Child Rights and Protection Policy

The rights, safety, and best interests of Tamariki and rangatahi are held as paramount in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014. For the purpose of this policy Tamariki/child refers to a minor 12 years old or younger, and rangatahi/young person refers to a minor who is 13 through 17 years of age. This policy applies to all Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people who are engaged in counselling or play therapy services at I See You, and the Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people in the care of clients who are engaged in counselling at I See You. This policy is intended to minimize risk to Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people and support their safety.

Rights

All Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people have the same rights as adults to safety, privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and respect in accordance with the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights. All services will be delivered in a way that is appropriate for the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person’s culture, age, and developmental stage. Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people’s wishes will be sought, listened to, and held at the center of all decisions relating to them.

Gillick Competence

Rangatahi/young people aged between 16 and 18 have the same legal rights to  consent to or refuse a health service as adults with no parental/guardian consent needed. Rangatahi/young people younger than 16 may still give consent for service according to their age and development without parental/guardian consent wherever appropriate.

Commitments to ongoing ethical practice

This policy will be reviewed and updated on a yearly basis in keeping with any updates to any relevant legislation and codes. Continual professional development regarding child safety will be carried out in accordance with New Zealand Christian Counselling Codes of Ethics. All ethical and safety concerns will be discussed in external supervision at least once a month, and decisions regarding ethics and safety will always be made with consultation with external supervisor, the Oranga Tamariki duty social worker, and/or other relevant support services. 

Complaints procedure

If a Tamariki/child, rangatahi/young person, client, or member of the community ever have a concern or complaint regarding the counselling service at I See You, they can visit the New Zealand Christian Counselling Association website to make a formal complaint: https://www.nzcca.org.nz/about/ethics/questions-and-concerns/ 

Privacy

The information disclosed by and on behalf of a Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person to a counsellor is privileged and will not be disclosed to a third party (including whanau/caregivers) unless the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person gives consent, or there is serious imminent risk to the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person (as detailed below), the counsellor, or a third party. Information disclosed by whanau/caregivers in support of the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person will also be treated sensitively and appropriately according to the best interests of the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person.

Participation

It is understood that the whanau/caregivers of Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people are vital in understanding and supporting the needs of Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people. Therefore, informed consent from and collaborative relationships with whanau/caregivers will be sought and maintained wherever possible and appropriate in order to seek best possible outcomes for Tamariki/children and rangatahi/young people.

Partnership

With the informed consent of the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person and/or their whanau/caregivers, collaborative relationships will also be sought and maintained wherever necessary or appropriate with schools, and other communities or services involved in the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person’s life in order to provide holistic support and seek best possible outcomes.

Protection

When tamariki/children and rangatahi/young make disclosures of abuse they will be responded to with care, respect, non-judgment, and proactiveness. When a Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person is assessed by the practitioner as in imminent risk of serious harm, child welfare or emergency services will be notified (i.e. Oranga Tamariki and/or police). In these instances, wherever possible and safe, the Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person, and/or their whanau/caregivers will be notified. Risk to the safety/wellbeing of a Tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person will be assessed using guidance from the Oranga Tamariki requirements of the Children’s Act. See Appendix A.

 

Relevant legislation and codes:

Children’s Act (2014)

Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (1996)

New Zealand Christian Counselling Association Code of Ethics (June 5^th 2025)

Privacy Act (2020)

Privacy Amendment Act (2025)

Oranga Tamariki: Children’s Act Requirements https://www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Working-with-children/Childrens-act-requirements/Safer-Organisations-safer-children.pdf

 

Appendix A

Potential signs of child abuse:

• Physical signs (e.g., unexplained injuries, burns, fractures, unusual or excessive itching genital injuries, sexually transmitted diseases).
• Behavioural concerns (e.g., age- inappropriate sexual interest or play, fear of a certain person or place, eating disorders/substance abuse, disengagement/neediness, aggression).
• Developmental delays (e.g., small for their age, cognitive delays, falling behind in school, poor speech and social skills).
• The child talking about things that indicate abuse (sometimes called an allegation or disclosure).

• Emotional abuse/neglect (e.g., sleep problems, low self-esteem, obsessive behaviour, inability to cope in social situations, sadness/loneliness and evidence of self-harm).

Potential signs of child neglect:

• Physical signs (e.g., looking rough and uncared for, dirty, without appropriate clothing, underweight).

• Behavioural concerns (e.g., disengagement/neediness, eating disorders/substance abuse, aggression).

• Developmental delays (e.g., small for their age, cognitive delays, falling behind in school, poor speech and social skills).

• Neglectful supervision (e.g., out and about unsupervised, left alone, no safe home to return to).

• Emotional abuse/neglect (e.g., sleep problems, low self-esteem, obsessive behaviour, inability to cope in social situations, sadness/loneliness and evidence of self-harm).
• Medical neglect (e.g., persistent nappy rash or skin disorders or other untreated medical issues).

 

Written and signed by Emma Welch on 17^th June 2026