Te Mana Whakamaru Tamariki Motuhake Te Wā o Ngahuru -Update

Kia ora <<First Name>>

Welcome to our Ngahuru/ Autumn update. I am pleased to inform you that from this month you will receive quarterly updates on the mahi (work) we have been doing here at the Monitor. 

Over the past few weeks, monitoring teams have been meeting with communities, whānau, caregivers, NGOs and, most importantly, our tamariki and rangatahi (children and young people) in care across three regions of Aotearoa. They have been coming back with some incredible stories from tamariki and from communities working collaboratively to improve the quality of care. We will continue listening to these voices to learn more about what is happening and what needs to happen to improve outcomes for our tamariki and rangatahi, and this will inform our first annual report.

In our previous newsletter, we told you that Oranga Tamariki was in the process of establishing self-monitoring measures for the National Care Standards and Related Matters Regulations (NCS Regulations). Having self-monitoring systems is an important part of understanding the quality of care - what is working well, what needs improving, and if things are getting better. Oranga Tamariki is yet to finalise these measures. In the interim, we have progressed a data and information request. The other three agencies that have care and custody have all received a similar request.
 
We want to understand what information is important and helpful to you. Although establishing measures is still work in progress, we welcome your views on this information request. We will also let you know when Oranga Tamariki has measures in place and will invite your comments on these as well. You can read more about these requests and our monitoring visits below.

Lastly, do keep an eye on our website next month for a short animation for our tamariki explaining the Monitor's role, and for a new updated look of our website. Ngā mihi ō Te Aranga ki a koutou!

Ngā mihi nui
Arran Jones
Tumu Whakarae | Executive Director
Te Mana Whakamaru Tamariki Motuhake | Independent Children’s Monitor 

• Who we are visiting
• Self-monitoring information requests
• How we care for data and information
• Contact us

Who we are visiting

The Monitor completed its first round of community visits in Porirua, and Kapiti, and visits are underway in Blenheim, Kaikoura and Kaitaia, as part of our Phase 2 of monitoring all of the NCS Regulations. In the coming weeks, we will be heading to Gisborne, the west coast of Te Waipounamu, and then Mangere and Ōtāhuhu. If you are a service provider in these regions, predominantly working with those in care and/or their parents and whānau and want to be included, please reach us on info@icm.org.nz. The schedule of visits for the second half of 2021 is currently being finalised.

Self-monitoring information requests

Last week, we sent out requests for self-monitoring information on the National Care Standards to the four monitored organisations - Oranga Tamariki, Barnardos, Dingwall Trust and Open Home Foundation, who hold care and custody responsibilities. The requests, guided by the Care Standards, cover the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 and will inform our first annual report. Dingwall Trust and Barnardos have been asked to respond by 16 July, while Open Home Foundation and Oranga Tamariki have a deadline of 16 August.

How we care for data and information

As an evidence informed organisation, the Monitor collects, uses, shares and stores data and information. We have put together a handbook to help our staff collect, use and store data and information in respectful, ethical and trustworthy ways. The handbook is publicly available because we are committed to being transparent and accountable to our stakeholders and the wider public. View the handbook here.

Contact us