IN-CONFIDENCE
OIA-CE-2024-02661
17 December 2024
[FYI request #29012 email]
Tēnā koe L
Thank you for your email, received on 01 November 2024, to Oranga Tamariki—
Ministry for Children (Oranga Tamariki), requesting information on tamariki in care who
have reported abuse. Your request has been considered under the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act).
You have requested:
How many tamariki and rangatahi in the formal care of Oranga Tamariki have
reported abuse since 1 January 2023? If any:
-
could this please be broken down into type of abuse and region (e.g.,
Bottom South, Wellington and Upper South, Central etc.).
-
could this please be broken down into regions (e.g., Bottom South,
Wellington and Upper South, Central etc.).
-
how many reports of abuse were investigated by Oranga Tamariki? If any:
-
what were the outcomes (e.g., kaimahi dismissed, kaimahi under strict
supervision etc.)?
-
what are the percentages of abuse found or not found?
Oranga Tamariki takes harm to children seriously and is dedicated to understanding
how and when harm does occur for children in care. Each year we publish an annual
Safety of Children in Care report, which provides detailed information about the
amount and nature of harm occurring and our work to respond to the safety and needs
of children. The latest report was included as Appendix C in the Oranga Tamariki
2023/24 Annual Report which can be found
here. Previous reports can be found
here.
You have requested data on the outcome of investigations into reports of abuse in
care from 1 January 2023 – 01 November 2024. Unfortunately, however, we are
unable to provide the information you have requested in the exact way it was phrased.
IN-CONFIDENCE
Please find outlined below data from our most recent monitoring period, which spans
the 12 months between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, 507 children in care had one or more
investigations into an allegation of harm in care that resulted in a finding of abuse
(physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect). 417 children in care had one or more
investigations into an allegation of harm completed during that period that resulted in
no finding of abuse. Proportionally, where an investigation occurred in response to
alleged harm of a child in care, findings that harm had occurred were made in 55% of
cases, and harm was not found to have occurred in 45% of cases.
Reports of concern were made for an additional 364 children in care during this period
which are not included in this data. This is because the reported concerns related to
situations that did not constitute that child being harmed whilst in care (for example,
abuse that occurred before a child entered care or emotional wellbeing concerns not
as a direct result of being harmed).
Where harm was found to have occurred, there were a range of people who were
alleged to have caused the harm. This can include other young people in the same
care environment, approved whānau or non whānau caregivers, parents or other
family members, third parties either known or not known to the child or young person
or Oranga Tamariki or care provider staff.
Overal , most children are harmed in care by another child or young person in the
same care arrangement (226 findings). This harm is predominantly occurring in
residences and in group living situations that are provided both by Oranga Tamariki
and by our care partners and is predominantly physical in nature.
There were 56 findings of harm by staff in the 2022 year, 69 findings in the 2023 year,
and 88 findings this year. This harm occurred predominantly in residential or group
home settings. Please note, this reflects the total number of findings harm, not the
number of staff with findings, as multiple findings of harm could be attributed to a single
staff member.
More detailed information is set out on page 155 of our Annual Report.
Regarding abuse investigations and outcomes for staff, please note that due to the
need to ensure individuals cannot be identified, and the confidential nature of
employment information, the information requested cannot be provided. Therefore,
this part of your request us refused under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the
privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons.
Oranga Tamariki may make the information contained in this letter available to the
public by publishing this on our website with your personal details removed.
I trust you find this information useful. Should you have any concerns with this
response, I would encourage you to raise them with Oranga Tamariki. Alternatively,
you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns with the Office of the
Ombudsman. Information about this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by contacting them on 0800 802 602.
IN-CONFIDENCE
Nāku noa, nā
Nicolette Dickson
Tumu Tauwhiro | Chief Social Worker
Deputy Chief Executive | Professional Practice
Document Outline
