TY  - SER
AU  - Keddell, Emily
TI  - Mandatory reporting : : 'a policy without reason'
PY  - 2022///
PB  - Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers, 
KW  - Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children
KW  - ATTITUDES
KW  - CHILD ABUSE
KW  - CHILD PROTECTION
KW  - CHILD WELFARE
KW  - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
KW  - NEW ZEALAND
N1  - Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 2022, 34(4): 76-81
N2  - This viewpoint explores the recommendation to introduce mandatory reporting from the recent report into the case of Malachi Subecz, a child who was killed by his caregiver. I argue that this policy would have unintended consequences. It is likely to flood the system with low risk cases, which could make identification of high risk cases more difficult. It reduces a focus on prevention; intensifies resources and power within Oranga Tamariki; and does not take into account either the complexity of issues causing abuse and harm, nor their widespread nature. This policy is also likely to exacerbate inequities for Māori, as bias is more likely to impact low risk reports. Currently, people may not report due to a lack of clarity around the type and severity of cases they should report, and limited or inadequate responses to previous reports made, not because they are unable to recognise the signs of abuse or are unwilling to act on them. Instead, we should keep a strong focus on prevention and devolution, while also urgently generating a clear consensus between Oranga Tamariki and key reporters about when, why, how and what the outcomes of reporting should be. Alternative recommendations are suggested. (Author's abstract). Record #8292
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol34iss4id1021
ER  -