Family/Whānau Caregiver Assessment
Date: 25 September 2011
Name of child to be cared for: Monique Te Whaiti
Date of birth: 25 January 2003 (8 years old)
Ethnicity/Iwi affiliation: New Zealand Māori (Nga Puhi/Te Arawa)
Legal status: s.101 custody and s.110(2)(b) additional guardianship
Type of care required
Respite care
Transitional care
Home for Life
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Name of child’s social worker: Jennifer Hopkins
Summary of child’s needs: Monique is the only child of Tania Te Whaiti (24 years old) and
Thomas Whittaker (27 years old). Monique first came to the attention of Child, Youth and
Family in Nelson in 2007 at the age of four after her kōhanga reported that she had untreated
eczema on her legs, torso and arms which was infected and causing her significant pain.
Follow-up with Monique’s parents found that they were struggling financially, both used
marijuana daily, and they lacked support as they had just moved to Nelson from Auckland.
Further notifications were made after Monique was found home alone by Police on two
separate occasions. Child, Youth and Family were granted custody of Monique on 1 June 2011
and she was placed with non-whānau caregivers. A family group conference agreed Monique
would return back to her parents’ care by January 2012 provided they complete some specific
tasks. Education and health assessments completed on Monique identified that she is in good
health apart from her eczema which requires ongoing treatment and monitoring, and she is
currently reading at a 5 year old level and needs extra support to improve her comprehension
and ability.
Reason for placement: Monique is currently placed with non-whānau caregivers Sonya and
David. Tania’s cousin Donna and her husband William live near Nelson and would like to care
for Monique until Child, Youth and Family consider it to be safe for her to return home.
Family/whānau caregiver details
Name: Donna Joseph
Date of birth: 03/10/1978
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/Iwi affiliation: New Zealand Māori (Te Arawa)
Relationship to child: Mother’s cousin
Name: William Joseph
Date of birth: 14/08/1977
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Iwi affiliation: New Zealand European
Relationship to child: Mother’s cousin’s husband
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Caregivers’ own children’s details
Name: Molly Joseph
Date of birth: 04/04/2000
Family/whānau caregiver information gathering
Information gathered:
Date
completed:
Summary of information received:
Caregiver 1: Donna Joseph
CYRAS
Caregiver 2: William Joseph
CYRAS
Caregiver’s child: Molly Joseph
CYRAS
Caregiver 1: Donna Joseph
TRIM
03/08/2011
No CYRAS history
03/08/2011
No CYRAS history
03/08/2011
No CYRAS history
10/08/2011
Caregiver 2: William Joseph
TRIM
Caregiver’s child: Molly Joseph
TRIM
Caregiver 1: Donna Joseph
Police report
(including family violence)
Caregiver 2: William Joseph
Police report
(including family violence)
10/08/2011
Paper file created in 1990 – s.132 report requested
by the Family Court re: custody dispute between
Donna’s parents Tom and Raewyn. Donna was 12
years old at the time; her parents separated when
she was 7 and had a very acrimonious relationship.
They could not agree on custody and contact
arrangements so the Court had to make the decision
for them. In the years since Tom and Raewyn have
managed to get to a point where they can be civil
with each other; Donna noticed a huge difference in
their relationship once Molly was born and knows
that they have both made a concerted effort to get
along for her sake.
No TRIM history
10/08/2011
No TRIM history
03/08/2011
No criminal or traffic convictions, no family violence
history
03/08/2011
No criminal convictions, no family violence history.
1 traffic conviction: 1998 – driving with excessive
blood alcohol: William was 21 years old and
decided to drive home from a friend’s birthday party
because he didn’t think he’d had that much to drink.
William had to pay a fine and was disqualified from
driving for three months. His disqualification meant
that he couldn’t drive to work so had to rely on
friends, family and public transport to take him.
William deeply regrets his actions – he felt bad
about letting himself, his parents and Donna down,
and is disappointed that this conviction will follow
him around forever. William does not drink and
drive, and at family parties usually takes the role of
sober driver – this was confirmed by Donna and his
parents at the assessment hui. On this basis, and
because William has no other convictions, I believe
this conviction should not prevent William from being
considered a caregiver for Child, Youth and Family.
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Home visit
Address: 47 Henderson Avenue, Richmond
Date visit completed: 16/08/2011
Details of home environment: Donna and William’s home has an open plan kitchen, dining
and lounge area. There is a family computer in the dining area which has a filter preventing the
viewing of ‘adult’ material. The house has three bedrooms – Donna and William sleep in the
master bedroom, Molly has one room and the other room will be Monique’s. This bedroom has
a single bed but they will need a chest of drawers. There is also a sleep-out attached to the
garage which is where Donna and William’s 17 year old niece Sharlene stays during the
working week. Sharlene is currently in her first year of study for a Bachelor of Commerce at the
Nelson/Marlborough Institute of Technology. There are operational smoke detectors in each
bedroom, the lounge and sleep-out. Donna and William do not own any guns. All medicines are
kept in the bathroom cabinet, and household detergents are stored in the laundry cupboard.
The house has gas heating. Neither Donna nor William smoke cigarettes, and they have a firm
policy in their house that all visitors must smoke their cigarettes outside. They own a cocker
spaniel named Rocky; he is an older dog (almost 14 years old), very placid, and spends a great
deal of time sleeping in his kennel in the backyard. He has grown up with Molly so is used to
being around children.
Additional Police reports (for other people in the home 17 years old and over), CYRAS
and TRIM checks (for all other household members)
Name:
Sharlene Joseph
Police
(including family violence)
Sharlene Joseph
CYRAS
Sharlene Joseph
TRIM
Date check
completed:
03/08/2011
Summary of information received:
03/08/2011
No CYRAS history
10/08/2011
No TRIM history
No criminal or traffic convictions, no family violence
history
Summary of family/whānau assessment hui
i.e. level of support from family/whānau about the intended placement; any other issues
The family assessment hui was held at Donna and William’s house on 15 September 2011. In
attendance were: Donna and William; Donna’s parents Tom and Raewyn; William’s mother
Susan; Tania and Thomas; Monique (for half an hour); Tania’s mother Sarah, Thomas’ mother
Roimata and his step-father Kevin; Donna and William’s friends Janice and her husband Rob;
and Monique’s current caregivers Sonya and David. The meeting started with a conversation
about Monique’s needs, and information was also provided by Sonya and David about
Monique’s routines/likes/dislikes. Discussions were then held about how Monique’s family and
friends were going to meet these needs. It was recognised at the hui that Donna and William,
like any other parents, will need support to care for Monique particularly so they can also
maintain a focus on their own daughter’s needs. All of those who attended the hui (including
Sonya and David who know Donna and William through Molly’s school) are supportive of
Donna and William taking on the main caretaking role of Monique.
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Using the Core Needs as the framework for this assessment report, summarise the
caregivers’ strengths and development needs, and other factors including support
needs, family dynamics, safety and stability/continuity (if the placement is to be a ‘Home
for Life’):
Safety
The caregiver is able to:
- provide a warm, safe physical environment and a good standard of care
- understand the impact of their upbringing on their attitudes and behaviour
- demonstrate knowledge of child development and the impact of trauma and abuse on
children
- set appropriate boundaries and manage children’s behaviour
- work with whānau and professionals to carry out the child’s plan
Donna, William and their daughter Molly have no previous involvement with Child, Youth and
Family, and no concerning Police involvement.
Donna and William see themselves as parents before anything else, and they are very focused
on helping Molly to grow up with strong values and ethics which she can take with her into
adulthood. Weekdays are usually hectic in the Joseph household, with work and school
commitments, but on the weekends they make a real effort to spend time together as a family.
Molly plays netball on Saturdays in the winter, and also loves swimming in the summer, and
Donna and William love going to watch her and support her. They have a tradition each
Sunday whereby they all sleep in and William cooks a big breakfast for them, followed by a
walk to a nearby park and then a lazy afternoon at home. They look forward to Monique being
a part of this.
Donna recalls that her childhood was difficult. She remembers lying in her bed at night and
hearing her parents yelling at each other. She also remembers one time that the Police came
around because the yelling was so loud; seeing the Police car with its lights going really scared
her. Donna’s parents’ separation was hard for her to understand; while she knew life would be
better for them apart, she still wished they could have stayed together without the arguing. After
the separation Donna lived primarily with her mother, and spent two weekends a month and
some school holidays with her father. Donna said that she believes in the sanctity of marriage
and when she met William she knew he was the one for her and was determined to make their
marriage work. She sees now that her parents were not able to communicate with each other,
and she makes a real effort to keep the communication open between her and William. They
made a rule early on in their relationship that they would never go to bed angry at each other,
and they haven’t broken this rule once.
William was brought up by his grandmother after his father was killed in a car accident when he
was two years old and his mother went to Australia to work. He would sometimes go over and
visit her, and she would come back to visit him. He said that his relationship with his mother
was always more of a ‘friend-type’ relationship, and this made it difficult once she moved back
to New Zealand and became his primary caregiver. He was 14 years old and remembers that
she didn’t really know how to be a mother and how to put boundaries in place for him and he
took advantage of this by staying out late and hanging out with his friends. William and his
mother have a really strong relationship, but he still regards his grandmother as his ‘mum’.
From his experience of growing up, William believes really strongly in the importance of
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boundaries and limits – he knows that children don’t necessarily like them but he believes they
do need them and he’s happy to be the ‘bad’ guy if this means that it keeps children safe.
Donna and William were very surprised to hear that Child, Youth and Family were involved with
Tania, Thomas and Monique. Donna knew that Tania and Thomas did not have a lot of money
and had heard that they had had to go to a foodbank a couple of times, but never realised how
serious things were and how this was impacting Monique. Donna feels guilty that she didn’t try
to help the family earlier, but now she and William are very committed to supporting the family
as best they can and feel that providing a safe, temporary home for Monique is one of the ways
they can do this.
Donna and William are aware that they “don’t have all the answers” when it comes to
parenting, and are always open to learning new strategies. Last year they attended two sixweek Toolbox parenting courses run by Parents Inc, for ‘the middle years’ (6-12) and ‘tweens
and teens’ (12+), after these courses were recommended to them by other parents at Molly’s
school. They found the courses extremely useful in terms of understanding how to engage with
children who are becoming young adults, what types of parenting styles work well with these
age groups, and how to set age-appropriate consequences, limits and boundaries. Donna and
William discipline Molly as follows:
- After Molly has misbehaved she is given a verbal warning
- If Molly’s behaviour doesn’t improve Donna or William will speak one-on-one with her to
redirect her behaviour
- If there is no change Donna or William will count to 5
- If there is still no change Molly is sent to her room or has a toy and something meaningful
taken away (usually television or computer privileges).
Donna and William plan to discipline Monique in the same way when this is warranted.
Donna reports that she is currently in good health. She does not take any medication, apart
from an occasional Panadol for headaches. Donna drinks a glass of wine approximately four
times a week, usually with dinner. Donna does not use drugs or smoke cigarettes. William said
that he has high blood pressure and cholesterol, and is taking medication to manage this. A
check with his doctor has confirmed this, and highlights no issues regarding William’s ability to
safely care for Monique. William is not a big drinker; he does not like to feel out of control and is
usually satisfied with a couple of cans of beer a week. He is still very embarrassed about his
conviction for drink-driving and does not ever want to be in that situation again. William does
not use drugs or smoke cigarettes.
Donna and William are open to working with everyone who is a part of Monique’s life, including
any medical and/or educational specialists.
Comments from the hui
Donna’s parents Tom and Raewyn, friends Janice and Rob, and William’s mother Susan said
that they have personally witnessed either Donna and/or William discipline Molly using the
methods outlined above and have no concerns about this at all. They believe Donna and
William discipline Molly in a way that is respectful to her but at the same time teaches and
encourages her to use this as a “learning moment” for Molly in terms of her understanding what
she can and can’t do.
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Tania and Thomas were pleased to hear how Donna and William plan to discipline Monique
should this be needed. They have made it a rule in their house not to smack Monique and are
glad to hear that the same rule exists in Donna and William’s house.
While Tania and Thomas are unhappy that Monique is not living with them, they are very clear
that if she is to live anywhere they want her to live with Donna, William and Molly. Tania and
Thomas are prepared to work with Donna and William and Child, Youth and Family for the best
interests of Monique, and are very clear that they will do everything asked of them to make
sure their little girl comes home to them.
Sonya and David provided details about the routines that they set up in the home for Monique
so that these can be replicated at Donna and William’s home when Monique is initially placed
with them. Monique wakes up at 7.00am and goes to bed at 7.30pm. She is happy to go to
sleep without a light on but does like the door to be left slightly open. Monique is allowed to
watch television after school only after she has completed her homework. Sonya and David
don’t give Monique processed sweets after 4.00pm as they have found that this makes her too
hyperactive and unable to get to sleep easily. They have also reduced her intake of white bread
and pasta because Monique’s doctor suspects these may exacerbate her eczema. Sonya and
David said that Monique is also quite adventurous when it comes to trying new food, although
she will definitely let you know when she doesn’t like something.
__________________________________________________
Attachment
The caregiver is able to:
- form trusting relationships with others
- be emotionally available and dependable
- listen to, and communicate with, the child in ways that are appropriate to their age and
understanding
Donna and William have a good understanding of how important it is for a child to experience a
sense of belonging with a secure family unit and to have the opportunity to form attachments to
significant adults. They have learned a little bit about attachment from the parenting courses
they attended last year, and Donna has done some research on the internet about attachment
in preparation for Monique being placed with them. They are very clear that they are not and
will never be Monique’s mum and dad, but believe they will be able to provide her with a safe
and secure family environment until she is able to return home.
Donna and William consider that they have a loving and close relationship with Molly. Donna
and Molly love doing ‘girly’ things together like painting their nails and shopping, and William
and Molly have designated ‘father-daughter’ days once a month where they spend the entire
day without Donna doing things like going to the beach, go-kart racing, and horse riding.
William grew up without a father so feels strongly about enjoying every moment he can with his
daughter, and providing her with a positive male role model in her life.
Comments from the hui
Donna and William’s friends Janice and Rob see the family at least once a week, and can
vouch for their close bond with Molly. Donna and Janice first met at a mother’s coffee group
and their relationship has continued over the years. Molly is best friends with Janice and Rob’s
daughter Sophie. Janice said that Donna is the one person she can trust, even more so than
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some of her own family members. Janice and Rob often leave Sophie with Donna and William
for occasional nights and have no concerns about their parenting of Molly. Janice said that she
often comes to Donna for advice about how to manage some of Sophie’s behaviours because
she values her guidance and Donna has never steered her wrong.
__________________________________________________
Resilience
The caregiver is able to:
- be realistic about their strengths and vulnerabilities
- demonstrate resourcefulness when faced with challenging situations
- offer opportunities to promote the child’s strengths and interests
Donna sees her strengths as being resourceful, hardworking and organised. She prides herself
on always being able to look at the bright side of life and seeing the positive in people. Donna
identified a vulnerability for her is stress, and that if she doesn’t keep an eye on her stress
levels and get enough sleep and good food into her body, this can start to wear her down.
William is a quiet man, very sensible and thoughtful, and these qualities complement with
Donna’s – he is more laidback while she keeps on the run all of the time. William admits that he
can get overwhelmed when things get hectic, and the way he usually deals with this is by going
out into his tool shed and mucking around with his tools for an hour or two. This helps clear his
mind and gets him back into a good head space.
Donna and William consider themselves to be a good team, and believe this unity has helped
them manage some particularly difficult situations, one of which happened a couple of years
ago when William was made redundant from his security job. At the time there weren’t a lot of
jobs available in Nelson, and William ended up moving to Palmerston North and working there
for seven months before he was able to secure a job back in Nelson. This separation was
difficult for them; William could only afford to come back to Nelson once a month, and Donna
had to rely heavily on friends to help her with childcare arrangements while William was away.
They think this struggle has strengthened their relationship and made them so much more
appreciative of everything they have.
Donna and William know that Monique is interested in playing netball, and that she participates
in kapa haka at school so plan to continue supporting her with these endeavours. When
Monique stayed with Donna and William in April, Donna noticed that Monique loves to paint
and plans to set up an area in Monique’s bedroom where she can do this.
Comments from the hui
Donna’s parents Raewyn and Tom, William’s mother Susan, and Janice and Rob see the same
strengths in Donna and William that they themselves identified. Susan said that she particularly
admires the way that Donna is able to keep a good work/life balance and recognises that for
lots of mums this is not always easy to do. Janice has said that she will keep an eye on Donna
and William’s stress levels, and Janice and Rob have offered to provide respite for Monique for
one weekend a month to ensure Donna, William and Molly have some time to themselves.
__________________________________________________
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Identity
The caregiver is able to:
- affirm the identity of the child, and keep their story alive
- be sensitive to the life experiences of the child
- promote the child’s contact with family/whānau and others who are important to them
Monique identifies very strongly as Māori; she participates in kapa haka at school and is
learning to speak Te Reo. Donna grew up in a household where her mother spoke fluent Māori
and she feels capable of supporting Monique with her understanding of the Māori language.
Donna and William have heard about life story books, and want to put one together for
Monique. Tania, Thomas, Tania’s mum Sarah and Thomas’ mother Roimata have already
given Donna and William some photographs of Monique to start the book off, and have
indicated their willingness to provide ‘their stories’ for the book. Donna has a keen interest in
scrap-booking so is looking forward to working on this project with Monique, and helping
Monique learn a bit more about her past.
Donna and William know that Monique has not had an easy life, and expect that the placement
won’t always go smoothly. They would appreciate support from someone when they need
advice or guidance.
Donna and William are happy for Tania and Thomas to have contact with Monique at their
home, but this needs to be at set times so that Monique doesn’t get too confused. Donna and
William have said that they will adhere to any conditions set by Child, Youth and Family,
including phoning the Police if Tania or Thomas attempt to see Monique outside of arranged
contact visits. Tania’s mother Sarah and Thomas’ mother Roimata would like to spend time
with Monique during school holidays; they will contact Monique’s social worker to organise
opportunities to meet.
Comments from the hui
Donna’s mother Raewyn spoke highly of Donna’s proficiency in Te Reo. Although William is not
Māori, Raewyn said that he is exposed to and very familiar with Marae and certain Māori
customs and traditions by virtue of being a part of her family. Raewyn said that she has noticed
Donna and William use certain words interchangeably in both English and Māori around the
house which she thinks is a great way of encouraging the use of Māori language.
Janice and Rob know that ‘family’ is very important to Donna and William, and they believe
they will do all that they can to keep the contact going between Monique and her parents and
wider family. Tania’s mother Sarah and Thomas’ mother Roimata are eager to spend holidays
with Monique as much as they can.
__________________________________________________
Integrity
The caregiver is able to:
- reflect on their actions and take responsibility for them
- be respectful to others
- maintain effective functioning during stressful periods
- demonstrate good conflict resolution skills
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Donna and William are a hardworking and responsible couple. They admit that they have made
mistakes (Donna counts not realising how dire the situation was for Monique as one of them)
but are able to admit when they are wrong and learn from them.
Donna has been voted onto the board of trustees at Molly’s school for the last three years and
has proven herself to be a responsible and dedicated parent, and William helps out with Molly’s
school athletics and swimming days each year. Donna and William believe their involvement
with Molly’s school role models to her the importance of being community-minded and ‘giving
back’, while also keeping them in the loop with what is happening for Molly.
Donna and William recognise that they tend to argue mostly about really inconsequential
things, like who moved the remote control or who forgot to buy milk. They try to resolve
arguments quickly and not let them drag on, and will often use compromise to get to a common
ground. If things get particularly heated they will take some time apart from each other. Donna
is very conscious of arguing in front of Molly; she remembers how it felt when her parents did
this in front of her and does not want Molly to grow up having the same feelings.
Comments from the hui
Janice and Rob said that Donna and William were well-liked and respected in their local
community. Rob said that he really admires the way that William is dedicated to his job while at
the same time managing to spend good quality time with his wife and daughter and also being
involved in the community.
William lived with his mother Susan in Palmerston North while working up there and Susan
remembers that the separation took its toll on Donna and William’s relationship. She said that
she often travelled back to Nelson with William for his monthly visits, and noticed that even
though Donna and William were often exhausted and stressed, they made sure as much as
possible to keep tension away from Molly and to leave her feeling loved and cared for. Susan
said she is really proud of how hard William worked for his family during those seven months,
and also how hard he continues to work for them.
__________________________________________________
Support
The caregiver is able to:
- understand the dynamics that child may bring with them to the placement
- ask for support when necessary
- use training opportunities to improve and develop their skills
Donna and William are aware of Monique’s past, and have talked with her social worker at
length about what sorts of behaviours she may exhibit in her placement with them. Regular
support from a psychologist will also help them in this regard.
Donna and William feel more than capable of asking for support when they need it. They have
done this in the past, and they know they have a lot of people in their lives that are there for
them when they need them. They are realistic that being a caregiver is new for them and may
throw up challenges that they hadn’t expected. They are a little concerned about how
Monique’s placement with them will impact on Molly and will keep an eye on this for any
worrying signs.
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Donna and William are aware that Monique has medical and educational needs, and want to
do what they can to meet these. They will try to the best of their ability to keep Monique’s
eczema under control with regular doctor’s visits and medication. They also want to help
Monique with her reading and comprehension and plan to find her a tutor to provide some extra
assistance a couple of times a week. Because Donna finishes work earlier in the day than
William, she will take primary responsibility for helping Monique with her homework and getting
her to and from tutoring.
Donna and William would like to attend training to extend their knowledge about abuse and
trauma and how it impacts children. They have visited Child, Youth and Family’s website and
are interested in attending the national caregiver training modules ‘Understanding and
managing behaviour’ and ‘Attachment and resilience’. If they are approved, their caregiver
social worker will contact them with details about when these modules are being run. Donna
and William will also join Fostering Kids, and know that Child, Youth and Family will pay for
their first two years membership.
Comments from the hui
Donna’s parents Tom and Raewyn, William’s mother Susan, and Janice and Rob all live in
Nelson and are more than happy to support Donna and William as much as possible with
looking after Monique. Janice and Rob have offered to provide weekend respite care for
Monique the third weekend of every month. Tania’s mother Sarah and Thomas’ mother
Roimata also want to remain a part of Monique’s life and have her come to stay with them
during school holidays. Tania and Thomas asked Donna and William to call them any time
night or day if they have any specific questions about Monique (i.e. around her likes and
dislikes or particular behaviours) and can’t get hold of Monique’s social worker.
__________________________________________________
Summary of self-assessment
Donna and William’s self-assessment identified that they have a realistic view of what it means
to be a whānau caregiver for Child, Youth and Family. They know it will not be easy caring for a
child who is not their own, but they do believe they have the skills and strengths necessary to
take on this challenge. They have given a lot of thought to how Monique staying with them will
impact on Molly given she is not used to having any other children living in the home but
believe they will be able to manage any issues that may arise through open communication
and also by making space to have one-on-one time with Molly. Donna and William have also
considered how taking on the caregiving role for Monique will impact their relationship with
Tania and Thomas; they know that it won’t be easy for Tania and Thomas to see them looking
after their daughter and are prepared for any fall-out as a result. In their assessment Donna
and William did identify that they would like some help to understand more about what it means
to care for a child who has been abused.
Things to note
i.e. availability during the day; other care responsibilities
Donna and William both have full-time jobs (Donna works as a receptionist at a medical centre;
William works as a security guard) but have organised their work schedules to fit around Molly;
William goes to work later in the morning so gets Molly off to school, while Donna starts early
but finishes in time to be home when Molly’s bus drops her off at the gate. Monique attends the
same school as Molly so the arrangement will work for her too. During school holidays
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William’s workplace runs a holiday programme for their employees’ children which Molly and
Monique will attend.
Child’s views of prospective caregivers
Molly first met her aunt Donna and uncle William when she moved to Nelson with her parents
in 2007. Their families spent last Christmas day together, and Monique stayed at Donna and
William’s house for three nights over Easter this year. Monique and Molly attend the same
primary school. I told Monique in August that her aunt and uncle want to look after her until she
goes home and she is very pleased about this. She really likes Molly and is excited about being
around Rocky. I have told Monique that living with her aunt Donna and uncle William will be
different than when she stayed with them at Easter; she understands that they will be the ones
who set the rules in the house and that these will need to be followed. She also knows that I
am her social worker and I will visit her and call her, and that she can call me. At the
assessment hui Monique said that she would like to live with her aunt and uncle and Molly.
Caregivers’ own children’s views of placement
I have talked with Molly separately from her parents to find out what she thinks about Monique
coming to live at her house. Molly is excited about having another child in the house and has
really enjoyed the times she has spent with Monique to date. We talked about what some of the
challenges might be with Monique living at her home. Molly did say that she still wants to make
sure she gets to have her own special time with her mum and dad. She also said that she
doesn’t want Monique to come into her bedroom without her permission as she has some
special toys that she doesn’t want Monique to wreck.
Sharlene is proud and supportive of Donna and William for making the decision to look after
another child. She said that they are both big-hearted people and really loving parents to Molly
and she thinks Monique will be well cared for. Sharlene particularly likes the way that Donna
and William have arranged their lives around Molly so that one of them is there to get her ready
for school in the morning, and then the other is waiting for her when she gets home. Sharlene
said that she usually joins the family for dinner at least twice in the working week and she
enjoys the conversations that they have and the way that Donna and William are really focused
on her and Molly and how their days have been. Sharlene doesn’t expect that Monique living
with Donna, William and Molly will have that much of an impact on her since she sleeps
separately from the family, only stays with them during the working week, and is generally
pretty busy attending classes and working at her part-time job.
Building support around the placement
1. Board payments and other financial entitlements to Donna and William to begin on the day
of Monique’s placement.
2. Monique’s social worker to visit Monique fortnightly at Donna and William’s house to see
how things are going for her. Adhoc visits may also happen as required. This visiting
schedule will be reviewed as per Monique’s case plan.
3. Caregiver social worker to meet with Donna and William on a fortnightly basis to
understand how the placement is going. Adhoc visits may also happen as required.
4. Sonya and David to be available to Donna and/or William via telephone for advice on
Monique’s routines etc for the first month of the placement.
5. Monique’s social worker to have weekly telephone contact with Monique’s class teacher
about her progress.
6. Monique’s social worker, Donna and/or William, and Tania and/or Thomas to attend
Monique’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings at Monique’s school.
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7. Child, Youth and Family to purchase a set of drawers (with at least six drawers) for
Monique’s bedroom and arrange delivery of the drawers to Donna and William’s house
prior to Monique’s placement.
8. Monique to have weekly visits with her parents every Sunday afternoon at Donna and
William’s home from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Tania, Thomas and Monique will also talk to each
other on the telephone every Tuesday and Thursday night at 7.00pm for up to half an hour.
This contact will be initiated by Tania or Thomas. No other contact will occur unless first
organised with Monique’s social worker. The frequency of the visits and telephone
conversations will be reviewed as per Monique’s case plan.
9. Monique to spend every third weekend of the month with Janice and Rob (subject to a
caregiver assessment and approval) from Friday 5pm to Sunday 1.30pm. Janice and/or
Rob will pick Monique up from Donna and William’s house and then transport her home.
Janice and Rob will receive board payments to cover costs of this care, and Child, Youth
and Family will also provide Janice and Rob with a $20 petrol voucher every month to
cover transportation costs.
10. Tania’s mother Sarah and Thomas’ mother Roimata to each look after Monique for two
nights during the next school holidays. They will be required to undergo Police, CYRAS
and TRIM checks and a home visit before this can happen. These visits will be arranged
through Monique’s social worker. Child, Youth and Family will cover transportation costs
and will also provide $50 to both Sarah and Roimata to cover costs associated with caring
for Monique. If Sarah and Roimata intend to provide regular care for Monique, they will
each need to undergo a caregiver assessment.
11. Monique’s social worker to make a referral to Family Works for a community social
worker/counsellor to meet with Donna, William and Molly every week to support them with
the care of Monique and offer specific assistance around parenting, understanding abuse
and neglect, and maintaining and strengthening family relationships. Monique’s social
worker will obtain a written report from this social worker/counsellor once a month about
the work that has been completed with the family.
12. Donna and William to ensure Monique attends regular check ups with her doctor for her
eczema as required, and has her medication applied as per prescription
13. Donna and William to organise a tutor for Monique to visit twice weekly at Donna and
William’s house. Child, Youth and Family will fund this. Donna will also help Monique with
her homework at the end of each school day.
14. Support around the placement to be reviewed via whānau hui within three months of
caregiver approval date.
Analysis and recommendation
Donna and William are committed to providing a safe and nurturing home for Monique. They
have good supports in place, and already possess good parenting knowledge and skills which
they are also committed to expanding. Reports about their abilities from their family and friends
were glowing, and they have no convictions or CYRAS or TRIM history that causes concern.
They are agreeable to working with Child, Youth and Family and friends and family to make the
placement work, and are a resilient and resourceful couple who can identify their vulnerabilities
and how they will address these. Tania and Thomas support this placement, as does Monique.
I recommend that Donna and William Joseph are approved to provide transitional care for
Monique Te Whaiti.
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