Children and young people are loved, safe and nurtured
The National Care Standards are intended to significantly improve the quality of care and support for children and young people in State care, and their families, whānau and caregivers. Budget 2019 provided funding to:
- build frontline capacity and capability to provide quality care and support for children and young people in State care, and their families, whānau and caregivers
- deliver high-quality services and support that address children's and young people's individual needs
- find and retain high-quality caregivers, and train and support them to provide safe, stable, loving homes for children and young people in their care
- build placement capacity for very-high-needs children and young people, whose therapeutic needs may not be able to be met in whānau care or traditional foster care.
Care Standards practice policies, guidance and resources for tamariki, caregivers and staff have been developed, and training and implementation support has been provided to sites. Reporting on progress includes the completion of assessments and plans for tamariki in care, support plans for caregivers and tamariki receiving the resources they are entitled to.
An Independent Children’s Monitor has been established within the Ministry of Social Development, to provide independent assurance on compliance with the National Care Standards. It completed its first report in December 2019. It is overseeing and monitoring all the requirements of the National Care Standards Regulations (from 31 December 2020 onwards).
Implementation support (including reporting, communications, and development of new and existing resources/training modules, and updates to operational policy and guidance) will continue, with a focus on products for tamariki Māori and Pacific children, and Māori-centred practice.