist social workers with these interviews. They can provide psychological and diagnostic services and evidential interviews in secure and safe environments.
The diagnostic interview
A diagnostic interview is carried out when there are strong indicators of abuse which also may be indicators of other problems. The purpose of the interview is to gather information able to be used as part of a full assessment.
The evidential interview
An evidential interview is carried out when a child has disclosed something that indicates they may have been abused. The purposes of the interview are to ascertain whether any abuse has happened, what kind of abuse that is and to ascertain the child’s safety. Evidential interviews are usually videotaped and are made to the requirements of the Evidence (Videotaping of Child Complaints) Regulations 1990. Alternatively they may be audiotaped or written down, word for word.
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Counselling
Counselling is an integral part of the healing process for any child who has been the victim of abuse in their family. As this is an extremely specialised area, appropriately approved and experienced counsellors must only do it. ACC should be able to offer you a range of approved and experienced counsellors. In certain areas, and in particular the four main centres, agencies like HELP, Parentline and the NZ Association of Counsellors offer approved ACC-accredited counsellors and, if the correct procedures are followed, costs are met by the ACC.
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Police
Police officers work cooperatively with Child, Youth and Family in child abuse protection work. Reports of suspected abuse can be made direct to any Police station as an alternative to Child, Youth and Family. Complaints made to the Police will be discussed with Child, Youth and Family. Generally the Police take care of the prosecution of offenders while Child, Youth and Family provides services for the children, young people and their families or whanau.
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Child Abuse Team (CAT)
CAT is a Police investigative team specialising in complaints of child abuse. The teams are usually made up of detectives and constables but in smaller areas the team may only be a detective. Police work in conjunction with Child, Youth and Family and have a joint agreement on policy and guidelines. When investigating a complaint of child abuse the Police member and the Child, Youth and Family member become the investigating team for that complaint.
The safety of the child is paramount, and this is assessed as soon as possible after the complaint has been made. Where appropriate, a social worker will initiate care and protection procedures in relation to that child and any other children of the family who may he in need of care and protection.
CAT members are trained in the investigation of child abuse and are required to attend specialised Police training courses before becoming a member of the team. Some members are specially trained in the interviewing of the child victim but they must have attended the required course in order to carry out those interviews.
Interviews with the child or young person are conducted in rooms which are decorated and equipped in a manner that is not intimidating to them. The rooms may be at Child, Youth and Family or Police premises but, generally, not at a Police station. The interviews are often recorded on videotape, where the equipment is available, and may be used in Court. While one member of the team interviews the child, the other monitors it and takes notes of what is being said. Both may have to give evidence in Court at trial.
A child may have to undergo a medical examination. Where this is necessary a doctor from Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care is preferred because of their expertise in this area.
The criminal investigation is conducted by the Police. It is their responsibility to interview any alleged offender(s) and, where appropriate, lay charges against them. Where charges have been laid it is the responsibility of the Police to prepare the file for Court. This preparation also includes keeping the child and family/whanau informed of progress and more particularly support at trial.
Victims of child abuse and their families may make their complaint at their local Police station, where they may be referred to their nearest CAT or Child, Youth and Family office.
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Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care (DSAC)
Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care (DSAC) is a national organisation dedicated to ensuring that skilled medical care and specialist medical knowledge is available to people who are sexually abused or assaulted.
DSAC provides regular training courses and seminars for doctors and allied professionals, and has a rigorous system of accreditation for medical examiners that has final approval through the Police force’s Chief Medical Officer. DSAC also provides ongoing peer review and continuing education for its members.
DSAC doctors should be used wherever possible to carry out a medical examination where sexual abuse or assault is suspected involving a child or an adolescent. Dependent on their other medical work, DSAC doctors may carry out these examinations within a dedicated hospital service, or in their own specialist or general practice.
Most DSAC doctors are not paid a salary for this work but are usually paid through ACC or Police. Procedures for an ACC referral and a doctor’s personal policy on payment should be requested individually. DSAC also provides pamphlets for families, children and adolescents and an information manual for General Practitioners. A network of regional coordinators exists to provide information about services available in their area. A list of these regional coordinators is available from DSAC Head Office, PO Box 90723, Auckland Tel: (09) 376 1422.
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Health workers
District Health Boards (DHBs) provide some child protection services. These include:
- nursing or medical assessments or anaesthetic work that can only he provided by a health service
- psychological assessment (available elsewhere, but which a DHB can also provide)
- diagnostic nursing or medical assessments, social work services, counselling and therapy resources
- school based health education.
Nurses are based in health centres, medical centres, Plunket rooms, schools or with DHBs.
Family doctors may be the first to see suspected abuse and may be familiar with the child or young person’s family background.
(Guidelines on the recommended referral process for general practitioners dealing with suspected child abuse and neglect have been drawn up by Child, Youth and Family and the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners. To read the guidelines, click here.
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Care and protection coordinators
The duties of a care and protection coordinator are prescribed by s424 of the CYP&F Act. They are managers of family group conferences (FGCs) and their duties include the following:
- receiving reports and referrals from social workers, Police and other agencies, including the Courts
- convening FGCs and, where necessary, holding further meetings
- consulting with care and protection resource panels
- consulting, when appropriate, with people who have relevant cultural knowledge
- recording the details of any decision, recommendation or plan made at an FGC
- ensuring the regular review of FGC plans, decisions or recommendations
- informing relevant groups, including care and protection resource panels, of the results of an FGC.
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Care and protection resource panels
Care and protection resource panels give advice to Child, Youth staff or Police who are investigating or helping children, young people and families or 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.
Panels are an integral part of the working of the Act. They are also part of an effective care and protection system, providing interagency and community involvement in advice-giving and community coordination.
To read more about the work of CPRPs, click here
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Community organisations
Many organisations play a vital role in child protection work. Child, Youth and Family and the Police can only do an effective job if they work cooperatively with these community groups. Some offer a full range of services to children, young people and their families whereas others specialise.
The following groups have a central role in child abuse prevention work and in the area of family violence:
- Child Abuse Prevention Society of New Zealand (CAPS) – See your local phone book for the nearest CAPS group.
- Women’s Refuge – Provides confidential advice and safe houses for women and children.
- Stopping Violence Services– An organisation where men help men to stop their violent behaviour.
- Sexual abuse victim services – These offer a wide range of services such as the sexual abuse healing centres.
- Guidance counsellors – Guidance counsellors are based at most high schools and colleges and are often the first to be approached by students.
- ACC accredited counsellors – These are approved by ACC and specialise in counselling for victims and survivors.
- Citizens Advice Bureaux – These bureaux offer a wide range of advice services.
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The Commissioner for Children
The Commissioner for Children’s role was established under the CYP&F Act, and includes:
- monitoring and investigating functions related to the Act
- encouraging, within Child, Youth and Family, the development of policies and services designed to promote children and young people’s welfare
- reviewing and making recommendations on the working of the Act.
The Commissioner also maintains close links with care and protection resource panels. To visit the Commissioner for Children's internet site, click here
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