Family breakdown
When including a child as a dependent child whose parents are unable or unwilling to support them, MSD must be satisfied that a breakdown in the child's family has occurred and is of a medium to long-term nature.
The applicant must be likely to be the principal caregiver for at least one year. This would indicate that the breakdown and the placement away from the child's family is not simply a shot-term measure.
At the interview with the caregiver, find out whether there has been any involvement with Oranga Tamariki or other authorised agency.
MSD can obtain proof of a breakdown from:
- a Family Group Conference conducted by Oranga Tamariki (or other authorised agency) or
- if there has been no involvement with Oranga Tamariki (or other authorised agency) a family meeting that has been conducted by MSD
Documentation
Documentation of the Family Group Conference must be approved and signed as a full and correct account of the meeting by a social worker or an elder of the iwi or cultural service who attended the meeting.
The Family Group Conference may have been a hui or cultural service meeting that discussed other matters not relevant to this child and their family. In these situations, only an extract of the relevant minutes of the hui or meeting is required. The extract will still need to be approved and signed by a social worker or an elder of the iwi or cultural service who attended the meeting.
When MSD have proof of a Family Group Conference, a decision must be made based on the information provided. However, just because a Family Group Conference has been completed does not mean a breakdown has occurred.
Care and protection concerns
If MSD believes any child has been, or is likely to be harmed (physically, emotionally or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, deprived or MSD has concerns about the wellbeing of the child, the case must be referred to Oranga Tamariki.
