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- The number of young people being abused in state care has increased
- Young people are still not receiving the minimum standards of care required by legislation
- Social workers aren't always able to "work effectively" within Oranga Tamariki.
The number of young people being abused in state care has increased, says a report by the Independent Children's Monitor (ICM).
It also shows young people are still not receiving the minimum standards of care required by legislation.
The ICM's Chief Executive Arran Jones said it's "disappointing" and Oranga Tamariki "need to do better" - but he's not expecting to see improvement in the next report.
The annual Experiences in Care report looks at agency compliance with the National Care Standards Regulations, which have been in place since 2019.
Jones said in the context of a child's life who was 5-years-old when they started reporting on the regulations, they would now be 9.
"During that time, many will not have had the standard of care the law requires and that they need and they deserve."
The report found 9 percent of young people - or almost 1 in 10 of those in care - were abused or neglected while in the custody of Oranga Tamariki. An increase from 497 to 507.
This is occurring disproportionately in secure residences, mostly by other rangatahi, and when young people return to their parents' care while still in the custody of Oranga Tamariki.
Jones said the release of this report following the Royal Commission's Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith based care "highlights and emphases the need for Oranga Tamariki to be a model parent".
"These kids usually come into care because they have already been abused or neglected. Oranga Tamariki needs to do everything it can to keep them safe."
Jones explained the care standards are about "good social work practice", and if that is enabled, the "standards will be met".
"There's a need within Oranga Tamariki to really focus in on and enable that good practice to occur."
At the moment, social workers are not always able to work effectively, "including completing meaningful plans and assessments, visiting tamariki and rangatahi as often as they need, and supporting caregivers and whānau".
As a result, for the period between 1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024, the report showed:
- One third of children aren't being visited as often as required
- 60 percent of caregivers are not visited as planned and,
- Almost a third of rangatahi experience no planning at all for their transition to adulthood.
The report specified recruitment freezes and vacancies, compounded by a workforce shortage, led to high caseloads for social workers.
"What we're hearing is social workers struggling to do good social work, and unless those issues are addressed, we're concerned that we're not going to see improvement and compliance with these legal requirements," Jones said.
Jones said they also consistently heard about stand-offs between government agencies over who is responsible for paying, with children in care not prioritised for government services and that funding "does not follow the child".
"Social workers, caregivers and whānau have to seek out services and supports child-by-child, relying on established relationships and goodwill, rather than there being a system that automatically responds to need."
Jones said there's a range of things that are getting in the way, one of which is that access to services and supports that were funded by Oranga Tamariki "may not be there now."
But it's also broader than that he said, with internal issues regarding Oranga Tamariki's own controls around spending.
"So, you've got layers of approval that social workers need to work through before they can get services and supports to kids in care."
He said there's a need for the "wider children's system" to prioritise children on the ground and "make it easy for them to walk through the door to get support and help, rather than having to rely on individuals in the system to try and open that door for them."
Jones acknowledged a "greater focus" from Oranga Tamariki this year on the ICM's report, and a "desire to use the information and understand it to drive performance".
"It was also on the government to then drive performance and accountability through their own organisation.
"And so the Minister for Children this year has set in place some targets, and that's part of the way that they're looking to drive improvement."
Jones welcomed that engagement from OT, but said they're already eight months into the next reporting period and "based on what we have heard so far from our most recent monitoring
visits, we are unlikely to see improvement in our next report."
"From our most recent monitoring visits we've heard how the 2024/25 contract funding decisions have damaged relationships, and restricted services that social workers can call on," said Jones.
Oranga Tamariki response
Oranga Tamariki has responded to the findings of the report, with the acting chief executive saying he's "deeply concerned that insufficient progress" has been made in meeting the National Care Standards.
Andrew Bridgman said he acknowledged there was work to be done within the agency, and the wider system, to improve outcomes for young people who needed it most.
"The findings from the Aroturuki Tamariki-Independent Children's Monitor Experiences of Care in Aotearoa report will be addressed, with a comprehensive and targeted focus on improving the safety and well-being of tamariki in care."
Bridgman said he had given his personal undertaking to the Independent Children's Monitor that Oranga Tamariki would focus their efforts on the areas of concern raised.
He also pointed out the report noted Oranga Tamariki could not address alone the "serious and highly complex issues around child abuse, and the protection and well-being of our most vulnerable children".
"These are challenges that extend beyond any one agency and require support from the whole children's system, and a collective, shared, responsibility from all parts of our society."
Bridgman described a clear challenge to all children's agencies to do "everything possible" to better meet the needs of tamariki in care.
"This includes closer collaboration, prioritising services, and ensuring funding and support follows the child.
He said the agency was "very concerned" at the increase in the number of tamariki with a finding of harm.
"Any harm to a child or young person in care is unacceptable. Our staff at Oranga Tamariki are absolutely committed to working on targeted actions to reduce harm and improve practice across the front-line."
He noted they had established the Child Protection Investigation unit to look into harm to tamariki, identify systemic failures, provide a voice for survivors and promote accountability.
The report https://aroturuki.govt.nz/reports/eoc-23-24
