Temporary agency

A client may consent to another person or organisation temporarily acting on their behalf or for one-off situations, for example:

• the client provides a signed letter or note, giving permission for the named person to carry out specific instructions on their behalf
• the client and their temporary agent are present in the office together
• the client grants permission during a telephone conversation for another person to talk about specific issues concerning the client, for example their Disability Allowance
• the client gives a Work and Income, Senior Services or Housing Assessment staff member permission to act on their behalf, for example they may give you their consent to ring their landlord for personal information

Note in situations of temporary agency the Appointment of an Agent form does not need to be completed. However, unless the client and agent are present together, the written permission of the client is still required.

Temporary agency powers exist only as long as the client and/or agent are present in the office, or as long as the conversation or meeting lasts, or until the specific situation as covered in the letter or note is concluded.

You must get the authorised consent of the client again before any further dealings with the temporary agent.

In cases of temporary agency, a full note must be made in the client's CMS record stating:

• the names of the parties involved
• that the client's consent has been given
• the topic or situation discussed and
• the reason for the client needing a temporary agent (if given)

For more information see:

• Process for appointing an agent
• Accessing a client's files to obtain personal information
• Guidelines to the Privacy Act 2020
• Enforcing agency [no link find out why]