Code of ethics

Contents

Purpose
Scope
Role of Aroturuki Tamariki
Our commitment to Māori
Our values
Principles
Engaging with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, family and caregivers
Seeking consent
Information
Privacy and anonymity
Withdrawing consent
Breaches
Definitions

Purpose

The purpose of our code of ethics is to outline the ethical guidelines and best practice principles we follow when engaging with tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary, their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary, family and caregivers.  

This document is read in conjunction with other relevant legislation, rules, agreements and policies. It has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders, including those who have been in care. We thank all those who contributed to the development of this code.  

As an organisation, we support our kaimahi to reflect on engagements and consider how these engagements align with this code of ethics and whether and how we can improve on how we engage.  This is part of our commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

We commit to reviewing our code of ethics every two years and publishing it on our website.  

Scope

This Code applies to all monitoring kaimahi employed or contracted by Aroturuki Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, including those who already adhere to other codes established by their profession.

This Code sets standards of professional conduct and practice required of those employed by Aroturuki Tamariki whenever they engage in monitoring activities, whether it be with tamariki, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary, their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary, family, or caregivers.  

Partnering with other agencies

Aroturuki Tamariki may partner with other agencies to engage with tamariki or rangatahi, whānau, family, or caregivers. These ethical guidelines apply to any person acting in the place of, or for, Aroturuki Tamariki. 

Role of Aroturuki Tamariki

We check that organisations supporting and working with tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary, and their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary or family are meeting their needs, delivering services effectively, and improving outcomes.

We monitor compliance with the Oranga Tamariki Act and the associated regulations, including the National Care Standards. We also look at how the wider system (such as early intervention) is supporting tamariki and rangatahi under the Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System Act. 
 
We recognise tamariki and rangatahi are at the heart of this system, and place value on how they view the impact of the system on their lives, their whānau, family, and their communities.  

Our commitment to Māori

Through our work, we are committed to improving the lives of tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori, enabling them to realise their potential and aspirations with the support of their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary, hāpu, iwi
TribeView the full glossary and communities. Read more about our tikanga approach.  

Our values

The following values represent how we behave every day, with each other, and with those we are working with: 

Manaaki – Respectful

We show respect and care for others. This means we: 

  • Respect diversity of thought, action and culture
    • we do this by finding out about people’s diverse needs and their cultures ahead of our engagements, and being non-judgemental in all our engagements. 
  • Weave child centred and te ao Māori
    The Māori worldView the full glossary     perspectives throughout all our work
    • we do this by putting the outcomes for tamariki
      Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary       and rangatahi
      Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary       at the heart of our work and our decision-making. We recognise the inherent mana
      Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charismaView the full glossary       and dignity of whakapapa for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau
      Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary      , and the significance of belonging to a whānau, hapū
      Sub-tribeView the full glossary      , iwi
      TribeView the full glossary      , or family group, and we seek to understand this context in our engagements and to accurately reflect this in our reporting.  
  • Look out for each other and make work a safe place for our colleagues.

Kia Pono, Kia Tika - Trustworthy

We are honest and genuine and always attempt to do the right thing. This means we:

  • Admit when we don’t know the answer, and we do our best to find out and come back with an answer later
  • Cross-check our data by using qualitative information from engagements alongside quantitative data from agencies
  • Do what we say we will and communicate in a timely way if we can’t.

Kia Huritao – Reflective

We are considered and reflective. This means we:

  • Learn from experience, value feedback and always look for opportunities to improve
    • we do this by considering all feedback we receive, and reflecting on how the way we engage impacts the experiences of those we engage with, and on whether and how we can make improvements.
  • Take the necessary time to make the best decisions we can.
  • Never assume that we know what is best
    • we do this by seeking to understand the context and circumstances of those we engage with and reporting what we find. We do not make specific recommendations for changes –so that those responsible for leading change can determine how best to achieve it.  

Kia Māia – Courageous

We are brave, bold, capable and confident. This means we:

  • Stand up for what is right.
  • Tell the truth, even when it isn’t popular
    • we do this by seeking to understand both the experiences we hear in our qualitative engagements as well as what the quantitative data shows, and by reporting on what this tells us. 

Principles

The following principles guide our engagements: 

The best interests of tamariki and rangatahi are a primary consideration

This means we are child and family/whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary centred in the work that we do. We put the outcomes of tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary in the system at the heart of our work and decision-making. We recognise the intrinsic value and inherent dignity derived from the whakapapa of tamariki and rangatahi, and the significance of their belonging to a whānau, hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary, iwi
TribeView the full glossary, or family group. 

Tamariki and rangatahi, whānau, family, and caregivers have a right to participate

We believe tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary, whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary, family and caregivers have the right to share their views, and to have a say in things that affect them. Tamariki and rangatahi are at the centre of the work we do. We seek and reflect their views, as well as those of their whānau, family, communities and professionals who work with them. 

All people will be respected

All people have the right to decide whether they want to talk to us. We always seek consent prior to engagement. We tell people why we want to talk to them and how we will use any information they choose to provide.  

We treat everyone we engage with, with respect and honesty. We value what people have to say and believe it is a privilege to hear their experiences and views.

We speak to tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary in a way that recognises their age and development.   

Uphold the mana of Māori

We recognise the mana
Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charismaView the full glossary of whakapapa for tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori, their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary, hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary and iwi
TribeView the full glossary in our work. We take the time to listen, understand and make connections. We will be mindful of, and seek to understand, the context and circumstances of tamariki and rangatahi Māori, their whānau, hapū and iwi.  

Engaging with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, family and caregivers

Capturing the voices of those who are experiencing the oranga tamariki system is a critical part of our work and we actively seek to give them the opportunity to express their views.

Prior to engaging we:  

  • are familiar with our Child Protection and Privacy Policies  
  • consider the cultural, physical and emotional safety needs of those we are engaging with
  • obtain informed consent
  • make sure the adults talking with tamariki
    Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary     and rangatahi
    Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary     in particular, are experienced, safe and where appropriate have been children’s worker safety checked1.

We recognise tamariki and rangatahi in care or custody under the Oranga Tamariki Act may have been harmed.

Agencies we call ‘Connectors’ support us to engage safely and meaningfully. This means we seek assistance from trusted supports within the relevant communities to establish connections.

Connectors are known and trusted by the participants and may already be providing support or services to tamariki, rangatahi, whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary, family or caregivers in the oranga tamariki system. They assist participants to understand the role of Aroturuki Tamariki so they can decide whether they want to engage with us.  Connectors are also able to provide support and pastoral care if needed after the engagement. 

Before engagement

We carefully plan contact before engagement. 

We support people to make informed decisions about participation

We provide information to help those we are engaging with understand who we are and why we want to engage with them. We explain the limits of confidentiality, and that we may disclose information in line with our Child Protection Policy if it is necessary to protect them or others from harm. We seek the consent of those we are engaging with prior to participation and will respect their right to withdraw their consent at any stage.

We seek to understand the needs of those we engage with

We design our engagements in a way that helps those we are engaging with to share their views. For tamariki and rangatahi this means we work together with people who know them so they can engage safely and meaningfully. We consider age, development, any disability and accessibility needs when planning our engagements, and factor this in when determining the setting. We seek to understand the impact of trauma on how tamariki and rangatahi engage. We acknowledge that at times there may be a power imbalance between the Monitor and those we engage with, and we seek to minimise this as far as possible. If beneficial for tamariki or rangatahi, we can arrange an online pre-engagement meeting or phone call with them so they are able to meet our kaimahi ahead of the in-person engagement.

We recognise and respond to cultural needs

We seek appropriate advice and support when preparing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Where possible we match tamariki or rangatahi with kaimahi who are best placed to understand and respond to their cultural needs.

We provide adequate resources for engagement

As appropriate, we cover expenses associated with travel costs and cultural practices, including sharing kai and acknowledgement of participation. 

During engagement

During the engagement, we create a safe and inclusive environment so people feel comfortable to share their experiences and views.

We recognise the importance of establishing relationships

We try to get to know those who we are engaging with, build connections and create an inclusive environment. We acknowledge the role of kai in showing manaakitanga and helping to build connections and whakawhanaungatanga, and so provide kai (or resource for it) in our engagements.

We explain the process

This includes explaining how long the engagement will be and what will happen when it finishes. We let those we are engaging with know they can ask questions, choose how much information they want to share, and they can stop the engagement or withdraw their consent at any time and there will be no negative consequence. 

We provide a comfortable and welcoming environment

We make sure the environment is safe and suitable for the planned activities. 

We provide different ways to communicate

We make sure the way we engage is appropriate, considering age (for tamariki and rangatahi), development, any disability and accessibility needs. We seek appropriate advice and guidance as necessary, and we cater for different ways that people may wish to express themselves. We are aware of the differences between the ages and experiences of our kaimahi and those we are engaging with, and we consider whether and how we need to adjust our approaches to accommodate this.

We respond to what people need in the moment

We actively listen, are fully present, and respond to what they need in the moment. We ‘check in’ regularly during the engagement and remind them of their ability to withdraw their consent to participate at any time. We always accept and respect their decision to stop participating if they choose.

We listen without judgement

We allow people to talk in their own way about things that are important to them. Aroturuki Tamariki is flexible and responsive to the individual needs of tamariki or rangatahi involved, taking into account their age and stage of development.

We are prepared to change or stop the engagement based on what those who we are engaging with need

We look out for non-verbal signs that people may no longer be comfortable or may want to end the engagement. We change or stop the engagement if tamariki and/or rangatahi appear anxious or upset or indicate they do not wish to continue. We ensure people we engage with can access support if required after the engagement.

We provide assistance or support if required

We respond if anyone we are engaging with asks for help or assistance. This may mean we seek advice or refer them to someone else who can assist.

We let people know what to expect next

We let those who we are engaging with know how we will use the information they have provided us, and when and how they can expect to receive the shareback. 

After engagement

After engagement we share information on what we heard with the communities we engaged with.  We also ensure that the voices of those we have spoken to are reflected in our published reports. We report insights, themes and patterns where appropriate, and ensure information is used in accordance with our Information Rules. Our reports do not include any information that will identify any individual. 

Seeking consent

We acknowledge that tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary, whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary, family and caregivers have the right to choose whether they engage with us or not and we get their informed consent before any engagement.

We presume that they are competent to provide informed consent, unless there is clear reason to doubt that that is the case. Where tamariki or rangatahi lack the capacity to give informed consent, we obtain consent from their caregiver. When assessing the competence of tamariki or rangatahi to provide informed consent, we consider the type of information we are seeking and the age and development of individual tamariki and rangatahi.

Information

We provide information to those we are engaging with ahead of the planned engagement. This gives them an opportunity to consider the information and determine whether they wish to participate. We encourage tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary to speak to a trusted adult about the information and ask any questions they may have.

The information is available in a range of ways and uses simple and clear language. It may include the following information:

  • Who we are and what we do.
  • What we want to talk to them about.
  • How long the interview/engagement will take and how their views will be captured/recorded.
  • Confidentiality, anonymity, and the limits to confidentiality.
  • What we will do with their views/information.
  • That they can withdraw from the engagement/interview at any time.

Just prior to the engagement, we have a conversation about the purpose of the engagement, verbally outline the key details of what will be discussed, offer a chance to ask any questions, and seek their consent again to participate.

At the end of the engagement, we provide a voucher in recognition of the time and information that they have shared with us.

Privacy and anonymity

Our reports do not identify individuals.  We store all information we obtain safely. We do not share information that identifies anyone and are open about any proposal to share information that does identify anyone.  

We may disclose information where doing so is necessary to protect a person from harm.  If we have to do so, we disclose the minimum amount of information necessary to address the risk of harm.

Withdrawing consent

We advise all those who we engage with they can withdraw their consent to participate at any time. We reiterate this and ‘check in’ regularly throughout the engagement. If consent is withdrawn during or after an engagement, we confirm whether there is any information they are happy for us to use. Any information they are not happy for us to use is deleted and not used by us.

There may be occasions when consent cannot be withdrawn; for example, following an anonymous online survey once the answers have been submitted, or once information has been de-identified at the end of a regional visit. In these circumstances we will communicate this to the relevant people.

Breaches

If anyone feels that we have breached our code of ethics in an engagement, we want to hear about it so we can investigate and address this. We value all feedback. People can send feedback, complaints and compliments to us at info@aroturuki.govt.nz.

 

Definitions

Care or custody
In relation to a child or young person, means being subject to an order for custody or sole guardianship or to a care agreement, in favour of (or naming as the carer) the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki–Ministry for Children, an iwi
TribeView the full glossary social service, a cultural social service, or the director of a child and family support service, as the case requires.
Caregiver
A person in whose care a child or young person is placed by the chief executive. This includes a whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary or family caregiver but does not include a parent or guardian of the child or young person.
Connector
A broad term used to describe a person, organisation or agency that assists Aroturuki Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary to identify and connect with tamariki, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary, whānau, family or caregivers. The connector may in some circumstances assist in the facilitation of monitoring activities. The connector may also provide or facilitate appropriate pre- and post-monitoring support.
Harm
Physical, psychological, emotional or sexual harm and neglect.
Oranga tamariki system
The system that is responsible for providing services or support to children, young people, and their families and whānau under, or in connection with, the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.
Rangatahi
Young people of or over the age of 14 years but under the age of 18 years.
Tamariki
Children under the age of 14 years.
Trauma
An event, causing significant fear and distress and/or physical injury. Trauma can impact on how a child or young person engages; for example, they might need more time to feel safe with new people, may have difficulties concentrating or may display particular behaviours to avoid answering some questions. 
Whānau
A member of a child or young person’s family/whānau, hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary, iwi, or family group with a whakapapa connection.

Footnotes

1 Refers to Children’s worker safety checking requirements outlined in Part 3 of the Children’s Act 2014