M.03.08.Res.01 Interpretation / Definitions of used terminology

Alternative Caregivers means any individual authorised by the primary caregiver or legal guardian to be responsible for the child outside a Prison.

Child means any child under the age of twenty-four months.

Best Interest’ of the child The following ‘best interest’ components have been considered for the child, in consultation with specialist staff including the Social Worker, and, if required, an Oranga Tamariki representative.

Child Abuse means the harming (whether physically, emotionally or sexually), ill treatment, abuse, neglect or deprivation of any child or young person.

Continuity of care (that is, the mother intends to assume primary responsibility for the care of her child on release in the reasonably near future).

• Child Health and Welfare experts agree that it is the quality of the attachment of the child to his / her main caregiver, which has a determining effect on the child’s development.
• Therefore, if it is in the child’s best interests to be in prison early in life to form an attachment with the mother, who will be returning to care for him / her in the reasonably near future, that should be facilitated.
• However, there will be occasions when the child needs to form an attachment to an alternative long-term caregiver and that relationship should be given equal attention.

Day-to-day care includes care that is provided only for 1 or more specified days or parts of days, Care of Children Act 2004.

Delivery Measures The key measures for determining service levels and for the Department’s external reporting are: Number of prisoners eligible to use this service / facility, Number of prisoners utilising this service / facility.

Feeding and Bonding Facilities means facilities for those prisoners who are ineligible or choose not to have their child with them in full-time residence in a self-care unit; the child may still be brought into the prison daily for the purposes of feeding and bonding with the prisoner mother in a designated facility.

Maintenance of family and significant relationships whether the placement with the prisoner mother would allow for the maintenance of other family and significant relationships, including relationships with siblings.

Mother means biological or adoptive mother, or legal guardian.

Parenting Order an order made under Care of Children Act 2004, section 48(1).

Primary Caregivers means any individual who is responsible for the custody or care of a child or children.

Social Worker when used in the context of pregnant women and women applying to care for a child under 24 months, means the individual who is responsible for assessing the needs of the mother and child and writing the child care plan. This individual must have social worker qualifications and experience.

Safe and supportive environment for the child whether this is more likely to be provided in a placement with the prisoner mother or by an alternative placement in the community.

Self-care Units residential style accommodation designed to be used primarily by, selected prisoners who are nearing release and have specified identified re-integrative needs and prisoners with children under the age of twenty-four months who are eligible to have their child in full time residence.

Stability of placement that is, whether stability is more likely with the mother in prison or in a community placement.

Whether the physical and emotional well-being of the child may be detrimentally impacted by placement with the prisoner mother The ability to maintain the child’s identity, including cultural, religious and personal identity is considered.