A health professional is sometimes the first to notice when things are not going right for families.
Council would like to remind practitioners to be aware of the provisions and protection afforded to children and young people under the Children Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989 (the Act). As a professional, you play a valuable role in helping keep children and young people safe from harm.
If you believe that any child or young person has been, or is likely to be, harmed (whether physically, emotionally, or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, or deprived, you may report the matter to a social worker or a constable (section 15 of the Act).
Child, Youth and Family (CYF) have developed an inter-agency guide to help you recognise the signs when families are vulnerable and where there may be harm or abuse to a child or young person. The guide also shows you how you can help, who to talk to, how to report your concerns, and what happens when a report of concern is received by CYF. A copy of the guide can be found here: www.cyf.govt.nz/documents/about-us/publications/27713-working-together-3-0-45ppi.pdf
