January 30, 2024
Oranga Tamariki fails health check up
More damning criticism of Oranga Tamariki.
A report from Arotūruki Tamariki, the Independent Children’s Monitor, says the child protection agency is not ensuring tamariki and rangatahi in its care get access to basic health services.
The agency’s standards say all children in care have annual health and dental checks.
Independent Monitor Arran Jones says if basic health needs aren’t met there are consequences in later life.
“Unfortunately what our report shows is Oranga Tamariki haven’t put in place what a health check is nor do they know whether those heath checks are occurring or whether kids are getting to the dentist every year. These are things they need to know so they know the kids are being looked after properly,” he says.
Mr Jones says Aroturuki Tamariki wants to see that every OT social worker is making sure tamariki in their care are enrolled with a GP and getting annual health checks.