Te Puaruruhau (Child Protection)
If a child has injuries please seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
If you are concerned for a child or young person who you feel may be at risk, contact Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children on 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459).
Te Puaruruhau is a Starship Child Health, Te Toka Tumai health service for children and young people 0-18 years. The team offers a 24 hour urgent medical service for children and young people who may have experienced acute sexual harm or life threatening injuries as a result of possible maltreatment. Te Puaruruhau also offers paediatric and social work assessments for maltreatment via booked appointments. Our child protection team does not to jump to conclusions. We take a “safety first” approach with any child to make sure they are not at risk.
When Starship staff are concerned a child in hospital may have been hurt or harmed they must refer to us. We also provide consultation support for health professionals across the country.
Te Puaruruhau is located in a multi-agency centre with Police and Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children, at 99 Grafton Road (opposite the Starship building) together the three statutory agencies involved in specialist child abuse investigation aim to improve the recovery and care of those affected by child maltreatment.
Te Puaruruhau also offers:
- Power to Protect programme. Power to Protect programme aims to reduce paediatric abusive head trauma in Aotearoa. The programme provides information about supporting whanau with newborn babies, the stressors they might experience and skills and supports that promote safety. The Power to Protect Coordinator delivers training and information to hospitals across the country.
- Family Violence Intervention programme offers support and training across Te Toka Tumai. They are also available for case consultation between the hours of 8.00am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
- Gateway health assessments for children in the care of Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children. For more information visit the Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children website: https://www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/
Referral Expectations
Te Puaruruhau
Referrals are accepted from whānau, Health Professionals, Police, Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children and the public, for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years with disclosed or suspected physical or sexual harm or maltreatment (daytime service).
After hours, the service will see children and young people with acute concerns regarding sexual abuse up to the age of 18 years.
Gateway referrals are accepted from Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children.
Common Conditions / Procedures / Treatments
Gateway Health Assessments for Children in the Care of Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children
The overall objective of the gateway assessment is to enhance the physical, mental, educational and social wellbeing of children and young people who come to the attention of Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children.
A gateway assessment will:
- identify the health, education and care and protection needs of the child or young person
- identify any health needs of the child's parents or caregivers that will impact on the child
- create a plan to address these needs
- facilitate access to appropriate services for health, education and wellbeing
- help children and young people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to adopt healthy behaviours
- identify the skills and training that the caregiver may require to address the needs of the child or young person
- collate a health and education history for the child or young person to assist them in their future interactions with the health and education systems.
For more information visit the Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children website: https://www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/