NZQA Expiring unit standard
20356 version 3
Page 1 of 4
Title
Demonstrate carer safety in whānau/family and foster care
Level
4
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
carer safety in whānau/family and foster care, and maintain
own safety as a carer in whānau/family and foster care.
Classification
Social Services > Whānau/Family and Foster Care
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and
safety prerequisites
Open.
Explanatory notes
1
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to outline the meaning of the
articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to social
service work, and are able to apply this competence to the context of assessment for
this unit standard (for further clarification, please refer to Unit 19408, Outline the
meaning and relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in social service work).
2
Legislation related to whānau/family and foster care may include but is not limited to:
Care of Children Act 2004, Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989,
Crimes Act 1961, Domestic Violence Act 1995, Family Proceedings Act 1980, Human
Rights Act 1993, Privacy Act 1993. Evidence is required in relation to the legislation
that is relevant to the care situation in which assessment for this unit standard is
taking place.
3
Glossary
Approved agency means an agency that has been approved under section 396,
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989.
Carer means a person who is a custodial carer providing care for a child or young
person from their own whānau or family, and/or a person who is providing foster care
for a child or young person placed with them by an agency approved under section
396, Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989. In the context of this
unit standard, carers do not include adoptive parents or birth parents.
Whānau/family and foster care includes kinship care, whānau care, foster care, and
foster homes.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
20356 version 3
Page 2 of 4
Outcome 1
Describe carer safety in whānau/family and foster care.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The description outlines the reasons why planning for the care of the child or
young person is significant to management of the safety of the carer.
Range
1.2
The description identifies possible risk factors in caring for a child or young
person in whānau/family and foster care.
Range
1.3
strategies include but are not limited to – diary and other record
keeping; gender appropriate caring; safe practices in behaviour
management; informing social worker immediately after an unsafe
incident; keeping doors open; not being alone with the child or
young person; regular supervision; training.
Evidence is required of four strategies.
The description outlines the process that occurs when an allegation is made
against a carer.
Range
1.6
factors include but are not limited to – previous abuse, resentment,
history of multiple placements.
The description outlines strategies that can be adopted by the carer to protect
themselves from allegations from the child or young person or other people
connected with them.
Range
1.5
possible risk factors include but are not limited to – allegations
from the child or young person, allegations from other people
connected with the child or young person, burn out, lack of
information about the child, lack of support, lack of training, stress.
The description outlines factors that may trigger allegations against the carer
from a child or young person in whānau/family and foster care.
Range
1.4
planning includes but is not limited to – care agreement; access to
information about the child or young person; participation in the
planning process;
information includes – health, education, previous abuse history,
any history of previous allegations against carers.
process – Police; Child, Youth and Family; one approved agency.
The description outlines the support that can be accessed when an allegation is
made against a carer.
Range
support may include but are not limited to – cultural support;
counselling; contact with New Zealand Federation of Family and
Foster Care, local Foster Care Association, or Grandparents
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
20356 version 3
Page 3 of 4
Raising Grandchildren group; legal advice; other support groups;
support provisions of one approved agency.
1.7
The description outlines methods a carer can use to respond to poor practice by
other carers, agencies, or other organisations providing whānau/family and
foster care.
Range
methods may include but are not limited to – complaint
procedures; legal advice; contact with New Zealand Federation of
Family and Foster Care, local Foster Care Association, or
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group.
Outcome 2
Maintain own safety as a carer in whānau/family and foster care.
Range
evidence is required relating to one child or young person.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Maintenance of safety as a carer in whānau/family and foster care is
demonstrated through adherence to the terms of the child or young person's
care plan.
2.2
Maintenance of safety as a carer in whānau/family and foster care is
demonstrated through adherence to the carer's legal responsibilities and the
protocols and policies of one approved agency.
2.3
Risk management strategies are used to protect the carer from allegations.
Range
risk management strategies include but are not limited to –
awareness of own limits as a carer; saying no; regular supervision;
diary and other record keeping; gender appropriate caring; safe
practices in behaviour management; informing social worker
immediately after an unsafe incident; keeping doors open; not
being alone with the child or young person; self care plan;
awareness of own limits as a carer includes awareness of –
workload, lack of support, stamina, burn out, stress.
Evidence is required of three risk management strategies.
Replacement information
This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 28555.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
20356 version 3
Page 4 of 4
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
24 November 2003
Rollover and
Revision
2
21 September 2007
Review
3
16 April 2015
31 December 2018
31 December 2018
31 December 2018
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0222
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016