Another rise in the number of children being abused in care

The Independent Children’s Monitor has released a fifth progress report, which found that many minimum standards of care are not being met for young people. 

In the 24/25 year, 530 rangatahi and tamariki were found to have been abused, which represented 10% of all children in the system. 

That was also a 4.54% increase on the year before. 

Chief Executive Arran Jones was troubled by the findings.

“These are children that have been brought into state care because they've suffered harm and abuse at home and then to come into care and receive further harm is deeply saddening."

There were plenty of other problems identified as well. 

A third of all young people were not visited by their social worker as often as they should, and they had an average of 11 different workers during their time in care. 

One in 10 school-age children was not enrolled and those who were had a lower rate of regular attendance. 

Struggles also remained in accessing mental health support and the rate of hospitalisation for self-harm was much higher for those in care. 

"Unfortunately, five years on… these minimum standards are still not being met for all kids."

A key problem identified was a lack of stability afforded to these children. 

In that year, 28% had a change in caregiver, and more than half of those were unexpected. 

“Stability's incredibly important for any child, to live in a stable and loving home."

“You’ve got quite a number that are changing homes every year…  often it can be shifting location, that can result in shifting schools—that’s a whole lot of change for these young people and it’s not what they need."

Possible solutions were identified, including addressing the workforce. 

Jones said we need to ensure social workers ‘can get on and do social work’ and be there for them.

Due to a shortage of homes, he said social workers are spending all their time trying to find emergency placements, rather than their core role. 

Another key suggestion was to empower Oranga Tamariki to find better services. 

The report suggested government agencies are often debating over who is responsible for funding them.

Jones believed putting up more money for OT was a possible solution.

“Provide additional funding to Oranga Tamariki... so they can go and purchase the help that children need independently... rather than battling with the public health and education system.”